At the Longevity Summit Dublin 2024, Melissa King, COO and Founding Board Member of the Healthspan Action Coalition, delivered a powerful message about the need for increased patient advocacy, public policy engagement, and equitable access to longevity therapies. King emphasized coalition-building as a strategic way to ensure that scientific advancements benefit everyone. Her work is cantered on fostering global collaboration, aiming to democratize healthspan and bring the longevity revolution to all corners of the world.

Key Points:

• Advocacy and Patient Representation: Melissa King emphasized the critical role of patient advocacy, comparing it to the early days of stem cell research, where mobilizing patients influenced public policy. She calls for more patient advocates in longevity to help drive awareness and funding.
• Policy and Science Communication: King stressed the importance of public policy and science communication. She encouraged early-career scientists to engage in public discourse about longevity, given the impact of public sentiment on funding and policy.
• Global Health Disparities: A key pillar of her organization, Healthspan Action Coalition, is "distributive justice." King advocates for equitable access to longevity treatments across all global regions, ensuring no one is left behind due to economic or geographical disparities.
• Historical Context and Longevity Movement: Reflecting on her work with California’s $8.5 billion stem cell initiatives, King highlighted how similar advocacy efforts are needed to push longevity research. The movement today mirrors early stem cell activism.
• Coalition Building for Longevity: King's efforts to build the Healthspan Action Coalition, which now includes 170 organizations globally, are foundational to advancing the longevity agenda. The coalition spans various fields, including scientific, patient advocacy, and even space-focused organizations.
• International Collaboration: While King's experience has been U.S.-centric, she underscored the importance of global participation. She welcomes collaboration with Europe, Asia, and Africa to ensure the longevity movement gains global momentum.