In this episode of Longevity by Design, Dr. Noah Davidsohn, co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Rejuvenate Bio, discusses how gene therapy could transform the fight against age-related diseases. A bioengineer trained at MIT and George Church’s lab at Harvard, Davidsohn explains how his company is developing genetic treatments to improve healthspan — first in dogs, then in humans — by reprogramming the body’s repair systems.

Key Points:

Gene therapy pioneer Dr. Noah Davidsohn aims to rewrite how we treat aging by resetting the body’s biology. His research shows that reactivating youthful genes can extend lifespan and restore function in old animals. Now, his company Rejuvenate Bio is taking the first steps toward bringing these age-reversal therapies to both pets and people.

• From Sci-Fi to Science: Inspired by science fiction and a desire to “make the impossible real,” Dr. Davidsohn turned his curiosity into a mission to use biotechnology to slow aging and extend healthy life — a journey partly inspired by his dog, Bear.
• Epigenetics and Reprogramming: He explains how epigenetics — the system that controls which genes are switched on or off — can be modified to rejuvenate cells. Using Yamanaka factors (OSK), researchers can reset aged cells to a more youthful state without erasing their identity.
• Landmark Study in Mice: Davidsohn and collaborators from the Sinclair and Church labs showed that turning on these rejuvenating genes in old mice extended their remaining lifespan and improved tissue health — the first proof that normal aging could be reversed with gene therapy.
• Rejuvenate Bio’s Therapies: His company targets age-related diseases like heart failure, diabetes, and fibrosis using gene therapies that regulate two key proteins: FGF21, which boosts metabolism and mitochondrial function, and TGF-β1, which reduces tissue scarring. Trials are underway in both dogs and humans.
• From Pets to People: Dogs serve as natural models for human aging — sharing many of the same diseases and biology. Success in canine heart disease trials could pave the way for human treatments within the next few years.