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BlueOakNx has announced that its research team, A New Dimension, has been selected as one of the Top 40 Milestone 1 winners in the $101 million XPRIZE Healthspan competition. Chosen from more than 600 teams from 58 countries, the group received a $250,000 award to support the next stage of its work developing therapies that aim to extend the years people spend in good health.
The team's approach focuses on improving mitochondrial health – the function of the tiny structures inside cells that produce energy. As mitochondrial performance declines with age, it is thought to contribute to reduced muscle strength, impaired brain function and a weaker immune system. By targeting these fundamental processes, researchers hope to slow or reverse some aspects of biological ageing rather than treating age-related diseases individually.
The XPRIZE Healthspan competition challenges teams to develop treatments capable of restoring muscle, cognitive and immune function by at least 10 years, with an ambitious goal of 20 years, in adults aged 50 to 80. Over the coming year, the semifinalist teams will begin early-stage clinical trials before the competition is narrowed down to 10 finalists in 2026.
Although the therapies remain experimental, the competition highlights the growing momentum behind research that targets the biology of ageing itself. If successful, these approaches could one day help people stay healthier for longer, reducing the burden of chronic disease and extending healthspan alongside lifespan.
