Healthy Aging Fund

Healthy Aging Fund Overview

Fund Established: January 30, 2025

Initial Contribution: $1.5 million from The Colossal Foundation

Host Institution: Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University

Geographic Scope: Boston area institutions and beyond

Focus Areas:

• Biological mechanisms of aging
• Aging-related disease and decline
• Healthspan extension
• Aging reversal
• Artificial womb technologies
• Genome engineering for aging
• Synthetic biology applications to aging
• Tissue engineering for aged populations
• Environmental health and biodiversity (indirect aging benefits)
• De-extinction technologies
• Conservation science
• Species preservation and revival

Fund Purpose:
A transformative initiative aimed at unlocking the mysteries of aging through groundbreaking research into biological mechanisms of aging and development of breakthrough therapies to delay or reverse aging-related conditions.

Vision:
A future where human healthspans match lifespans, empowering people to live vibrant and fulfilling lives for as long as possible by addressing factors contributing to age-related disease and decline.

Eligible Researchers:

• Scientists and engineers across the Wyss Institute
• Researchers throughout ecosystem of 11 Boston area institutions

Participating Institutions:

• Wyss Institute (lead)
• Harvard Schools of Medicine, Engineering, Arts & Sciences, and Design
• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
• Brigham and Women's Hospital
• Boston Children's Hospital
• Dana–Farber Cancer Institute
• Massachusetts General Hospital
• University of Massachusetts Medical School
• Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
• Boston University
• Tufts University
• Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
• University of Zürich
• MIT

First Program Focus:
Artificial womb technologies leveraging cutting-edge genome, synthetic biology, and tissue engineering capabilities. These technologies aim to:

• Provide safe and controllable environments for embryo development outside the natural womb
• Facilitate de-extinction and species preservation
• Ensure a more resilient and biodiverse future
• Revolutionize reproductive biology for all species

Leadership:

• Program Director: George Church, Ph.D. (Wyss Core Faculty, Robert Winthrop Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, Professor of Bioengineering at Harvard SEAS)
• Wyss Founding Director: Donald E. Ingber, M.D., Ph.D.

About The Colossal Foundation:
A 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting the use of cutting-edge technologies for conservation efforts globally to help prevent extinction of keystone species. Deploys de-extinction technologies and support to empower field partners to reverse the extinction crisis.

Application Contact:
For inquiries about support and involvement: Get in touch through Wyss Institute contact page