New fund supports research into direct causes of age-related disease as well as indirect environmental factors that impact longevity.
The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University has launched a new fund dedicated to understanding and addressing the biological mechanisms of aging. The Healthy Aging Fund aims to bridge the connection between human health and planetary well-being by fostering research that not only extends lifespans but also enhances the quality of life.
The fund will provide support to researchers within the Wyss Institute and across 11 partner institutions in the Boston area, fueling investigations into the fundamental science of aging and advancing therapies designed to delay or reverse age-related decline. With a vision of aligning healthspan with lifespan, it seeks to empower individuals to live longer, healthier lives by addressing both direct causes of age-related diseases and indirect environmental factors that contribute to longevity.
The fund was launched with a $1.5 million gift from The Colossal Foundation, the philanthropic arm of “de-extinction” biotech Colossal Biosciences, which recently raised $200 million to support its work to resurrect extinct species, including the woolly mammoth. As a non-profit committed to reversing the extinction crisis, the foundation’s contribution to the Healthy Aging Fund reinforces the idea that advancements in biotechnology can simultaneously enhance human health and global biodiversity.
“By aligning the Wyss Institute’s mission of developing groundbreaking innovations with our dedication to conservation-focused solutions, we are redefining the possibilities for preserving, reviving, and extending the lifespan of all species,” said Colossal Bio co-founder and CEO Ben Lamm. “This collaboration represents a bold step toward a sustainable and thriving future for all.”
The Healthy Aging Fund aims to create a platform for researchers to draw inspiration from nature’s resilience and apply these insights to aging biology – not only supporting fundamental research but also encouraging the development of solutions that enhance the quality of life across species. One such approach involves biodiversity conservation—protecting ecosystems and mitigating species loss to create healthier environments that ultimately benefit human health.
“Visionary gifts like the one from The Colossal Foundation allow us to pursue bold ideas that could revolutionize our understanding of aging and health, and lead to interventions to reverse many diseases that afflict us as we get older, as well as create a more sustainable world for all of us,” said Wyss Institute Founding Director Dr Don Ingber. “Our hope is to eventually significantly extend the healthspans of future generations to come.”
One of the first programs to emerge from this collaboration is the development of artificial womb technology led by world-renowned geneticist Professor George Church, a Wyss Core Faculty member. The project is integrating genome engineering, synthetic biology and tissue engineering to develop scalable systems that can support embryonic development outside the natural uterus.
While this research holds promise for human health, its immediate applications include conservation efforts, offering a potential solution for preserving endangered species and even reviving extinct ones. It is hoped such advancements could help restore ecosystems, ensuring a healthier planet that, in turn, supports healthier human populations.
“This contribution from The Colossal Foundation will propel our efforts to create artificial womb technologies that not only facilitate de-extinction but also hold the potential to revolutionize reproductive biology for all species,” said Church.
