I represent the Science for Life Extension Foundation.
The main goal of our Foundation is to make radical life extension a global initiative.
We integrate efforts in order to increase funding for research in regenerative medicine, gerontology, genetics, neuroscience, systems biology, and related sciences aimed at studying the mechanisms of aging and searching for methods to increase human longevity.
Major projects:
1. Comprehensive interdisciplinary “Human Life Extension” Research Program
The goal of the Program is to further the development and implementation of scientific methods that will help to substantially increase the human lifespan.
Priority tasks:
• Investigation of the mechanisms that are fundamental to aging
• Development of methods that interfere with or retard the aging process
• Practical application of scientific research results towards significantly prolonging human lives
Our Foundation invites scientists from all over the world to participate in the development of the Program. Currently 26 leading specialists from Russia, UK, Denmark, Italy and Ukraine participate in the Program. The draft of the Program was presented at the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics Congress, IAGG-2009, in July 2009 in Paris. We continue to develop the Program.
Download the “Human Life Extension” research program (0.61 Mb)
2. Funding research aimed at studying the mechanisms of aging and life span extension
The following studies are currently subsidized by the Foundation:
• Study of the influence of over-activated stress-resistance genes on life span and quality of life in animals
• Study of the age-dependant changes in oxidized purines, pyramidines, uracil, single- and double-strand breaks and methylated DNA as biomarkers of aging rates in mice
Research is conducted at the Institute of Biology, Komi Science Center, Russian Academy of Sciences. Head Researcher: Alexey Moskalev, Ph.D.
3. Knowledge base: “Integrated System of aging biomarkers”
Goals:
• Systematization of the data on age-related changes at the molecular level
• Systematization of the data on age-related changes at the cellular and tissue level
• Identification of the relationships between the changes at the molecular and the cellular/tissue levels
• Study of the relationships between age-related changes and age-related processes and diseases
The poster was presented at the 7th European Biogerentology Congress in Palermo in October 2010.
Download poster “Integrated system of aging biomarkers” (0.68 Mb)
4. Regenerative Medicine Roadmap
Goals:
• Systematization of current research results
• Identification of future research perspectives
• Coordination of research conducted by various groups from different institutions in different countries
• Attraction of potential investors
Development of the roadmap started more than a year ago. Since then, the original map is constantly being modified and improved. Interim results have been presented at the following forums:
• Translational Regenerative Medicine Forum (April 2010, Winston-Salem, USA)
• World Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Congress (May 2010, London)
• 7th European Biogerontology Congress (October 2010, Palermo)
Download the Regenerative Medicine Roadmap (0.42 Mb)
5. Implementation of the achievements in the field of regenerative medicine into clinical practice in Russia
Our Foundation helped to establish collaboration between scientists from the Russian Research Centre of Surgery of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences (RAMS) and Paolo Macchiarini, a well known contributor to the field of Regenerative medicine when in 2008 he performed the first Adult stem cell grown trachea transplant.
Russian have scientists already studied his organ growing technique and the processes of trachea preparation for transplantation during the surgeries in Carreggi Clinic (University of Florence). The next stage of the project will be an actual trachea transplantation in Moscow (planned date – December 2010).
6. Research monitoring in the area of lifespan extension
Scientists working with the Foundation are carrying out the continuous monitoring of research results seeking those that could be potentially used as a base towards the development of technologies and methods for increased longevity. Monitored results are currently being published in the form of a digest. This way the Foundation is not only promoting interest among scientists and students, but is also trying to attract potential investors for financial support of certain research projects.
Download “Scientific trends of life extension” review (Russian) (8.8 Mb)
Download Table of Contents “Scientific trends of life extension” review (English) (0.12 Mb)
Download “25 scientific ideas of life extension” review (1.6 Mb)
7. Promotion of research in the field of extending human longevity
Aside from publishing research activities in books, brochures, newspapers digests and the Internet, the Foundation also organizes discussions within the Russian scientific community and continues to invite leading international scientists to deliver public lectures in this field.
In February 2009, the Foundation invited British gerontologist Aubrey de Grey, the Chief Science Officer of the SENS Foundation. He presented a lecture in the Russian Academy of Science, participated in a Science Café and was a main figure in the joint event organized by the Foundation and The SNOB Magazine.
