In this lecture, Beth Levine, M.D., will present an overview of her work in the study of autophagy, a cannibalistic process in which cells devour their own damaged or unneeded components. Autophagy may play a role in autoimmune disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus. She and her team identified the first known gene in mammals that is responsible for autophagy. Her research has since shown that defects in the expression or function of this specific gene, called beclin 1, may contribute to cancer, aging, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, and infectious diseases. Dr. Levine's current research focuses on the role of autophagy in normal development and control of lifespan, the mechanisms by which autophagy genes suppress tumors, the biochemical mechanisms that regulate beclin 1 function, and the role of autophagy as a defense mechanism against certain viruses and bacteria.