The Academy for Health and Lifespan Research is a non-profit organization uniting a select group of scientists. Founded in 2019, its purpose is to support research into the mechanisms of aging. The organization aims to foster collaboration among researchers to accelerate the development of treatments that can extend the period of healthy life. It brings together experts to focus on the biological processes that underlie age-related decline.
Core Mission and Scientific Focus
The Academy’s mission is to redefine aging as a modifiable condition that is the primary driver of most chronic diseases. This perspective frames the biological process of aging as a target for medical intervention. By addressing the root causes of age-related decline, the organization seeks to improve quality of life. This approach represents a shift from treating individual diseases to targeting the underlying biology of aging.
This mission is built upon geroscience, which investigates the link between the biology of aging and the onset of age-related diseases. The research supported by the Academy explores how fundamental aging processes can be altered or delayed. Scientists investigate specific molecular mechanisms, such as the interplay between immune and metabolic systems that influences chronic inflammation, or “inflammaging”. Other areas of focus include how dietary factors and metabolic regulation affect cellular aging pathways.
The goal is to translate laboratory discoveries into health benefits and enhance “healthspan,” the number of years a person lives in good health. This endeavor is also an economic one, with the potential to lower healthcare costs by preventing chronic conditions.
Key Members and Public Advocacy
The Academy is composed of researchers, clinicians, and scientists from around the world. Members include specialists in immunobiology and pathology, such as Dr. Vishwa Deep Dixit from Yale, whose work centers on inflammation and metabolism. Other members, like Dr. Björn Schumacher from the University of Cologne, focus on how DNA damage contributes to aging. The organization’s leadership includes President Dr. Nir Barzilai of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
The organization also engages in public advocacy, communicating the promise of longevity research to the public, policymakers, and the medical community. This involves educating these groups about healthspan science and reframing the public conversation around aging. The Academy advises on public policy to create a supportive environment for aging research and its translation into practice.
This outreach is designed to accelerate the adoption of new therapies and treatments. By convening experts, the Academy seeks to advance its mission in public and private settings. The organization emphasizes that its work is made possible by decades of government-funded research and advocates for continued investment in basic science. This public-facing role helps ensure that breakthroughs become accessible and integrated into society.