Watch a photo report of Aubrey de Grey’s visit
In November 2009, the Foundation organized the visit of Suresh Rattan, the Head of the Laboratory of Cellular Aging of the Department of Molecular Biology at the University of Aarhus in Denmark and Editor in Chief of “Biogerontology” a leading peer review journal in the field of aging.. He delivered a lecture “Aging and lifespan – from biology to hormesis” at the Institute of Bioregulation (North-West department of Russian Academy of Science), attended by professionals from 22 academic institutions across the city.
Watch a photo report of Suresh Rattan’s visit
In February 2010, the Foundation organized the visit of Professor Paolo Macchiarini. Dr. Macchiarini is the Head of Department of General Thoracic Surgery at the University of Barcelona Clinic and also, since January 2010, he is the Head of Department of Regenerative Surgery & Intrathoracic Biotransplantation at the University of Florence. The General Committee of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences in Moscow held Professor Paolo Macchiarini’s master class. During the master class, Professor Macchiarini described the method of the unique trachea transplantation surgery, when trachea is formed inside the patient’s body without using a bioreactor. The master class was attended by 80 cell biologists, transplantology experts and surgeons from Moscow, St-Petersburg, Obninsk, Novosibirsk, Ekaterinburg and other Russian cities. In addition, Dr. Macchiarini has met with science journalists and presented a lecture “Bionics for future medicine” for students and residents of the Moscow Sechenov Medical Academy.
she is the best in that field honestly. entirely support the ideas of immortalism spreaded by the Fund. everyone can start with himself right now loving yourself and keeping to the healthy life style. it requires less efforts than you might think of indeed. invest in you future, follow the news of the Fund. no doubt it’ll be generously repaid
Great site Maria. I have bookmarked it and look forward to more reports from Russia.
This is awesome! Thank you for the work you are doing.
Great blog Maria. I added Maria’s blog to StumbleUpon. If you’re reading this, download the SU toolbar and go to her blog and thumbs it up. It only takes a minute, is free, has no spyware. The more people who thumbs it up the more traffic her blog will get from SU.
Simply marvellous.Great work is being handle by you. Wish to have your regular communication. All the best.
Vivek Atre.
Thanks a lot to all of you. I really appreciate it.
Thank you so much for your work. I’d be interested to know what the attitude of the Russian government is to the H+ movement. Also… you are very beautiful, i hope you don’t mind me saying so.
Keep up with the good work. This is even more awesome and praiseworthy, given the sad state of affairs where science in Russia is ever so often contaminated and slowed down with pseudoscientific nonsense and vacuous mysticism.
Best regards from Latvian Transhumanist Association.
Thank you so much! Yes, we do have quite a bit of that)
I am also very interested in learning about what the Latvian Transhumanist association is doing.
If people can get over the notion that aging can’t be programmed, and realize that aging is part of a life-spanning development process, they’ll see that aging is a very understandable phenomenon. What is unexpected is that Nature has left open a ‘loophole’ (in the legal sense) that we can exploit to rejuvenate our cells and our bodies, The sequoia tree, its stem cell tissues (meristems), constantly exposed to strong mutagenic sunlight none-the-less lives thousands of years, I believe we can do at least as well.
Смелый
спасибо
Jimmy Thompson
Florida US
I believe I have a ‘cure’ for aging – Aubrey de Grey believed me well enough and Mitch Harman believes that I’m correct – what we need is support – I believe that using current medical technology that we can rejuvenate people, but where’s the interest, where’s the cash. Why because the current model of aging is wrong – aging is at least in part a programmed process and to an extent yet to be determined, reversible.
I’m sure you’ll miss your chance to a proceed along the well-worn ruts that Aubrey travels to nowhere.
I’m a student at San Francisco State University planning to pursue a phD in biogerontology after I graduate. I am interested in writing to other people in the field about my ideas and learning about what I can do to help find a cure, which I think is very possible. Feel free to email me. I look forward to joining this community.
Hi Leslina. I’m willing to talk to anyone, but I’d prefer someone who is actually involved in doing ‘stuff’. On the other hand It’s be nice to have a community. Yes, I believe I actually have an approach to ‘curing’ aging, but you’d have to first be convinced that the so-called ‘wear and tear’ “Theories” of aging are wrong (I put double quotes around theories, because at best these ‘theories’ are hypotheses based what is presumed the irreversible decline in the abilities of aging cells (particularly stem cells). This has already been show to be untrue..
Oh, BTW my e-mail is hkatcher@earthlink.net – no crazies need reply. What I know is common knowledge – the best work to come out of Harvard and Stanford – but understanding makes the difference (and a bit of luck perhaps).