SENS Research Foundation Annual Report 2024

Quick Highlights

- CEO Lisa Fabiny-Kiser emphasized, “Together we are making headway against the diseases of ageing, driven by our collective knowledge and technology.”

- Annual update on activities and research accomplishments.

- Raised $7.4M, with 62.53% spent on research and development.

- A heartfelt thank you to all donors, with several contributing over $100K.

People

Key Leadership and Additions

-Dr. Amit Sharma: Group Lead for ApoptoSENS, focusing on secondary senescence and senolytic therapies.

-Dr. Tilman Grune: Principal Investigator at DIfE, pioneering lipofuscin clearance technologies.

-Dr. Amutha Boominathan: Leading MitoSENS efforts on mitochondrial gene replacement and repair.

-Dr. Jonathan Clark: Principal Investigator at the Babraham Institute, exploring structural tissue rejuvenation.

-Dr. Jean Hébert: Leading neuronal replacement research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

-New Faculty: Dr. Emily Lilli Fishman, Amutha Boominathan, and Amit Sharma granted Special Graduate Faculty Status at the University of Toledo.

Investments

Biotechnology Startups

-Ichor Life Sciences: Developing therapies for age-related macular degeneration.

-Oisín Biotech: Utilizing genetic technology for senescent cell destruction.

-Repair Biotechnologies: Addressing atherosclerosis by breaking down excess cholesterol.

Impactful Funding

- Investments focus on startups with transformative potential in regenerative medicine and ageing therapies.

Outreach and Education

Key Partnerships

-AfroLongevity: Education initiatives supporting African universities and labs researching ageing.

-Women in Longevity Leadership: Promoting diversity and connectivity in the longevity sector.

-The Michael J. Fox Foundation: Collaboration on Parkinson’s disease research.

-Lifespan.io: Media partnership amplifying public engagement and crowdfunding efforts.

Events and Initiatives

- Sponsored events like the AfroLongevity Conference, TAFFD’s Global Hub, and RAADfest.

- Summer Scholars Program placed students in labs at leading institutions, including Stanford University and Harvard Medical School.

2023 Research Project Summaries

LysoSENS: Lipofuscin Clearance

-Principal Investigator: Dr. Tilman Grune.

- Achievements:

- Developed novel methods to isolate and study lipofuscin.

- Identified bacterial enzymes capable of degrading lipofuscin, paving the way for cellular rejuvenation.

ApoptoSENS: Targeting Senescence

-Principal Investigator: Dr. Amit Sharma.

- Achievements:

- Identified vulnerabilities in secondary senescence for improved senolytic therapies.

- Discovered drugs targeting abnormal iron metabolism in senescent cells.

GlycoSENS: Structural Tissue Rejuvenation

-Principal Investigator: Dr. Jonathan Clark.

- Achievements:

- Unveiled new crosslinking mechanisms in ageing tissues.

- Highlighted the need for therapies addressing both harmful and lost crosslinks.

MitoSENS: Mitochondrial Gene Therapy

-Principal Investigator: Dr. Amutha Boominathan.

- Achievements:

- Developed allotopic expression techniques for mitochondrial gene replacement.

- Explored engineered mitochondria as potential “power plant” replacements.

RepleniSENS: Neuronal Replacement

 -Principal Investigator: Dr. Jean Hébert.

- Achievements:

- Advanced microglia engineering for dispersing neuronal precursors across the brain.

- Demonstrated potential for widespread neuronal replacement and brain rejuvenation.

AmyloSENS: Alzheimer’s Therapies

-Principal Investigator: Dr. Annelise Barron.

- Achievements:

 - Developed tau-targeting catabodies for intracellular aggregate destruction.

 - Filed patents for a peptoid-based approach to address beta-amyloid toxicity.

The SENS Research Foundation continues to lead the fight against ageing through innovative research, impactful investments, and comprehensive education and outreach efforts.