- Research
Understanding and Treating Aging presented by Dr. Ronald A. DePinho
The UTSA Academy of Distinguished Researchers, as part of their Distinguished Speaker Series, recently welcomed Dr. Ronald A. DePinho to present his groundbreaking research to students, faculty and staff of all disciplines at the John Peace Library.
The presentation on October 22, 2024, co-hosted by the Sigma Xi UTSA Chapter which promotes research integrity and excellence among students and faculty, explored DePinho’s most recent research on the causes of somatic aging.
A past president and distinguished university chair in Cancer Biology at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, Dr. DePinho is a devoted mentor to the next generation and has fostered innovative and action-oriented research. “Dr. DePinho is at the forefront of scholars studying the biology of aging and using those discoveries to develop therapeutics for the most important diseases of aging: cancer and Alzheimer’s disease,” describes Dr. George Perry, president of Sigma Xi UTSA Chapter.
Dr. DePinho is an industrious author with over 400 published articles, books and chapters, who has successfully defined the role of Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT) in the regulation of transcription factors governing gene expression networks related to aging and age-related diseases.
“TERT is best known for its role in maintaining telomeres, which play central roles in processes of aging and age-associated diseases such as cancer,” DePinho explains. The discovery that TERT can also regulate the expression of genes governing many aspects of aging further elevates its importance in human health.”
In introducing the concept of increasing the health span of individuals in a way that would also assist in avoiding other major diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer’s, Dr. DePinho indicates that, “if we understand the mechanisms as we have over the last 40 years of cancer, there is an opportunity to really use that knowledge to then increase the health span to reduce the incidence of these diseases for which cancer is a major instigator.”
During the hour-long presentation, Dr. DePinho focused on data from his current work with the telomerase activator compound (TAC) and the treatment of aged mice to showcase the impact of TAC treatment on age-related diseases, giving the audience insight into the inner mechanisms of aging and the future of aging research.
“The Distinguished Speaker Series seeks to bring prominent scholars to UTSA and foster an environment where the speaker’s vision and leadership skills can be seen and shared with our faculty, students, and community,” says Dr. Hamid Beladi, chair of the Academy. “The lecture series, like the Academy itself, seeks to foster and promote excellence in research, discovery, and training among faculty while advancing and sustaining UTSA as a premier research university.”
The Distinguished Lecture Series was initiated in the Fall of 2017 and will continue to host prominent scholars across disciplines at UTSA each semester.
Learn more about Sigma Xi UTSA Chapter.
Learn more about the Academy of Distinguished Researchers.