Professor Hideyuki Okano Keio University Professor Hideyuki Okano is the Dean and Professor of the Department of Physiology at the Graduate School of Medicine, Keio University, and Team Leader at RIKEN Brain Science Institute. As Japan's leading researcher in regenerative medicine and a pioneering biotech entrepreneur, Professor Okano's research focuses on central nervous system development and regeneration, identifying novel therapeutic approaches for neurological disorders. His groundbreaking work has advanced neural stem cell research and iPS cell applications for neurological diseases. He has served in various executive positions at government institutions and as Dean of Keio University School of Medicine, President of The Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine, and Chairman of LINK-J, while founding multiple biotech companies to drive medical innovation.

Professor Brian Kennedy National University of Singapore Professor Brian Kennedy is the Director of the Healthy Longevity Translational Research Programme at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Director at the Centre for Healthy Longevity of National University Healthcare System (NUHS). As a leading longevity researcher, Professor Kennedy’s research has been focused on delineating mechanisms driving biological ageing and identifying interventions that extend both healthspan and lifespan. His work has been seminal in uncovering the critical roles sirtuins and the mTOR pathway play in regulating ageing. More recently, he has also focused on ageing biomarker development.

Professor Makoto Nakanishi University of Tokyo Professor Makoto Nakanishi is a Professor in the Division of Cancer Cell Biology at the Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo. A leading figure in cancer biology and aging research, Professor Nakanishi focuses on the molecular mechanisms of cellular senescence, DNA damage response, and epigenetic regulation. His pioneering work has revealed how senescent cells contribute to tumorigenesis and age-related pathologies. He is currently exploring senolytic strategies to eliminate harmful senescent cells, aiming to develop novel interventions for aging-related diseases and promote healthy longevity.

Professor Christopher Chen National University of Singapore Professor Christopher Chen is Director of the Memory Aging and Cognition Centre (MACC), National University Health System, and the recipient of ASTAR Investigatorship from the National Medical Research Council of Singapore. Prof Chen has developed a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary dementia programme and encouraged collaborative research in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. His current focus is on developing a regional network for innovative trials into conditions prevalent and pertinent to Asia. In addition, he has developed a Neuropsychological Assessment and Clinical Trials unit focusing on stroke and dementia with wide international collaborations. His major research and clinical interests are in neuroimaging, biomarkers and treatment of stroke and dementia. He has published over 400 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters, served on several editorial boards (Stroke, Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry), trial steering committees and data safety monitoring boards.