The results presented are part of their respective Doctoral Theses, focussed on identifying impact of the transcription factor SOX2, an essential gene for correct stem cell activity and function, on the ageing of tissue and the organism.

Predoctoral researchers Leire Moreno and Laura Yndriago from the Cellular Oncology (headed by Ander Matheu) and Tissue Engineering (headed by Ander Izeta) groups presented their research works at the renowned international congress Molecular aspects of aging and longevity organised by the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB) in Athens from 16th-19th October.

In the scope of the oral communications, Leire Moreno presented the results of her work entitled ‘Impact of SOX2 haploinsufficiency in longevity and stem cell activity with ageing’ alongside recognised scientists in the field of ageing, such as Judith Campisi, Peter Adams, Alexander Burkle, David Sinclair, Linda Partridge or Jan Hoeijmakers. She was also the only predoctoral researcher to have her work selected in this area.

On the other hand, Laura Yndriago presented the conclusions of her work ‘Functional characterization of the impaired dermal stem cell phenotype in aged mice’ in the posters section.

The results presented are part of their respective Doctoral Theses, focussed on identifying impact of the transcription factor SOX2, an essential gene for correct stem cell activity and function, on the ageing of tissue and the organism. This line of research falls within the IKAGURE-BD Strategy’s thematic area of “Identifying the biological determinants responsible for ageing and fragility” and demonstrates the important progress being made in the Strategy of Research in Ageing and in the line of research on the impact (decline) of stem cell activity particularly with ageing.