VITAL
The VITAL Research Symposium is an interdisciplinary event that showcases the latest cutting-edge research conducted by postdoctoral researchers across all disciplines within the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. The VITAL Research Symposium provides an excellent opportunity for scientists and community members to engage with the latest aging research, network with researchers, and participate in thought-provoking discussions.
The VITAL Research Symposium incorporates sessions for researchers, general audiences, and a panel highlighting alumni paths to successful careers.
We look forward to your participation and hope to see you healthy and VITAL at our next symposium!
Mark your calendars!
This year's VITAL symposium is Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Registration has not opened yet.
CENTER DETAILS
Agenda for VITAL symposium: Oct 29, 2025
TBA
Keynote Speakers
Roarke Kamber, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anatomy at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine. He received his PhD in Biological and Biomedical Sciences from Harvard University in 2016 and completed postdoctoral training in Genetics at Stanford University in 2023. Dr. Kamber’s research focuses on how macrophages recognize and eliminate abnormal cells and why this critical clearance process breaks down with age and contributes to diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration, and atherosclerosis. His lab employs genome-wide CRISPR screening, live-cell imaging, biochemical reconstitution, and in vivo models to identify uncharacterized genes and pathways that may offer new avenues for disease intervention. By dissecting the mechanisms underlying macrophage decision-making and dysfunction, Dr. Kamber aims to uncover fundamental biological insights and contribute to the development of novel therapies for diseases.
Aimee Kao, MD, PhD, is a Professor of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco, and holds the John Douglas French Foundation Endowed Professorship. As a physician and scientist, Dr. Kao specializes in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body disease, and vascular dementia. Her research integrates patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and C. elegans models to investigate the molecular causes of neurodegeneration, with particular focus on progranulin, tau, and other disease-associated genes with the goal of identifying therapeutic strategies to cure neurodegenerative disease. Dr. Kao leads the NIH-supported Tau Center Without Walls and directs the UCSF Tau Consortium Human Fibroblast Bank. Her contributions have been recognized by numerous honors, including the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation Distinguished Investigator Award in Neurodegenerative Diseases, the Glenn Award for Research in the Biological Mechanisms of Aging and the Derek Denny Brown Young Neurological Scholar Award.
VITAL 2025 committee members:
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- Keynote: Laurel Koch
- Talks & Posters: Charlie Schurman, Laurel Koch, Biojoya Sen, Jose Arevalo, Vivek Ananth
- Food: Cristian Geronimo-Olvera, Hideto Deguchi, Alison Kochersberger
- Swag: Genesis Vega Hormazabal, Bijoya Sen, Jessica Johl, Olfat Malak
- Funding: Annalise Schweickart and Parminder Singh
VITAL Research Symposium is pleased to acknowledge the generous support of the following major funders:
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Thank you to our Sponsors!
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Become a Sponsor!
For sponsor registration and donation, click here.
Thank you for your interest in supporting the postdoctoral researchers at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging!