Highlighting one avenue of research as part of the Institute’s Optimizing Aging Initiative, Salk Professor Gerald Shadel shared details about his work on mitochondria, the powerhouses of cells. On February 12, Shadel, who holds the Audrey Geisel Chair in Biomedical Science, discussed the role mitochondria and mtDNA play in aging and disease to a full auditorium. The Back to Basics lecture series offers the public the opportunity to hear from the Institute’s world-renowned scientists throughout the year.