Aging is the greatest risk factor for the development of disease, but only recently have we recognized that the pace of aging is governed by specific proteins, similar to every other biological process. Therefore aging – and by extension all aging-related disease – is vulnerable to pharmaceutical intervention. The workshop begins with a brief overview of the molecular processes that govern embryonic development, and then transitions into lessons on the molecular biology of aging and aging-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Topics to be covered include embryogenesis, stem cell biology/epigenetics/cell differentiation, genes that regulate aging and lifespan, mitochondrial dysfunction, telomeres, and senescence. There will be an emphasis on next-generation therapeutic strategies to slow the aging process and extend lifespan.