Valter Longo, PhD, is the Edna Jones Professor in Biological Sciences and Gerontology, the Director of the Longevity Institute at the USC School of Gerontology, one of the oldest and leading centers for aging research. His laboratory studies the fundamental mechanisms of aging in yeast, rodents and humans by using genetics and biochemistry techniques with focus on the nutrient-response signal transduction pathways that regulate disease and longevity. This work led to the identification of the role of the Tor-S6K pathway in longevity extension. His laboratory also has developed and tested the effect of periodic fasting and fasting mimicking diets on multi-system reprogramming and stem cell activation and regeneration in mice, later translated into clinical trials to prevent and treat a range of age-related diseases.