In the quiet corridors of academic labs, in startup incubators, and at the heart of growing biotech hubs, a bold idea is taking root: that aging is not an inevitable decline, but a solvable biological puzzle. This vision, once fringe, is now entering the mainstream—thanks in part to a new wave of leaders who are blending science, entrepreneurship, and mission.
Enter the Longevity Biotech Fellowship (LBF): a new initiative designed to cultivate and connect the next generation of trailblazers in the fight against aging. Backed by leaders from the longevity movement and fueled by a spirit of scientific ambition, the Fellowship officially launched with a clear goal—to empower founders, researchers, operators, and investors who are dedicated to extending human healthspan.
But the LBF is more than a networking opportunity. It’s a movement. And if its early momentum is any indication, it could become one of the defining platforms of a new era in biotech.
A Mission Rooted in Urgency—and Hope
The idea behind the Fellowship is both simple and profound: longevity biotech isn’t just a field; it’s a frontier. And like all frontiers, it needs pioneers.
Modern medicine has made extraordinary advances, yet our approach to aging remains surprisingly reactive. We treat the diseases that come with age—heart disease, Alzheimer’s, cancer—after they appear, instead of preventing or delaying the aging process itself.
The LBF sees a different path: one where we intervene earlier, target the root biological causes of aging, and extend not just life, but vitality.
Their mission? To support and accelerate the people doing this work by providing:
- Community: A curated network of deeply committed individuals across academia, industry, and venture capital.
- Collaboration: Events, workshops, and platforms to help members build together.
- Opportunity: Access to resources, partners, and mentorship to turn vision into action.
In short, the Fellowship is designed to turn passion into progress.
From Vision to Launch: How the Fellowship Began
The Fellowship grew out of a series of conversations—part formal, part serendipitous—between scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and investors who were united by one conviction: the fight against aging needs more cross-pollination.
For years, aging biology was siloed within academic institutions. Then came a wave of startups and investors who saw its potential. But often, the two worlds didn’t connect. Scientists lacked entrepreneurial pathways. Founders struggled to recruit technical talent. And many investors didn’t know where to start.
The Longevity Biotech Fellowship aims to bridge those divides.
Co-founded by longevity leaders including Nathan Cheng (CEO of Healthspan Capital), the Fellowship launched with a simple application and an invitation: if you care deeply about solving aging—and want to build something—this is your tribe.
And people responded.
A Community That’s Already Flourishing
Though newly launched, the Fellowship has already attracted hundreds of members from around the globe, including:
- Academic researchers from top institutions working on senescence, epigenetic reprogramming, and age-related decline.
- Startup founders building companies around novel therapeutics, delivery platforms, and biomarkers.
- Investors and funders looking to support the next wave of moonshots in aging science.
- Engineers, designers, and operators eager to bring systems-thinking and product experience to high-impact biotech.
Members span early-career PhDs and postdocs to seasoned entrepreneurs and venture partners. What they share is a commitment to turning science into solutions—and to doing so with clarity, collaboration, and ethical rigor.
More Than a Slack Channel: A Platform for Acceleration
At its core, the Fellowship operates like a startup ecosystem—one that exists across borders and disciplines.
Members gain access to:
- Private forums and events: Weekly talks, founder firesides, and deep-dive workshops on topics like translational pipelines, IP strategy, and clinical trial design.
- Collaboration tools: Shared resources, project boards, and accountability groups to help teams build together.
- Talent matchmaking: Whether you’re hiring a CSO, looking for a technical co-founder, or seeking early collaborators, the Fellowship is designed to facilitate meaningful connections.
- In-person meetups: From local dinners to global retreats, LBF aims to build bonds that go beyond Zoom.
In essence, LBF offers not just information—but infrastructure for the longevity movement.
The Case for a Longevity-Specific Fellowship
Why not just join a biotech incubator or health-focused VC network?
Because longevity, as a field, is unique.
It combines:
- Complex, systems-level biology with
- Challenging translational hurdles, across
- Multiple emerging technologies (gene therapy, cellular reprogramming, small molecule senolytics, AI-powered drug discovery), all in
- A space that’s still defining its regulatory and ethical norms.
In other words: it’s not traditional pharma, not traditional wellness, and not just a venture category. It’s a mission-driven science frontier.
The Longevity Biotech Fellowship is built to meet that complexity with nuance—offering tailored support for those committed to pushing the boundaries responsibly and intelligently.
The Wellness Angle: Why This Matters to All of Us
It’s easy to view longevity biotech as something futuristic or exclusive. But at its heart, the field is about something profoundly human: the desire to live longer, healthier, more meaningful lives.
And the research these founders and scientists are doing will have ripple effects far beyond rare diseases or elite clinics. Already, longevity research is:
- Inspiring new diagnostics for biological age and resilience
- Powering preventative therapies that target chronic inflammation and immune decline
- Informing lifestyle interventions that extend healthspan—from fasting to sleep optimization to mitochondrial health
- Leading to better supplements and nutraceuticals based on hard science
By building a community around these efforts, the Fellowship is helping ensure that the future of aging is not just longer—but better.
Early Momentum, Real Impact
In just its first few months, the Longevity Biotech Fellowship has catalyzed tangible progress:
- Startups have been founded through introductions made within the Fellowship.
- Investment rounds have closed, with VCs citing Fellowship ties as a trust signal.
- Research collaborations are underway between labs and early-stage companies.
- Policy conversations are beginning, as members engage with regulators and thought leaders about how to define, measure, and eventually treat aging itself.
And this is only the beginning.
As one early member put it: “The Fellowship doesn’t just give you access. It gives you alignment. You’re working alongside people who share your mission—and that changes everything.”
What’s Next: Scaling the Fellowship, Deepening the Impact
The LBF leadership team has big plans for the months ahead, including:
- Launching thematic subgroups (e.g., neuroaging, reproductive longevity, computational biology)
- Creating a structured mentorship track, pairing experienced founders with early-career scientists and operators
- Expanding geographic reach, especially in Europe, Asia, and Latin America
- Forming partnerships with academic labs, VC firms, and accelerators to pipeline talent and ideas
- Hosting the first in-person Longevity Biotech Retreat, bringing together 100+ members for a week of strategy, science, and community
It’s a classic flywheel: the more aligned talent and capital the Fellowship attracts, the more progress it can accelerate—for science, for founders, and ultimately, for all of us.
How to Get Involved
The Longevity Biotech Fellowship is open to applicants across backgrounds and geographies. Whether you’re a:
- Scientist exploring spin-out opportunities
- Founder building a company in the aging space
- Operator or engineer eager to apply your skills in biotech
- Investor looking to sharpen your thesis
- Policy advocate or educator passionate about the future of health
…there’s a place for you.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with an emphasis on mission alignment, collaboration mindset, and a demonstrated commitment to the longevity field.
Final Thoughts: The Future is Built in Community
The story of aging research is evolving. Once relegated to the margins of academia, it’s now one of the most promising frontiers in science and medicine. But if we’re going to rewrite the narrative of aging, we can’t rely on isolated breakthroughs or siloed experts.
We need a movement. A network. A Fellowship.
The Longevity Biotech Fellowship is not just launching careers—it’s shaping the culture of a field. One where impact is measured not just in returns, but in years of life saved, suffering prevented, and potential unlocked.
In a world facing rising healthcare costs, increasing chronic disease, and aging populations, this work couldn’t be more timely—or more human.
Because ultimately, longevity isn’t about escaping death. It’s about honoring life.
And the people building that future now have a place to gather, grow, and go further—together.