In this episode, Longevity Roadmap host Buck Joffrey speaks with Dr. Hans Keirstead — an internationally recognised stem-cell scientist, biotech entrepreneur, and chairman of Immunis. The conversation explores what stem cells can and cannot do, how to separate real science from hype, and how emerging immune-modulating secretome therapies may reshape longevity, cancer treatment, and regenerative medicine.

Key Points:

A world leader in stem-cell science, Dr. Hans Keirstead dispels myths around stem-cell therapies and explains why most commercial claims are misleading. He details breakthroughs in spinal-cord repair, personalised cancer immunotherapy, and a new secretome-based longevity drug that rejuvenates the immune system. Early human data suggest this therapy could improve strength, reduce inflammation, and enhance metabolic health — targeting the core biology of ageing.

• Cutting through stem-cell myths: Dr. Keirstead explains that despite decades of progress, most commercial stem-cell claims remain “snake oil.” True stem-cell therapies require precise cell purification, strict FDA oversight, and deep biological understanding — conditions rarely met by clinics offering casual injections.
• What stem cells actually do (and don’t do): Contrary to popular belief, therapeutic benefits rarely come from stem cells turning into new tissues. Instead, improvements arise from the secretome — a soup of proteins, growth factors and signaling molecules that influence local cells, modulate immunity, and promote repair.
• Breakthroughs in spinal-cord repair: Keirstead's team successfully created highly purified, lineage-specific young spinal-cord cells that were able to restore myelin around damaged nerve fibres, improving motor and sensory function in quadriplegic patients. Despite remarkable results, funding challenges halted full commercial development.
• A personalised cancer-killing vaccine: His company developed a therapy that isolates each patient’s tumor-initiating cells (the rare “cancer stem cells” that drive recurrence), trains the patient’s dendritic cells to recognise them, and re-infuses them to orchestrate a targeted immune attack. Early trials show a ~50% survival improvement with minimal side effects.
• Secretome therapy for longevity and healthspan: Immunis produces a purified immune-cell secretome containing ~440 youthful immune factors. Early human data show:

       -significant muscle growth and strength gains

      -improved 6-minute walk test performance

     -reduced inflammation (immune age shifting from ~70 to ~45)

     -improved metabolic markers and fat reduction

     -reduced pain and cartilage degeneration

The therapy aims to counter immunosenescence and inflammaging, potentially becoming a broad-spectrum longevity drug.

• A new class of anti-ageing therapeutics: Because the treatment is human-derived, physiologically balanced, and inexpensive to manufacture, Keirstead expects it to be affordable across low-, middle-, and high-income countries. Fast-track approval is being explored internationally, with phase 2 trials focusing on muscle atrophy and metabolic health.