At the Longevity Summit Dublin 2024, Natalie Coles, Project Manager at R3 Bio, shared insights into the intricate world of studying supercentenarians. Her talk emphasized the company’s work in cell reprogramming and biobanking as part of their mission to uncover the genetic factors behind extreme longevity. She also discussed the barriers faced by researchers, from ethical concerns to logistical hurdles in sample collection. Her vision points to an eventual rise in supercentenarians as modern generations benefit from better healthcare and fewer global conflicts.

Key Points:

• Supercentenarian Study: Natalie Coles, Project Manager at R3 Bio, presented on the opportunities and challenges of studying supercentenarians—individuals who live to be 110 years or older.
• Cell Reprogramming Breakthroughs: R3 Bio is working on reprogramming supercentenarian cells back to a pluripotent state, offering potential for organ regeneration and stem cell therapy.
• Global Biobanking of Rare Genetic Samples: The company focuses on biobanking cells from supercentenarians, aiming to unlock insights into the rare genetic factors contributing to extreme longevity.
• Challenges in Research: Collecting and studying these rare subjects comes with significant challenges, including geographical, cultural, and ethical barriers. Consent for autopsies and sample collection is particularly difficult.
• Importance of Personality, Routine, and Social Life: Coles highlighted how supercentenarians often exhibit strong social connections, humour, and structured routines, which may play roles in their longevity.
• Future of Supercentenarian Research: Despite logistical challenges, Coles and her team predict an increase in the number of supercentenarians in the next decade, especially as populations move past eras of war and trauma.