By Jianying Zhang, Sofie Lautrup, He-Ling Wang, Evandro Fei Fang

The aging research community marked an important step forward with the successful organization of the First Aging Research Symposium and 4^th Youth Forum on Gerontological Sciences on 17^th May 2025, at Jinan University, Guangzhou, China. This international event brought together 16 distinguished experts and young scholars from leading research institutions worldwide to address critical challenges and explore emerging opportunities in the field of aging research.

The symposium was co-organized by the Guangdong Society of Immunology, Aging Research journal, the School of Medicine at Jinan University, and the Geriatric Immunology Committee of Guangdong Society of Immunology. Prof. Guobing Chen, Dean of the School of Medicine at Jinan University, chaired the opening ceremony, emphasizing the urgent need for translational aging research to support national "active aging" strategies for China in response to demographic transitions, many of which are relevant to the global community at large.

Prof. Guobing Chen chairing the forum (Credit: Wen Gao)

Academician Guohui Su, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Director of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration at Jinan University, delivered the opening speech highlighting the strategic importance of aging research and encouraging young investigators to pursue interdisciplinary approaches.

Academician Guohui Su delivering his opening address (Credit: Wen Gao)

Morning Keynote Sessions
The morning keynote session was jointly chaired by Prof. Guobing Chen and Prof. Junhong Luo (Jinan University, China). Six distinguished speakers presented their latest research findings covering breakthrough achievements in the fields of aging and neuroscience, combining academic discourse with international perspectives.

Prof. Keqiang Ye (Shenzhen University of Science and Technology, China) delivered a presentation titled "C/EBPβ/AEP Signaling, a Universal Aging Driver?" which explored the mechanisms by which the C/EBPβ-AEP signaling pathway regulates amyloid protein aggregation and lifespan, proposing this pathway as a potential core driving factor for aging and neurodegenerative diseases.

Prof. Keqiang Ye delivering his keynote presentation "C/EBPβ/AEP Signaling, a Universal Aging Driver?" (Credit: Wen Gao)

Prof. Weidong Le (Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, China) focused on Parkinson's disease (PD) in his talk entitled "The Role of the Transcription Factor Nurr1 Dopaminergic Neuronal Development, Degeneration, and Parkinson's Disease". In his studies, Prof. Le has systematically elucidated key targets in PD pathogenesis and his team has progressed in novel targeted drug development, providing important theoretical support for clinical translation.

Prof. Weidong Le delivering his keynote presentation" The Role of the Transcription Factor Nurr1 Dopaminergic Neuronal Development, Degeneration, and Parkinson’s Disease" (Credit: Wen Gao)

Assoc. Prof. Evandro Fei Fang (University of Oslo and Akershus University Hospital, Norway) delivered a talk entitled "Mechanisms of Biological Ageing and Their Clinical Applications." In the talk, he discussed the molecular mechanisms of autophagy compromise as an independent hallmark of aging. Based on a series of discoveries from his team's research on both accelerated aging and age-related neurodegenerative diseases, he proposed a likely causative correlation between compromised autophagy and the progression of common neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer´s disease (AD).

Assoc. Prof. Evandro Fei Fang delivering his keynote presentation" Mechanisms of Biological Ageing and Their Clinical Applications"
(Credit: Wen Gao)

Prof. Jin Jin (The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, China) discussed longevity-related metabolites as an entry point to analysis of the interactive network forming the metabolism-inflammation axis in aging, providing new directions for metabolic regulation in aging intervention. His presentation was titled "Aging-associated metabolites and inflammation resolution".

Prof. Jin Jin delivering his keynote presentation" Aging-associated metabolites and inflammation resolution" 
(Credit: Wen Gao)

Prof. Yuzheng Zhao (East China University of Science and Technology, China) shared innovations in cellular metabolism monitoring technology, in his talk "Living Cell Metabolism Detection and Life Health". He introduced high-quality genetically encoded fluorescent sensors for various metabolites including NAD+, arginine and others. The sensors, developed by Prof. Zhao and his team provide precise detection tools for metabolic changes occurring in aging and disease across multiple cellular systems, organisms and potentially human samples.

Prof. Zhao Yuzheng delivering his keynote presentation "Living Cell Metabolism Detection and Life Health" (Credit: Wen Gao)

In his talk titled “Genetically modified large animal models of neurodegenerative diseases”, Prof. Xiaojiang Li (Jinan University, China) highlighted the limitations of mouse models in aging-related neurodegenerative disease research including lack of neurodegeneration. He shared his team's breakthrough achievements in constructing various larger animal disease models such as monkey models of PD and Huntington’s disease pig models. He emphasized the importance of using large mammalian animals to study pathological mechanisms and therapeutic approaches for aging-related brain diseases.

