Bruno Conti

Bruno Conti is a biologist who investigates aging and age associated neurodegeneration. After completing his studies in Italy, he trained in Immunology at the New York Medical College, and in Neuroscience at Cornell University before moving to The Scripps Research Institute. His work demonstrated that reduction of core body temperature increase life span independently of calorie intake. His group identified some of the molecules that mediate the lowering of body temperature during calorie restriction and showed that three main regulators of longevity, body temperature, calorie restriction and the IGF-1R, are elements of the same pathway. Dr Conti is pursuing the identification of the genetic and biochemical pathways that mediate the effects of temperature on lifespan, that can serve as targets for generating “temperature mimetics” to treat aging and age-associated diseases. Dr Conti also investigates the neuroimmunology of cytokines exploring their role in modulating neuronal function and survival. He cloned rat interleukin 18 and pioneered the investigation of its role as neuroimmunomodulator. He also demonstrated that the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 13 contributes to the preferential loss of dopaminergic neurons that characterizes Parkinson’s disease. In addition to being an adjunct Professor at Yale, he is Professor at the San Diego Biomedical Research Institute, Emeritus Professor at Scripps Research and Adjunct Professor at Stockholm University.