A Debate on Aging Research - Live Debate

Exploring the Frontiers of Longevity: A Debate on Aging Research

The quest for longevity has captured human imagination for centuries. In recent years, significant advancements in science and technology have brought us closer to potentially revolutionary breakthroughs in the field of aging research. However, the path forward is not clear-cut, with two distinct and scientifically grounded schools of thought emerging: one that believes aging can be reversed through rejuvenation and another that aims to halt aging by managing irreversible damage. These competing visions will be at the heart of an upcoming debate that promises to be both enlightening and thought-provoking.

Event Overview

Date and Time: May 27th, 2024 at 05:00PM PST

Location: San Francisco, with online access (YouTube)

Organizers: Foresight Institute, Say Forever, and Open Longevity

Prize: $10,000 for the winner, to be used for further research

The Debaters

Dr. Aubrey de Grey: Reversing Aging through Rejuvenation

Dr. Aubrey de Grey, a biomedical gerontologist with a PhD in Biology from Cambridge, is a leading proponent of the Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence (SENS). This comprehensive approach aims to repair and rejuvenate the human body at the cellular and molecular level by targeting seven categories of age-related damage:

1. Cell loss
2. Division-obsessed cells
3. Death-resistant cells
4. Mitochondrial mutations
5. Accumulation of intracellular waste products
6. Accumulation of extracellular waste products
7. Changes to the extracellular matrix

De Grey’s premise is that aging is a disease that can be treated and potentially cured, just like any other ailment. As the President and Chief Science Officer of the LEV Foundation, he has dedicated his career to advancing rejuvenation biotechnologies. A prolific speaker and author, de Grey has co-founded multiple organizations, including the Methuselah Foundation and SENS Research Foundation, to accelerate research and development in this field. His work has garnered international recognition and sparked considerable debate, positioning him as a key figure in the longevity research landscape.

Peter Fedichev: Halting Aging by Managing Irreversible Damage

On the other side, Peter Fedichev, a co-founder of the longevity biotech company Gero, is a physicist and gerontologist with a PhD in Theoretical Physics from the University of Amsterdam. Fedichev proposes a different paradigm, rooted in complex systems physics. His research has led him to link aging in humans with the inevitable accumulation of irreversible damage, akin to an increase in entropy.

Fedichev’s theory suggests that while we may not be able to completely reverse aging using near-term technologies, we can potentially develop interventions to slow down or even halt the accumulation of damage, thereby significantly extending healthy lifespan. His work has been published in top peer-reviewed journals and featured by numerous media outlets, including Scientific American and Popular Mechanics. His theory is now the basis of an AI drug-discovery platform, used by Gero.ai for its in-house drug pipeline and collaborations with pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer.

The Jury

A distinguished panel of experts will evaluate the arguments and determine the winner of the debate:

- Prof. David Furman (Buck Institute/Stanford University)
- Prof. Dorota Skowronska-Krawczyk (University of California, Irvine)
- Prof. Guo Huang (University of California, San Francisco)
- Prof. Thomas Stoeger (Northwestern University)
- Prof. Matthew Yosefzadeh (Columbia University)

What's at Stake?

The debate will delve into the feasibility of these two approaches in light of recent scientific advancements and growing clinical evidence. The goal is to determine which method—reversing aging through rejuvenation or halting aging by managing irreversible damage—can deliver clinical therapeutics that can significantly extend human life within the next 10 years.

Join the Conversation

This event, hosted by the Foresight Institute, Say Forever, and Open Longevity, will be accessible both offline and online, allowing a global audience to participate in this critical discussion. For more details about the event, research, and the positions of the debaters, visit [Open Longevity's website](https://openlongevity.org/debates).

This debate is not just about scientific theories; it's about the future of human health and longevity. Whether you are a researcher, a healthcare professional, or simply someone interested in the potential to extend human life, this debate will provide valuable insights into the cutting-edge science of aging. Don't miss it!

Work Cited:

Two Leading Scientists Debate Human Lifespan. (2024, May 23). Lifespan.io. https://www.lifespan.io/news/two-leading-scientists-debate-human-lifespan/