Prof. Li Xiaojiang delivering his keynote presentation "Genetically modified large animal models of neurodegenerative diseases"
(Credit: Wen Gao)

Afternoon Specialized Sessions
The afternoon sessions were jointly chaired by Prof. Qian Tao, Assoc. Prof. Xuefeng Zheng, and Assoc. Prof. Song Lin from Jinan University. Eight speakers presented their teams' latest research achievements, highlighting cutting-edge research in aging, neuroscience, and related fields from multiple perspectives.

Prof. Thiruma V. Arumugam (La Trobe University, Australia) presented "Cerebral Vasculature Alterations in Aging, Stroke, and Dementia: Insights and Therapeutic Advances". His findings have provided valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying aging-related neurovascular decline. Dr. Yuzheng Hu (Zhejiang University, China) presented "A neuropsychologic investigation on excessive short-video viewing", addressing how short-video use resembles addiction, which can accelerate brain aging. Assoc. Prof. Guang Lu (Sun Yat-sen University, China) presented "Regulation of mitophagy and implication in AD". Lu’s results highlighted the roles of the autophagy and mitochondrial specific autophagy, mitophagy, in both cellular health and AD. Dr. Yong Liu (Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Second Affiliated Hospital of South China University of Technology, China) presented "Day-Night Differences in Microglial Clearance of Degenerating Neurons", demonstrating how the microglial clearance of damaged mitochondria alters between awake and sleep stages in mice. Prof. Yujun Hou (Tongji University, China) presented "Urolithin A modulates mitophagy-lysosomal function in Alzheimer's pathogenesis". Her work showed the mechanisms by which the natural compound Urolithin A enhances lysosomal function and suppresses neuroinflammation in AD mouse models. Assoc. Prof. Chenglong Xie (The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, China) presented "Protective effects of regulating mitochondrial homeostasis against neurodegenerative diseases". Dr. Sofie Lautrup (University of Oslo and Akershus University Hospital, Norway) presented "Mapping Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Human Brain Ageing and Alzheimer's Disease through Multi-Omics Integration", where she provided an overview of her work on human post-mortem brain tissues. Dr. Jianying Zhang (University of Oslo and Akershus University Hospital, Norway) presented "Protein signatures between delirium and dementia". She focused on discovering novel biomarkers for the intersection between delirium and AD. Participating experts, scholars, and students actively engaged in questions and in-depth discussions around the presentation content and the future directions of age- and neurodegenerative disease-related research creating a vibrant academic atmosphere.

Prof. Thiruma V. Arumugam delivering his specialized presentation "Cerebral Vasculature Alterations in Aging, Stroke, and Dementia: Insights and Therapeutic Advances" (Credit: Wen Gao)

Dr. Yuzheng Hu delivering his specialized presentation "A neuropsychologic investigation on excessive short-video viewing"

(Credit: Wen Gao)

Assoc. Prof. Guang Lu delivering his specialized presentation "Regulation of mitophagy and implication in AD"
(Credit: Wen Gao)

Dr. Yong Liu delivering his specialized presentation "Day-Night Differences in Microglial Clearance of Degenerating Neurons"
(Credit: Wen Gao)

Prof. Yujun Hou delivering her specialized presentation "Urolithin A modulates mitophagy-lysosomal function in Alzheimer's pathogenesis" (Credit: Wen Gao)

Assoc. Prof. Chenglong Xie delivering his specialized presentation "Protective effects of regulating mitochondrial homeostasis on neurodegenerative diseases" (Credit: Wen Gao)

Dr. Sofie Lautrup delivering her specialized presentation "Mapping Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Human Brain Ageing and Alzheimer's Disease through Multi-Omics Integration" (Credit: Wen Gao)

Dr. Jianying Zhang delivering her specialized presentation "Protein signatures between delirium and dementia"
(Credit: Wen Gao)

Prof. Guobing Chen, representing the organizers, provided a comprehensive summary of the meeting and expressed sincere gratitude to all participants. He noted that the conference promoted academic exchange in the aging research field including the dissemination of new molecular mechanisms, novel methods, and models helpful to the aging research community. Moreover, the meeting provided valuable insights for addressing aging-related health challenges and called for continued attention to aging research development and joint advancement of research and practice in the broad aging field. The successful organization of this forum not only established a high-level platform for in-depth exchange among international scholars but also reinvigorated interdisciplinary innovative momentum in aging research through the bringing together of scientists from a wide variety of fields, providing scientifically and practically viable solutions for addressing the global aging crisis and facilitating the realization of "healthy aging" vision.

Group photo of conference participants (Credit: Wen Gao)