The Hevolution Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the scientific understanding of healthy aging. Its name, “Hevolution,” combines “health” and “evolution,” reflecting its focus on human health’s evolution. The foundation aims to support research and initiatives that contribute to a future where more people experience longer, healthier lives.
The Mission to Extend Healthspan
The foundation’s primary objective is to extend “healthspan,” rather than merely increasing “lifespan.” Lifespan refers to the total years lived, while healthspan denotes the period lived in good health, free from age-related diseases and decline. Hevolution is committed to accelerating scientific discoveries in the biology of aging to maximize years lived in good health.
This strategic focus involves several goals, including increasing the availability of safe and effective treatments for age-related conditions. The foundation also seeks to reduce the time for new drug development, utilizing advanced tools and technologies. Ultimately, Hevolution aims to make these healthspan-extending therapies accessible and affordable globally.
Organizational Backing and Leadership
The Hevolution Foundation was established in 2018 by a royal decree from the Saudi Arabian government, which also funds it. This substantial backing allows the foundation to operate with an annual budget of up to $1 billion (or SR4 billion), making it a significant philanthropic entity in the field of geroscience. Its headquarters are in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with an additional operational hub in Boston, Massachusetts.
Leading the foundation is Dr. Mehmood Khan, its Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Khan’s background includes a tenure as chief scientific officer at PepsiCo. His leadership guides Hevolution’s efforts, directing substantial resources to global research in healthy aging.
Key Areas of Scientific Investment
Hevolution primarily functions as a funding body, channeling investments and grants to researchers, academic institutions, and biotechnology companies worldwide. The foundation focuses its support on areas like geroscience, which investigates the biological mechanisms of aging, and related fields such as cellular senescence and metabolic health. This approach stimulates new discoveries and accelerates the translation of scientific insights into practical applications.
The foundation has made significant financial commitments, including a notable allocation of $230 million towards pre-clinical projects in aging biology through its Geroscience Research Opportunities Program. It also collaborates with organizations like the American Federation for Aging Research, a U.S. nonprofit, which has received $7.6 million from Hevolution. These investments support the identification of biomarkers for tracking aging and fund early-stage human trials for existing, repurposed drugs addressing aging processes. The foundation also hosts events like the Global Healthspan Summit, where experts discuss the future of aging science.