Age-related diseases and disabilities, such as cancer, diabetes, and neuronal degeneration, pose an ever increasing social and economic burden worldwide. Fortunately, the last decades have witnessed dramatic progress in our understanding of the aging process. Genetic studies in particular have helped elucidate some of the molecular pathways that regulate the aging and offered new insights into the treatment of age-related diseases. However, there is still much to be learned and further progress in addressing the unique challenges of the aging population will require new insights and novel approaches. In order to accelerate the discovery process, this Keystone Symposia meeting will cover essential aspects of the aging processes, including cell signaling pathways, DNA stability, protein homeostasis, stem cells and cellular senescence. Each plenary session will emphasize innovative findings from a variety of models in basic research areas and link them to age-related disease and frailty. The ultimate goal is to provide an opportunity for attendees to communicate and promote an integrated understanding of aging and age-related diseases. The program for this meeting is highly likely to attract a wide variety of investigators, many of whom might not otherwise interact.