International scientists to assemble in Roanoke to unlock the medicine of exercise

The world’s largest continuing gathering of scientists who investigate the potential of exercise to fight disease and extend human health arrives in Roanoke June 1 for the 20th International Biochemistry of Exercise Conference (IBEC).

Virginia Tech and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC will host the event June 1-3 at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center, followed by a post-conference Career Development with Advanced Technology Course on June 4-5. 

The gathering represents only the third time that the conference, which takes place every two or three years, has been held in the United States over the last six decades. That puts Roanoke among cities such as Brussels, Beijing, Boston, Stockholm, Sao Paolo, Brazil, and Limerick, Ireland, which have also hosted the event.

More than 250 scientists from North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia are expected for the three-day event. Their expertise goes beyond the well-known benefits, such as weight loss and cardiovascular fitness, to the exploration of the molecular mechanisms of exercise, including fighting and preventing diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.

“Exercise sends a powerful signal to the body that it needs to change and grow stronger,” said Zhen Yan, professor and director of the research institute’s Center for Exercise Medicine Research. “These changes make our body better equipped not only for future physical demands but also prevent or impede the disease processes that lead to the decline of our health. These adaptations are in essence the reason that regular exercise is the best intervention for promotion of health and prevention of diseases.”

The international conference’s theme is “Exercise and Healthspan,” shifting the focus from simply how long people live to how to live those years in good health.

“Hosting IBEC reflects the growing role of Virginia Tech and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute in addressing some of the most important challenges at the intersection of healthy lifestyles, disease prevention, enhanced physical and mental performance, and how to capture the body’s natural signals to respond to disease,” said Michael Friedlander, executive director of the research institute and Virginia Tech’s vice president for health sciences and technology. “By bringing together leading scientists, clinicians, and innovators from across the globe, this gathering will catalyze the scientific collaborations and advance the translational research needed to move discoveries into real-world impact. Moreover, the successful attraction of this storied program by Dr. Yan and his team makes a profound statement, contributing to putting Roanoke on the world stage in the exercise medicine world but also showcasing our region’s natural beauty and welcoming spirit to people from diverse cultures from across the world.”

The conference will feature internationally recognized leaders in exercise science, aging, and regenerative medicine, including:

• Karyn Esser, chair of the University of Florida’s Department of Physiology and Aging and former president of the American College of Sports Medicine, who will discuss how circadian clocks influence and respond to exercise.
• Thomas Rando, a pioneer in stem cell biology and bioengineering, who will present research exploring exercise as a form of regenerative medicine. Rando directs the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA and is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

In addition, the conference will also explore some of the field’s fastest-moving and most consequential topics, including how exercise influences healthy aging, brain and behavior function, cancer prevention, mitochondrial adaptation, and the body’s response to medications such as GLP-1 agonists. Sessions will examine emerging discoveries related to skeletal muscle, regenerative medicine, circadian biology, and the ways organs and biological systems communicate during exercise.

“We will have the best scientific exchange possible at the conference,” said Yan, an executive committee member of the International Research Group on Biochemistry of Exercise. “The number and quality of scientists and speakers we have coming is an indication of that.”

The Roanoke Valley’s natural beauty and diverse outdoor and athletic offerings helped, said Yan, who has attended at least eight previous editions of the event. The conference schedule includes time for participants to hike, bike, play pickleball, walk the Roanoke River Greenway, and take part in a pick-up soccer match – a conference tradition. Yan is the conference’s chief organizer, supported by a committee and staff from the research institute, Virginia Tech, and Roanoke College.

Following the conference, students, postdoctoral fellows, and other trainees will participate in a two-day post-conference course on the Virginia Tech Health Sciences and Technology campus in Roanoke. The course schedule includes talks on career development, grant writing, lab techniques, and research instrument demonstrations.

It’s the first time since 1999 that a post-conference course has been offered with the conference.