Teach Me in 10 – Cell Senescence, Aging and Disease With Professor Judith Campisi

In this instalment of Teach Me in 10, we are delighted to welcome Professor Judith Campisi from the Buck Institute for Research on Aging.

We all know that an unfortunate side effect of aging is that we become more at risk for developing a wide variety of diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Why is this?

The Campisi lab studies the regulation and characteristics of cell states, focusing particularly on cell senescence, a state of permanent cell cycle arrest. Put simply, cell senescence is when our cells stop dividing.

In this Teach Me in 10 challenge, Professor Campisi explains why cell senescence can be a good and bad thing. She talks us through her laboratory's use of various cell-based and animal models to understand the molecular pathways that drive cellular senescence, and how data from such experiments can helps further our knowledge of the mechanisms behind age-related diseases.

Does removing senescent cells extend lifespan? Watch this installment of Teach Me in 10 to find out. 

Article note: February 1, 2024. We are saddened to hear of the passing of Prof. Judith Campisi, a valued contributor to our site and a respected member of the scientific community. We advise readers to note the publication dates of her contributions, acknowledging that any future updates will not involve her direct input..