Funded project
IP-NFT
The Longevity Molecule - Scheibye-Knudsen Lab

The Longevity Molecule - Scheibye-Knudsen Lab

Ageing
Mental Health
Respiratory Disease
What if therapeutics to slow down the aging process and prevent age-related disease already existed? The Scheibye-Knudsen Lab will use advanced machine learning to crunch the data from 1.4 billion prescriptions to understand the impact of drugs on human lifespan.
Funding
$ 537,000
Initiated
23.6.2021
Approval
88% Voted Yes
Lab Website
Morten Scheibye-Knudsen
Research Lead
AT A GLANCE

Stage
Early Stage Preclinical Discovery

Area
Drug Repurposing

Status
Ongoing

Patent Status
Not Filed Yet

PROJECT LINKS

Background

The study, consisting of over 1.4 billion prescriptions, found that a number of prescription drugs were highly associated with longer life- and health-span in long-live populations. Here, we present a unique investment opportunity. We seek to validate these observations through a series of carefully conducted wet lab experiments. If successful, this work could result in the repurposing of several FDA-approved therapeutics for the purpose of extending human lifespan, at a lower cost and over faster timelines than conceivably possible with de novo drug discovery. This unique investment opportunity allows savvy longevity investors the chance to own a share of the potential intellectual property generated from these studies, and in turn, a potential share in the future of life extension.

Aims, Hypothesis & Results

The global elderly population is projected to substantially increase throughout the 21st century. By the year 2100 a fifth of the total world population will be aged 65 or older, posing a serious socioeconomic challenge to societies world-wide. Interventions that ensure healthy aging are therefore of critical importance.

Timeline

The Scheibye-Knudsen Lab will test the identified drugs' ability to attenuate features of aging in a controlled laboratory setting. Here, the molecules will be tested in human cells and in the animal model drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies). Fruit flies are used extensively in biomedical research and particular aging research as they have a short lifespan of about 60 days.
Additionally, the drugs will be tested in human cells to rapidly understand how the molecules affect human cellular aging.

Pre-Clinical Studies 1: Testing in Fruit Flies and Human Cells
Required Funding: $500,000
Duration: 24 Months


VitaDAO Board Evaluation Writeup

This program focuses on testing and developing three of these small molecules as possible interventions in aging. Specifically, we will test the drugs on human cell cultures and in various animal models. Importantly, the current anti-aging market stands at 200 billion USD, even without a single scientifically proven treatment. Our molecules target this specific market with the aim of letting everyone live healthier, happier and longer lives.

Projects supported
No items found.

Latest Project Updates

31
March
2025
31
March
2025
Manuscript in preparation

Based on the results of the project and complementary analysis, the lab is preparing a publication, sharing the outcomes with the scientific community, in line with VitaDAO's common good values.

30
June
2023
30
June
2023
Study completed: identified compounds with positive effects on cellular senescence.

Study completed and final report delivered: some compounds had positive effects on cellular senescence. The lab will carry out complementary analysis to dive deeper into the project results.

23
June
2021
Project Initiated!

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