From September 24 to 26, 2025, the Groningen–Jena Aging Meeting (G-JAM) took place in the historic auditorium of Friedrich Schiller University in Jena. More than 160 researchers from over ten countries came together to share the latest findings in biomedical aging research and establish new collaborations.
Organized by the Leibniz Institute on Aging Research – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) in Jena in collaboration with the European Research Institute for the Biology of Aging (ERIBA) in Groningen, the conference is held annually, alternating between the two partner institutions, and has become a fixture in the international aging research calendar.
Exchange, networking, and scientific excellence
The three-day program offered an impressive variety of topics and formats: from keynote lectures by renowned aging researchers such as Dame Prof. Dr. Linda Partridge, Prof. Dr. Rafael de Cabo, and Prof. Dr. Vera Gorbunova to invited talks, inspiring short presentations, and two lively poster sessions. In the run-up to the event, participants had already taken the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of bioinformatic methods at the pre-workshop “Proteome Informatics Training”.
The interdisciplinary character of the conference was particularly emphasized: Researchers worked with a wide range of model organisms – from yeast cells, nematodes, and fruit flies to mice and the world's longest-living mammal, the Greenland shark. This comparative perspective opened up new insights into the molecular mechanisms of aging and possible ways to extend healthy lifespan.
A successful meeting in a unique atmosphere
The historic auditorium of Friedrich Schiller University provided the perfect setting for intensive exchange and new scientific impulses. G-JAM 2025 impressed with its open atmosphere, inspired new collaborations and research ideas, and highlighted how crucial joint research is for understanding aging.
