In this latest edition of the Longevity and DeSci Recap, we’ll be taking a look back over a month full of events, research, and investments. As we head into spring, renewed life is on the horizon with continued investments in the longevity sector and the announcement of a permanent longevity/DeSci hub being launched on the sandy shores of the Caribbean.
Upcoming conferences and events
Global Synthetic Biology Conference
Spanning four days this May, the Global Synthetic Biology Conference will take place in San Jose, California, hosting 180+ content experiences, 20+ networking opportunities, and 200+ sponsors and exhibitors. This year, topics are set to include human health, planetary health, tools and technology, and the business of biology and society. Tickets for the event are available here.
SALT iConnections is coming to New York
This May 20-21, SALT, the global investment platform, will host an event centered on the impact of disruptive technologies on global finance, geopolitics and economics. Expected to be attended by prominent figures from New York’s financial ecosystem, the event offers a variety of sessions covering growth, innovation, and opportunities. Tickets are still available online.
Annual therapeutics summit returns
This June 11-13, the Age-Related Disease Therapeutics Summit is back for its sixth edition. Featuring 20+ speakers, works, and more, the event will host industry names such as Eli Lilly, Takeda, Turn Bio, BioAge, and Rubedo Life Sciences.
Off to Dublin for the Longevity Summit 2024
From June 13-16, the capital city of the Emerald Isle will play host to one of the biggest longevity events of the season. This year’s conference will host talks on rejuvenation biotechnology and longevity, with speakers to include Dr. Irina Conboy and Matthew “Oki” O’Connor. Tickets are still available here.
11th Aging Research and Drug Discovery Meeting
ARDD is back in 2024 this August. This year’s event is set to delve into such topics as senolytics, stem cell research, healthy longevity, and epigenetic reprogramming with prominent industry speakers, such as Nir Barzilai, Vera Gorbunova, and Aubrey de Grey. Tickets and event details are available here.
Tech breakthroughs & new research
Gero combines wearable tech and longevity research in new study
Aimed at uncovering the digital biomarkers of aging through the use of wearable technology, Gero has announced the launch of a new study conducted through its GeroSense app. The company has launched a non-profit initiative that draws upon specific data, such as daily step patterns and heart rate, to help improve predictive accuracy for aging. The study seeks to uncover the relationship between such things as exercise, diet, mental health, and medication on aging in the context of human behavior.
$1 billion launch for AI drug discovery company Xaira
The season of biotech investment has arrived with the formation of Xaira, an AI drug discovery company. Backed by $1 billion in initial funding and investors such as ARCH Venture Partners and Foresite Labs, Xaira is set to emerge from stealth mode and tackle data scarcity within drug development studies with its AI platform.
Gordian Biotechnology reveals new platform for drug development
Launching with a $60 million investment, Gordian Biotechnology has announced a proprietary in vivo therapeutic screening platform. Designed to target age-related diseases by streamlining the process for drug development through technology, the company boasts up to 80% predictive power for illnesses such as heart failure and osteoarthritis. With similar approaches leading to drug discovery already yielding promising results, the team behind Gordian Biotechnology seek to accelerate the discoveries with enhanced efficiency.
DAOs and communities
Vitalia pop-up city event draws to a close — what’s next?
Community living with a longevity twist, Vitalia was the second of its kind, a pop-up city event focused on growing the longevity community and its governance, following the success of Zuzalu. Spanning the first four months of 2024, the pop-up city located on the Roatán island in Honduras hosted longevity enthusiasts, experts, and curious health seekers alike from all over the world. Now, due to its success, the organizers have announced that Vitalia now has a permanent hub on Roatan within the special economic zone of Próspera, an area that facilitates legal autonomy suitable for pioneering longevity research and start-ups. Lifespan.io’s Arkadi Mazin visited the city and tells of its potential now and in the future.
For people thinking of visiting over the next few months, here’s a taste of what’s on the schedule:
- May 24-26 will see a focus on designing and building infrastructure for the DeSci community. With a move to the new Beta district planned, construction technologists, biomedical visionaries, and healthcare infrastructure builders are welcomed to attend.
- Next up from June 18-22, medicine and biotech acceleration will come to the forefront with a deep dive collaboration into regenerative medicine and accelerated clinical trials.
- July 26-28 will see biohacking take center stage as interested parties question “What does it mean to upgrade humanity?”
More events are planned till the end of the year, with the schedule constantly evolving. Stay tuned here and on the Vitalia website for the latest details.
DAOs for funding and collaborative development
As the concept of DAOs and their potential within the physical sciences grows, increasing research is being conducted and their impact recognized as a tangible solution. This latest article, published in Nature, highlights the potential of DAOs, challenges ahead, and their future role in life sciences, including VitaDAO as a case study.
Social media pages to follow this month
Research Hub Foundation offers the latest collaborations and crypto uses within the research sphere.
Longevity Summit Dublin provides the newest updates on one of the year’s biggest longevity conferences.
ValleyDAO delves into the wider ecosystem of longevity.
