Bernard Strehler-inspiration for basic research into the mechanisms of aging

Bernard Strehler, who passed away recently, has provided inspiration and intellectual guidance for a generation of scientists interested in the biology of aging. My own career in this field was launched in large part by the ideas and concepts discussed by Dr Strehler in his book, Time, Cells, and Aging. Much of my scientific career has been devoted to studying one aspect of the aging process-the intracellular accumulation of autofluorescent lysosomal storage bodies (lipofuscin) during senescence. Work in my laboratory has contributed to the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms that underlie formation of lipofuscin in the retinal pigment epithelium of the eye. The challenge for the work on lipofuscin, and for much of the current research on aging, is to determine whether specific age-related changes such as lipofuscin accumulation, are involved in determining maximum life span. Bernard Strehler's eloquent statement of this challenge will hopefully continue to inspire new research to further our understanding of the aging phenomenon.