This episode of London Futurists highlights the Longevity Summit Dublin, held from August 17th to 20th. Calum and David spoke with key speakers between sessions, capturing their perspectives. Featured interviews include Aubrey de Grey (President and Chief Science Officer of the LEV Foundation), Andrew Steele (author and advocate), and Liz Parrish (CEO of BioViva Sciences).

Key Points:

In this podcast, thought leaders shared groundbreaking developments in ageing science and discussed strategies to advance public understanding and policy. Aubrey de Grey, Andrew Steele, and Liz Parrish offered unique perspectives on the conference and the field.

• Aubrey de Grey on Conference Impact and Cultural Shift: Aubrey described the summit as a pivotal moment, emphasizing the growing mainstream acceptance of longevity science. He outlined the need to engage scientists, media, and policymakers sequentially to shift societal attitudes.
• Breakthrough in Cancer Research: A highlight was a talk on THO-616, a novel pan-cancer drug activating "suicide genes" in cancer cells, showcasing rapid progress in oncology.
• Andrew Steele on Communicating Aging Research: Andrew stressed the importance of framing ageing research positively while addressing public misconceptions, including overpopulation fears. He introduced "Hallmarks of Talking About Aging," emphasizing gradual and evidence-based messaging.
• Challenges of Regulation and Medical Tourism: Liz Parrish discussed efforts to create legal frameworks for pre-approval drug access, highlighting medical tourism's role in gathering critical data for innovative therapies.
• Focus on Regenerative Medicine: Liz introduced a new venture targeting optic nerve regeneration with a gene therapy for glaucoma, underscoring the potential for targeted applications in treating neurodegenerative diseases.
• Funding and Policy Advocacy: All speakers underscored the need for significant investment and public advocacy to fast-track breakthroughs in ageing science, likening it to other underfunded yet transformative fields like nuclear fusion.