The maintenance of genome integrity is critical for the suppression of several pathological disorders in humans, including cancer, infertility premature ageing, and neurodegeneration. Destabilization of the genome can occur as a result of several cell intrinsic or extrinsic factors, including errors arising during DNA replication or chromosome segregation, as well as exposure of cells to agents that induce DNA damage. In this conference, we aim to bring together scientists studying DNA replication & repair, chromosome segregation and cellular responses to DNA damage, such as cellular senescence, with those interested in how chromosomal instability can influence human pathology, with a special focus on aging and age-related pathologies. Moreover, we aim to show how high throughput and high content screening methods can be used as a discovery tool both for basic science applications and to identify potential therapeutic modalities.

KEY SESSIONS

• Pathways for repair of DNA damage and disrupted DNA replication forks

• Screening tools for analysis of genome maintenance pathways and for development of new therapeutics

• Molecular and cellular determinants of aging, with a particular focus on cellular senescence.

• Chromosome instability as a driver of tumorigenesis, neurodegeneration and ageing

• Exploitation of defects in chromosome maintenance in cancer treatment