PROJECT SUMMARY Conventional biomedical research targets the etiology of individual aging-related diseases. Yet chronic diseases in old age rarely come in isolation, and thus, even dramatic advances in disease-specific treatments will have minimal impact on the extension of disease-free years. An alternative that is likely to have a far greater payoff is to focus on their common risk factor, increased age, to understand how loss of the youthful state leads to increased disease risk. The 2020 ‘C. elegans Metabolism, Aging, Pathogenesis, Stress and Small RNAs’ (MAPS 2020) is a bi-annual meeting that traditionally brings together leading researchers studying different aspects of aging biology in a single model organism. MAPS 2020 will leverage this strength and (i) provide a platform for presentation of predominantly unpublished, cutting edge-discoveries in aging from established and new investigators, (ii) expand the horizons of the field and encourage out-of-the-box thinking by incorporation of new topics and a variety of innovative formats in each session, (iii) provide opportunities for postdoc and graduate-student trainees, especially women and under-represented minorities (URMs) to present their research, (iv) facilitate interaction, mentoring and networking for new faculty trainees and established faculty through the introduction of two initiatives. The 2020 meeting roster thus far includes confirmed Invited speaker presentations from 42 renowned scientists (15 women (38%), 5 international). Seven out of the confirmed 11 session chairs are rising-star women in aging research (64%). The 2020 Conference Schedule incorporates formats that encourage our stated emphasis of promoting new investigators and trainees. The majority (72%; 37/52) of the invitees have not spoken at this meeting in the last four years, and amongst them, more than a third (21/52) are invitees to this meeting for the first time. The meeting schedule is designed to increase cross-participation and visibility of new faculty, post-doctoral trainees and graduate-students. We include two innovative initiatives: a strategic Paired-Mentoring Initiatives of young faculty with senior scientists, and a Cutting-Edge Concepts in Geroscience Initiative to bring new concepts and out-of-the-box concepts to aging research. Through this application, we are requesting funds to support the attendance of the invited speakers as well as the investigators at various career stages, from graduate students and post-docs to newly-independent faculty, who will be participating in the meeting. We propose allocating 55% of the funds from this grant specifically to support attendance of female scientists and URMs. We plan to offer on-site child-care services, travel and lodging to the meeting attendees to facilitate participation of young scientists and those with family responsibilities, and to make the meeting fully accessible to individuals with disabilities.