Dr Maximina Yun earned a BSc in Molecular Biology from the University of Buenos Aires and a PhD in Genetics and Biochemistry from Cambridge University at the MRC-Laboratory of Molecular Biology, where she focused on the mechanisms underlying genome stability. During her doctoral studies she became interested in the control of cellular plasticity and thus joined Jeremy Brockes’ lab (University College London) where she begun to explore the mechanisms underlying regeneration of complex structures using salamanders as model organisms. Since September 2017 she is a group leader at CRTD-Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden and Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Germany. Her current research leverages the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) and the Iberian ribbed newt (Pleurodeles waltl) systems to uncover fundamental principles of regeneration and ageing.

On February 27th, the Institute for Regenerative Biology and Medicine(IRBM),  Chinese Institutes for Medical Research (CIMR) had the honor of hosting Professor Maximina Yun, a leading figure in the fields of regenerative biology and aging research. Professor Yun delivered a fascinating talk introducing the axolotl as a novel model for studying aging processes.

Renowned for their extraordinary regenerative abilities, salamanders like the axolotl not only regenerate complex structures but also exhibit remarkable traits such as exceptional longevity, resistance to age-related decline, and defiance of Gompertz's law of mortality. In her presentation, Professor Yun shared her lab’s latest efforts to uncover how salamanders regulate key hallmarks of aging throughout regeneration and across their lifespans. She also highlighted the potential of these unique models to illuminate the biological underpinnings of negligible senescence.

The lecture sparked dynamic discussions and was warmly received by CIMR faculty, staff, and students. We thank Professor Yun for her inspiring visit and look forward to future collaborations.