In this LongeCity interview podcast, Mark Hamalainen shares his journey in life extension, highlighting his experiences in biotechnology and his work in the longevity community. Mark discusses the evolving landscape of life extension and the importance of building a community around these goals.

Key Points:

Mark Hamalainen’s journey exemplifies the evolution of the life extension field, showing how community-building and technological innovation can drive progress. With initiatives like LessDeath and the Longevity Summer Camp, he seeks to inspire and equip the next generation of longevity scientists and advocates.

• Early Involvement in Life Extension: Mark joined the Immortality Institute Forum in 2005, one of the few online communities dedicated to life extension at the time, where he engaged with key thinkers in the field.
• Career in Biotechnology: After beginning a PhD in Cambridge, Mark shifted to California, joining Halcyon Molecular, and later co-founding Synthego, an automated RNA production company that became instrumental in CRISPR research.
• Focus on Tools and Automation: Realizing the need for better research tools, Mark aimed to accelerate life extension research through advancements in DNA sequencing, synthetic biology, and automated lab processes.
• Establishing LessDeath: To bridge gaps in expertise, Mark founded LessDeath.org, a program helping individuals from diverse fields transition into longevity research and contribute to life extension.
• Longevity Summer Camp: Mark organizes the Longevity Summer Camp, a retreat to connect enthusiasts and experts from various fields, fostering collaboration and innovation in life extension.
• Future Challenges and Opportunities: Mark highlights challenges in funding and legal frameworks for longevity research but emphasizes that the expanding community and funding are moving the field forward.