Longevity

By Lisa Ireland

I lead the Foundation’s global operations and oversee its board and other staff. Before joining the LSF, I worked in several different sectors, including education, healthcare, human services and science. My previous roles include Vice President for Institutional Advancement at the RMSC (Rochester Museum & Science Center) and Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship at RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology), where I led key initiatives to strengthen donor relationships through improved engagement, recognition, and stewardship programs. I was also Executive Director of United Way of Orleans, overseeing all aspects of the organization and its 25 programs.

What is the Longevity Science Foundation? What is the mission behind the foundation?

The Longevity Science Foundation is a global nonprofit that provides funding for early-stage research projects to extend the healthy human lifespan. Our mission is to extend the healthy human lifespan by making longevity care accessible to everyone and bringing cutting-edge science on aging out of laboratory and into the mainstream We bring longevity science supporters, researchers, and visionaries together to advance the field and support game-changing research development.

Where was the LSF started, and when did it come to the US?

The LSF was established in Switzerland in 2021 by a team of longevity founders and investors. The founding team recognized the lack of funding available for early-stage research and lack of transparency in existing funding organizations. They founded the LSF to provide grant funding for projects too early in development to attract venture capital or other traditional business investments.

and more vibrant life. Twenty-five years ago, in the scientific world, new research on genomics led to the discovery that aging is a biological process. This led to an uptick in longevity projects, and now some of these findings are gaining significant traction and reaching human trial stages. The next five years will be transformative for the field, with the first treatments reaching patients and longevity science becoming a household concept.

What does it mean to be a global nonprofit organization?

In the years that followed, the Foundation has expanded internationally, with a global headquarters and 501(c)(3) status in the United States. We formally announced my appointment and the opening of the Miami headquarters in October 2022.

Tell us about the concept of Longevity and how it began.

The desire to live longer has existed throughout history. From folklore accounts of a philosopher’s stone granting immortality to the latest superfood diet, society has always been captivated by the idea of a longer

As a global nonprofit, we support longevity research worldwide. Our funding is not restricted to a single geographic area. We know that international research institutes have different and exciting approaches to the sector, which is why we do not take location into consideration during the funding evaluation process.

Besides the international nature of our funding, we are firm believers in the power of borderless collaboration to support a longer and healthier lifespan. This month, we are joining King’s College London and Oxford University for two longevity events that celebrate our new partnership with King’s. We have board members from around the world and aim to speak at global conferences to share the longevity call.

Tell us about the vision of Longevity Sciences and how it relates to extended a healthier human lifespan. We envision a future where longevity care is accessible to all. Much of current longevity research is funded by the planet’s billionaires because they are eager to extend their lives to enjoy their wealth and have the resources to do so. We are working to ensure these findings are not limited to the world’s wealthiest. Everyone deserves more healthy years with their loved ones.

What is some of the cutting-edge research LSF is currently working on and what are the implications for the mainstream?

We have issued two funding calls so far, one on aging clocks and the other on psychedelic mental health treatments. Aging clocks are ways to measure biological aging in individuals. We’re seeing the foundations of these breakthroughs in smart watches and other wearable devices, which provide feedback on our activity levels and well-being. In the future, these might be able to share a regularly updated “biological age.” Aging clocks are also helpful for scientists as they provide a way to measure how treatments affect the aging process in individuals. They can easily see how a person responds to different medicines or lifestyle changes.

Our second funding call, which is still open, focuses on psychedelics. These compounds have come a long way since their recreational use in the 60s, today, they are providing life-changing treatments to patients diagnosed with mental health conditions like depression and PTSD. The LSF is focusing on psychedelic applications that will unlock a greater understanding of aging in the brain and neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s Disease.

What do you feel has been the biggest success of LSF and also the biggest hurdle to overcome?

One of our greatest successes has been building our reputation and platform in a short time. We are one of the leading nonprofit organizations in the longevity research space. Thanks to the work of our incredible Visionary Board, the word has spread quickly about our work, and we have received

“One of our greatest successes has been building our reputation and platform in a short time. We are one of the leading nonprofit organizations in the longevity research space.”

BY NICOLE HEROUX WILLIAMS I PHOTOS BY NSP STUDIO

some fascinating research proposals. As a pioneer in the space, it is one of our top priorities to convene the global leaders in longevity, including researchers, physicians, nonprofit experts, startup founders and investors. By building a place for these stakeholders to connect, we are proud to advance the field and make it more accessible.

One hurdle we’re facing is the rapid acceleration of human longevity research. There are so many projects across different areas, and we want to make sure we’re sharing these highlights with the world. It’s a good hurdle to have, as it means the field is primed for transformative discoveries in the future.

What does concept-to-practice mean in longevity?

Turning ideas to reality is what I think is the best way to describe this but am open to other thoughts. In longevity, concept-to-practice can be understood as turning an idea from a laboratory into a reality for humans. A lot of longevity research can get “stuck” in its early stages due to a lack of available funding. We bridge that gap by offering grants to encourage research to reach clinical trial stages as quickly and safely as possible.

Are you mainly seeing men or women being a key demographic audience for LSF?

Because we are so focused on accessibility, we’re seeing positive responses from both men and women. Longevity encompasses diseases that affect everyone, as well as gender-specific health concerns like cancers of the reproductive system.

Lisa, what made you become involved and so interested in longevity?

I was thrilled to have been recruited to lead the organization because it was an opportunity for me to support the longevity field with my background in nonprofits, science, education and philanthropy. The field of longevity is incredibly important to me, as I have family members who could have lived longer and healthier lives if the science related to aging was available. At the end of the day, longevity is a matter of getting to spend more healthy years with our loved ones. I relate strongly to this, and a lot of others do as well.

What is the biggest myth behind longevity itself? How do you plan on educated people about this?

A lot of people think longevity will be achieved with a single pill that magically adds years to our lives. In reality, longevity protocols will include better diagnostics, lifestyle choices and medicines. By funding different aspects of anti-aging, like aging clocks and mental health, we are showing the world the breadth of the field.

Another misconception is that longevity treatments will only be available to the wealthy and well-connected. Part of our mission is making longevity treatments accessible for all. We evaluate their projects for their potential impact and ability to reach patients from all backgrounds.

What is the vision for 3 years and 5 years from now?

In both the short and long term, we’re focused on scaling our funding to support more longevity research in different areas. Part of this will be building our global community to include more individuals, academic institutions and thought leaders from the longevity field and beyond. We are dedicated to developing our leadership role to host critical conversations on the future of our lifespans.

So research says, Exercising regularly, adopting a healthful diet, not smoking, not becoming overweight, and drinking only moderate amounts of alcohol could all lengthen life at age 50 for women by 14 years and for men by 12 years. Do you find in your research this to be true?

These are useful tips for anyone, whether their goal is to live longer or improve their health right now. New research is being published every day, and it’s really important to stay informed on the little things you can do to support your health.

How does lifestyle affect longevity?

There is a lot of research on the relationship between lifestyle and longevity, including diet, activity, stress and more. Lifestyle choices depend a lot on your personal medical history, and we always recommend consulting with your physician before making any major changes.

Where can we see LSF next?

We were just in London for two events with the University of Oxford and King’s College London. We’ll be speaking at the 10th annual ARDD conference, one of the biggest longevity gatherings, in Copenhagen this summer.