SENS Research Foundation Annual Report 2023 

Quick Highlights

• CEO Lisa Fabiny-Kiser reflected on a year of growth: “Growth is a continuous journey. Together, --we’re advancing our mission to combat ageing with passion, scientific rigor, and equity.”
• Annual income reached $1.46M, with $6.58M in total expenses; 56.9% allocated to research.
• Recognition of donor contributions, including innovative fundraising through NFTs and cryptocurrency.

People

Key Leadership Updates

• Dr. Emily Lillian Fishman appointed Director of Academic Affairs.
• Dr. Ravi Jain took on the role of Vice President of Research, overseeing all intramural and extramural activities.
• Dr. Abdelhadi Rebbaa continued leading RepleniSENS efforts to combat neurodegeneration.

Investments

Biotechnology Startups Supported

• Repair Biotechnologies: Advancing therapies for cholesterol clearance to combat atherosclerosis.
• Ichor Life Sciences: Pioneering LysoSENS applications for macular degeneration.
• Oisín Biotech: Developing senescent cell destruction technologies using DNA constructs.

Innovative Ventures

• Collaboration with VitaDAO resulted in a $253K IP-NFT transfer to support ApoptoSENS research.
• Continued funding of foundational research and spinout companies, including Cyclarity Therapeutics.

Outreach and Education

Key Partnerships

• Collaboration with Lifespan.io for public engagement and advocacy.
• Introduction of Web3 crowdfunding through Angel Protocol, raising significant funds for ageing research.
• NFT-based fundraising with the VI7A Bio-Art Collection, integrating live data from cell cultures.

Education Programs

• Hosted 14 spring and 40 fall career fairs, engaging over 390 students.
• Expanded Summer Scholars and Postbaccalaureate Fellowship programs, placing students in prominent labs like Stanford and Harvard.

Events and Initiatives

• Sponsored major conferences, including RAADfest and Ending Age-Related Diseases (EARD).
• Celebrated Longevity Day and Month with the International Longevity Alliance.
• Enhanced virtual outreach via VR platforms for donor appreciation and conferences.

2023 Research Project Summaries

ApoptoSENS: Eliminating Senescent Cells

Principal Investigator: Dr. Amit Sharma.

Achievements:

• Advanced methods to target secondary senescent cells through vulnerabilities in iron metabolism.
• Explored CAR-NK cells as a novel immune-based senolytic therapy.
• Identified and tested drugs to enhance immune system’s ability to destroy senescent cells.

LysoSENS: Lipofuscin Clearance

Principal Investigator: Dr. Tilman Grune.

Achievements:

• Isolated authentic lipofuscin samples for accurate enzyme screening.
• Identified bacterial enzymes capable of breaking down lipofuscin, paving the way for cellular rejuvenation.
• Demonstrated toxic effects of lipofuscin and developed degradation strategies.

MitoSENS: Mitochondrial Gene Therapy

Principal Investigator: Dr. Amutha Boominathan.

Achievements:

• Achieved successful expression of mitochondrial genes ATP8 and ND4 in animal models, restoring energy production.
• Explored alternative strategies, including mitochondrial gene drives and deletion-targeting drugs.
• Developed techniques to overcome challenges in protein delivery to mitochondria.

RepleniSENS: Neuronal Replacement

Principal Investigator: Dr. Jean Hébert.

Achievements:

• Optimized strategies to engineer microglia for replacing lost neurons and delivering therapeutic molecules like BDNF.
• Demonstrated potential for brain-wide therapeutic delivery and regeneration.
• Advanced techniques to integrate engineered microglia into brain structures.

AmyloSENS: Alzheimer’s Therapies

Principal Investigator: Dr. Annelise Barron.

Achievements:

• Developed tau-targeting catabodies capable of intracellular aggregate destruction.
• Filed patents for innovative peptoid-based approaches addressing beta-amyloid toxicity.
• Advanced cell-penetrating platforms for efficient delivery of therapeutic antibodies.

GlycoSENS: Extracellular Matrix Rejuvenation

Principal Investigator: Dr. Jonathan Clark.

Achievements:

• Identified distinct patterns of crosslinking in ageing tissues, focusing on glucosepane as a key target.
• Developed methods to analyse crosslink dynamics, informing future therapeutic targets.
• Conducted studies revealing the role of reversible and irreversible crosslinks in tissue ageing.

SENS Research Foundation remains committed to advancing rejuvenation biotechnology through rigorous science, impactful collaborations, and transformative educational programs. With a strong focus on repairing the damage of ageing, SRF continues to lead efforts toward a healthier, age-free future for all.