Dr Richard G Cutler is an internationally known Molecular Gerontologist. He is best recognized for his Longevity Determinant Gene and Dysdifferentiated Hypothesis of Aging. He is now internationally recognized as an expert in the field of oxidative stress profiling and in the development of genetic and pharmaceutical means of controlling aging rate and age-dependent diseases related to oxidative stress. Dr Cutler joined the Gerontology Research Center at the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health as a principle investigator. He remained there as a productive research scientist for 18 years. Dr Cutler founded the Genox Corporation and developed the procedure of Oxidative Stress Profiling. He then joined The Kronos Group as the President and Scientific Director. Here he designed the laboratory and set up the analytical instruments and assays with an emphasis on preventive medicine and oxidative stress profiling. Dr Cutler served briefly as the director of the Kronos Foundation and with The Aurora Foundation as a consultant. He is now a Senior Scientist with the Kronous Longevity Research Institute. Dr Henry Rodriguez, MS, PhD Project Leader, Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland USA. Dr Henry Rodriguez's research interests are the detection, mapping and repair of oxidative DNA damage, its relation to diseases associated with aging, and the development of methods in treating age-related diseases. His work has led to the development of a PCR-based assay in mapping oxidative damage to DNA in mammalian genes, an area of great importance in the fields of medical science, mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. Recently, Dr Rodriguez has been involved in the development of high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) for the measurement of oxidative damage to DNA. His other area of research is Tissue Engineering and developing test methods to ensure their safety during development, storage and shipment. He is the recipient of domestic and international honors and awards for his efforts on nucleic acid technology development. Dr Rodriguez has been a leading voice in defining the potential for and promoting the importance of research and technology development. Prior to becoming a Project Leader at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Dr Rodriguez trained at the Scripps Research Institute and later at the City of Hope Cancer Research Hospital in Southern California. Dr Rodriguez holds a MS in Biology, a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology, and is currently working towards an MBA degree. Awards received: 2002 - Awarded top 3 success story from the 30-year history of the MBRS (Minority Biomedical Research Students) Programme. President, The Oxygen Club of Greater Washington, DC. 2001 - Sigma Xi Young Investigator Award, The Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society. State of Hawaii Proclamation letter by the Governor of Hawaii recognizing the importance and contributions of the Oxidative Stress and Aging Association. President-Elect, The Oxygen Club of Greater Washington, D C. 2000 - Sigma Xi Mid-Atlantic Regional Young Investigator, The Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society.
