The Mitochondria Symposium
at UCLA

By far, the most popular, memorable and informative session at this conference! Ironically, “Kill the Expert” is also the most lively session. How does it work? We ask the experts to address a common simple question about mitochondria research methodology, such as their recommended way to quantify mitophagy or mitochondrial architecture, and we hope to get a simple answer. You will be surprised how difficult this task is, for the moderator. For the risk of being killed by the expert, we have 2 moderators in parallel. Although most experts swear they will never volunteer to step on that stage ever again, they keep on coming back.

Round table discussions will focus on identifying current gaps in knowledge and technology in a field, where each attendee will actively participate and voice their opinion or lead a discussion. Conference attendees will be divided into 15 tables, each focusing on a different topic.  Discussion leaders will be appointed a month prior to the conference. Attendees will be assigned to a topic on the first day of the conference, during the check-in at the welcome table.

​

In keep the expert, the expert is asked to present a new hypothesis that can address an open gap. Two interrogators prepare their questions ahead of time, and then it is open for the crowd to make their own suggestions and help the presenter sharpen their theory and receive suggestions for experiments that should be conducted. In this conference we will interrogate new theories in the following fields:

• Mitochondria in Liver Disease

• Mitochondria in Aging

• Mitochondria Cristae architecture vs Function

• Protocol to Measure Mitochondrial Hydrolysis

• Frozen Seahorse Respirometry

• Mitochondrial Imaging and Analysis

How do I decide if I fit better to be an academic PI or a biotech scientist, or perhaps be an analyst in a biotech investment firm? What makes one a better fit for Pharma vs biotech? How are these compared to core directors and senior scientists in academia? We invited people from each of these disciplines to talk about their life, tasks and challenges and describe the personality, preferences and skill sets that better fit one or the other.

Morning exercise on Friday the 8th and saturday the 9th are open to all and will be lead by an Equinox trainer in the sculpture garden before the conference sessions begins.