Thanks to all the participants of the Longevity Nation conference, that took place on October 28-31, 2024, in Bar-Ilan University, Israel. Thanks for your participation and support of healthy longevity research, development and education in Israel and in cooperation with Israel!
The conference videos are available
The video links are collected at this videos and photos page of the conference site
In addition, in the same page you can find recordings and photos of the Longevity Nation 2023 conference, as well as recordings and photos of the International Perspectives on Geroscience conference that took place in Weizmann Institute in September 2019, that was also co-organized by Vetek Association, and where many of the speakers of the Longevity Nation conference also participated.
Right now, all the lectures of the Longevity Nation conference are available on YouTube, except for the BIRAX section (first half of October 30). The BIRAX lectures too should be available in a couple of days, on the same conference video page and in the same ILA YouTube channel.
One more bonus, here are summary videos of particular days¸ and a general summary video for all the 4 days of the conference
You are encouraged to share all this content – videos and photos – in your social media, to increase the educational impact of the conference!
Many thanks again! Looking forward to Longevity Nation 2025! The preparations have already started!
We are always grateful for donations that make this conference and our work possible! Thanks!
Longevity Nation conference – Enhancing research, development and education for healthy longevity, in Israel and in cooperation with Israel. Bar-Ilan University, Israel. October 28-31, 2024.
Bar-Ilan University hosted four-day international conference exploring the future of healthy longevity
Organized by Vetek (Seniority) Association – The Movement for Longevity and Quality of Life, Israel, and the Graduate Program in Science, Technology, and Society at Bar-Ilan University, in cooperation with American Federation for Aging Research, Biogerontology Research Foundation, International Longevity Alliance, British Council, and with the support of the Sagol Network, Shlomo Tyran Foundation, Joseph Gitarts Foundation, Deep Knowledge Group, Quadrascope and other organizations, the conference addressed the multifaceted challenges associated with an aging global population. Participants included leading researchers, developers, investors, educators, decision-makers, and public figures from Israel and around the world to foster collaboration and advance the science and technology of healthy longevity.
A question could be raised whether Israelis should we be thinking about the preservation of health in old age, the prevention of aging-related diseases, and the extension of healthy longevity, during this period of conflict and hardship in Israel. The conference participants emphasized that we should indeed continue to think about and work for healthy longevity even now, to improve national resilience that will help overcome the present adversity and maintain the basis for positive development in the future.
Key Highlights of Longevity Nation 2024 included:
Enhancing Longevity Ecosystems: The conference focused on developing Israel’s longevity ecosystem and promoting international cooperation, leveraging Israel’s strengths in science and technology to enhance its global standing in the field.
Cutting-Edge Research and Innovations: Presentations covered a range of topics including breakthroughs in aging science, geroprotective drugs, regenerative medicine, and advancements in longevity medicine.
Future Directions and Ethical Considerations: Discussions also addressed ethical considerations and the societal implications of extending healthy lifespan, including the need for interdisciplinary approaches and the importance of public and governmental support.
Notable speakers and topics included:
Israel can and should play a leading role in the international longevity field
Dr. Ilia Stambler (Chairman of Vetek Association and Chairman of the Longevity Nation conference) emphasized the interdisciplinary interrelations of science, technology and society in addressing the challenges of population aging. Building on Israel’s strengths in this area, he emphasized the need to help enhance the supportive longevity ecosystem in Israel, boost the prominence of the field in Israel and enhance Israel’s international standing and cooperation in the Longevity Field.
Repurposing Old Drugs for New Tricks
Dr. Nir Barzilai (Albert Einstein College of Medicine) focused on repurposing existing FDA-approved drugs for their potential anti-aging properties. One example is the diabetes drug metformin, which has been shown to provide broader health benefits, and potentially slowing the aging process itself.
Revitalizing the Immune System
Dr. Natalie Yivgi-Ohana, founder and CEO of Minovia Therapeutics, focused on revitalizing the immune system with young mitochondria. Her team has developed a scoring system to measure mitochondrial dysfunction in different populations and correlate it with age-related diseases.
Genome Stability and Aging
Prof. Björn Schumacher (University of Cologne) reported his research on the relationship between genome stability and aging. His research has uncovered the first master regulator of DNA repair capacities, suggesting that by boosting overall DNA repair, we could target the aging process at its fundamental root cause. Since human aging is greatly accelerated when DNA repair mechanisms are dysfunctional, this work proposes that enhancing our body’s ability to repair DNA damage could be a powerful approach to slowing the aging process.
Enhancing a Longevity Enzyme
Prof. Haim Cohen (Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University), reported his research on the protein SIRT6. In his lab, mice engineered to produce extra SIRT6 don’t just live longer – they stay healthier for longer, too. Cohen’s research is shedding light on how SIRT6 helps maintain healthy aging, particularly by providing the required energy at old age and slowing aging-related frailty. This work could pave the way for new therapies that boost SIRT6 activity in humans.
The Challenges of Radical Life Extension
While many researchers are optimistic about extending healthspan, Prof. S. Jay Olshansky (University of Illinois at Chicago) offered a cautionary perspective. His research suggests that radical life extension – dramatically increasing human lifespan – is implausible in this century, unless effective interventions into aging are rapidly developed. He advocates for a shift in focus from treating individual diseases to attacking the underlying risk factor for all fatal and disabling diseases – the biological process of aging itself.
A Novel Approach to Anti-Aging
Prof. Susan Greenfield, from Neuro-Bio in the UK, explored a unique angle in anti-aging research. Her work centers on the peptide T14, derived from acetylcholinesterase, which promotes cell growth and renewal. Interestingly, T14 levels decline with normal aging, as detected in various tissues and bodily fluids. Greenfield’s research suggests that maintaining a balance of T14 levels could be key to promoting healthy aging while avoiding potential negative effects of excessive levels.
Tackling Senescent Cells
Prof. Valery Krizhanovsky (Weizmann Institute of Science) addressed one of the hallmarks of aging: the accumulation of senescent cells. These cells, which stop dividing but don’t die off, can contribute to inflammation and tissue dysfunction as we age. Krizhanovsky’s team has discovered a mechanism that allows senescent cells to evade immune surveillance and accumulate in tissues.
Industry Transformation
The Longevity Industry is poised for significant growth and transformation, driven by new financial models, political recognition, practical applications, and global cooperation. Dmitry Kaminskiy (Deep Knowledge Group, Biogerontology Research Foundation, Longevity Industry Analytics) highlighted the tremendous transition the industry is about to undergo.
The need to enhance international cooperation
The conference is testament to the power of collaboration for a better future of humanity. In this period of conflict and hardship in Israel, many organizations from Israel and from abroad joined forces for the common humanitarian goal of preventing aging-related diseases and extending healthy longevity for all. These organizations include Vetek (Seniority) Association – the Movement for Longevity of Life, Graduate Program in Science, Technology and Society of Bar-Ilan University, American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR), Shlomo Tyran Foundation, Sagol Network, British Council, Britain-Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership on Ageing (BIRAX Ageing), Biogerontology Research Foundation (BGRF), International longevity Alliance (ILA) and many other organizations. Together they work to create communication and exchange platforms and grant support programs for research on healthy longevity, in Israel and via international cooperation with Israel, such as the emerging TABILI program – the American British Israeli Longevity Initiative, as well as cooperative research and education programs on healthy longevity between Israel and other countries.
