Ichor Life Sciences

Ichor Life Sciences (formerly Ichor Therapeautics) is a vertically integrated biopharmaceutical company occupying 2 commercial facilities with complete pre-clinical R&D capabilities in LaFayette, NY. However, the company’s beginnings were far more modest.

Ichor was founded in 2013 by Dr. Kelsey Moody during his time as a medical student at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY. Using a $540k seed grant awarded by the Life Extension Foundation, Ichor Life Sciences established a functional living room laboratory in Tipperary Hill.

The living room laboratory was equipped for biological research. Initial programs at the company focused on stem cell biology, which required capabilities to support mammalian cell culture, flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy.

Working with his father, a retired math teacher and contractor, Dr. Moody and company constructed a specific-pathogen free vivarium suitable for research with immunocompromised mice in the apartment’s spare bedroom. This enabled advanced husbandry capabilities at the company, including xenograft models.

In 2014, the Ichor team solved a series of technical problems that had prevented further development of SENS Foundation’s macular degeneration enzyme therapy program (which would later become Lysoclear) and acquired all rights to the program.

With over $1 million in new funding led by Ichor’s first major investor and partner Roger Bagg, multiple research programs in progress, and a growing client base for contract research, Ichor relocated south of Syracuse to rural LaFayette and established its first commercial research facilities.

Since these humble beginnings, Ichor has risen to prominence as among the most reputable and longest established biopharma companies focused exclusively on the diseases of aging. The company’s strong publication record and PhD program are a testament to the quality standard for scientific excellence that defines Ichor.

Today, with a research team of over 50 staff occupying multiple facilities in LaFayette, Ichor continues its ambitious pursuit to deliver on the promise of the longevity research space.