Methuselah Foundation

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Methuselah Foundation New Logo

Methuselah Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to extending the healthy human lifespan by advancing tissue engineering and regenerative medicine therapies. It was founded in 2003 by Aubrey de Grey and David Gobel, with the goal of making 90 the new 50 by 2030. The foundation supports research and initiatives that aim to extend the lives of humans by combating the process of aging. A significant part of its mission is to accelerate breakthroughs in longevity through funding and strategic support.

History[edit | edit source]

The Methuselah Foundation was established in 2003 by biomedical gerontologist Aubrey de Grey and entrepreneur David Gobel. Its formation was motivated by the belief that technology could significantly extend human life expectancy by addressing the root causes of aging. The foundation's name is inspired by Methuselah, the grandfather of Noah in the Hebrew Bible, who is said to have lived to the age of 969 years, making him a symbol for longevity.

Initiatives[edit | edit source]

The foundation has launched several initiatives to promote its goals, including:

  • The Methuselah Mouse Prize – This is the foundation's flagship project, aimed at encouraging the development of new life extension therapies by awarding prizes to researchers who extend the lifespan of mice significantly. The prize is intended to demonstrate the feasibility of life extension technologies and stimulate further research in the field.
  • New Organ Prize – An initiative focused on advancing regenerative medicine and tissue engineering to create replacement organs. The goal is to address the shortage of donor organs available for transplantation by developing technologies that can generate fully functional human organs from patients' own cells.
  • Organovo – In partnership with the Methuselah Foundation, Organovo has worked on developing 3D bioprinting technologies capable of creating living human tissues for medical research and therapeutic applications. This collaboration aims to accelerate the development of bioprinted organs and tissues that can be used in transplantation and drug testing.

Funding and Support[edit | edit source]

The Methuselah Foundation provides funding and strategic support to researchers and startups working in areas related to life extension and regenerative medicine. It raises funds through donations, grants, and partnerships with individuals, corporations, and other foundations interested in advancing human health and longevity.

Impact[edit | edit source]

The foundation's efforts have contributed to increased interest and investment in longevity research. By funding key projects and offering prizes for significant achievements, the Methuselah Foundation has played a role in advancing the science of life extension and regenerative medicine. Its initiatives have helped to bring attention to the potential for extending healthy human life and have encouraged more scientists and entrepreneurs to enter the field.

See Also[edit | edit source]

Methuselah Foundation Resources

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD