Laura M. Barzilai, JD, LLM, elected Chair of Board of Directors of the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR)

NEW YORK— The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR), a national, nonprofit whose mission is to advance and support healthy aging through biomedical research, is pleased to announce the election of Laura M. Barzilai, JD, LLM, as Chair of the Board of Directors.

Stephanie Lederman, EdM, AFAR Executive Director, shares: "The Board of Directors of AFAR unanimously elected Laura Barzilai as Chair in December 2023. For nearly a decade, her contributions as a board member, committee chair, and Vice Chair have significantly guided AFAR's governance and growth. She believes strongly in the promise of geroscience and will bring an industrious vision to her new role as Chair."

Ms. Barzilai recently retired as a partner at Sidley Austin, LLP, where she served on the Firm's Executive Committee and global head of the Firm's tax practice. She practiced law for over 37 years, focusing on federal income tax matters, with particular emphasis on mergers & acquisitions, and tax-free reorganizations. She earned a BA from Wellesley College, JD from the University of Virginia, and LLM in Taxation from New York University.She joined the AFAR board in 2015.

"I have witnessed the tremendous impact AFAR has made by supporting the brightest talent in aging research and in doing so, building the field at large. Through its lean administration and unwavering dedication to science, AFAR has earned deep respect from the academic, private, and philanthropic communities," notes Barzilai. "I am honored to work with AFAR's board and staff to help steer initiatives, engage audiences, and strengthen processes to assure that AFAR will continue to thrive as an organization and leader in the field."

Starting January 2024, Ms. Barzilai joins an esteemed roster of past Chairs including (in chronological order) Fred D. Thompson, George E. Doty, Kenneth D. Brody, Hadley C. Ford, Diana Jacobs Kalman, William J. Lipton, Ann M. Connolly, and Steven N. Austad.

View AFAR's current Board of Directors here.

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About AFAR    

The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) is a national non-profit organization that supports and advances pioneering biomedical research that is revolutionizing how we live healthier and longer. For more than four decades, AFAR has served as the field’s talent incubator, providing nearly $200 million to some 4,400 investigators at premier research institutions to date—and growing. In 2023, AFAR expects to provide approximately $12,500,000 to more than 60 investigators. A trusted leader and strategist, AFAR also works with public and private funders to steer high quality grant programs and interdisciplinary research networks. AFAR-funded researchers are finding that modifying basic cellular processes can delay—or even prevent—many chronic diseases, often at the same time. They are discovering that it is never too late—or too early—to improve health. The science funded by AFAR is paving the way for innovative new therapies that promise to improve and extend our quality of life—at any age. Learn more at www.afar.org.

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