Lifeboat Foundation

Nanobots that patrol our bodies, killer immune cells hunting and destroying cancer cells, biological scissors that cut out defective genes: these are just some of technologies that Cambridge researchers are developing which are set to revolutionise medicine in the future.

In a new film to coincide with the recent launch of the Cambridge Academy of Therapeutic Sciences, researchers discuss some of the most exciting developments in medical research and set out their vision for the next 50 years.

Telomerase replenishes telomeres, extending the cell’s lifespan. Researchers hope that telomerase enhancement will rejuvenate our organs.

Senolytics have been a hot topic lately. Here’s a primer.

Senolytics reverse aging by killing senescent cells. Researchers have found seven senolytics and are testing them in clinical trials.

There’s good cell death and then there’s the bad kind.

Programmed cell death goes haywire and causes cancer and many inflammation-related diseases, such as arthritis, atherosclerosis, and diabetes.

Last article (3 of 3) in three part stem cell series.

Stem cell decline goes with aging. With the right growth factors, we can awaken our lazy stem cells to repair our aging organs.

Second article (#2 of 3) in three part stem cell series.

Summary: Stem cell decline leads to disease, gradual organ failure, and death. Learn what causes it and how researchers are trying to reverse stem cell decline. Part one of a two-part series.

Are stem cells the fountain of youth?

Continue reading “Can We Reverse Stem Cell Decline and Rejuvenate Our Bodies? (Part 1)” »

First article (#1 of 3) in three part stem cell series.

Summary: A brief tutorial on the science behind stem cell therapy.

Doctors already use stem cells to treat blood diseases, a cell-based therapy that has saved the lives of thousands of children with leukemia. Additionally, physicians used stem cells to successfully treat some types of bone, skin, and eye injuries and diseases. The potential of stem cell therapies is enormous, and some researchers feel that we will be able to regrow organs in the near future.

Continue reading “Stem Cell Primer What You Need to Know” »

Cellular Garb-aging is the build-up of junk inside the cells that naturally occurs during aging. This article says why it happens.

To maintain protein homeostasis, and prevent garb-aging, the cell uses molecular chaperones, which help assemble and disassemble proteins. Chaperonins are a special class of chaperones that provide favorable conditions for the correct folding of other proteins, thus preventing aggregation. Chaperonins prevent the misfolding of proteins, which prevents conditions such as Mad Cow Disease. Sometimes, chaperonin proteins may also tag misfolded proteins to be degraded. When properly tagged, other processes can recognize the damaged or misfolded proteins and ‘take out the trash.’

Think of it as garb-aging removal.

Continue reading “Cellular Garb-aging Causes You To Age (Loss of proteostasis)” »

Researchers have discovered why inflammaging occurs and are working on new treatments. Inflammaging is new medical term for “the chronic inflammation brought on by old age.”

Summary: Inflammaging is a low-grade inflammation brought on by old age. It accelerates the aging process and worsens diseases like cancer and heart disease. Because inflammaging accelerates aging, geroscientists are perfecting a few cures for the condition.

As we age, most of us tend to develop a low-grade chronic inflammation that causes disease and damage throughout the body. Because this low-level inflammation typically accompanies aging, scientists have nicknamed it ‘inflammaging.’ Most geroscientists implicate inflammaging as the cause of many of age-related diseases including diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and dementia. These chronic diseases accelerate aging and shorten our lives.

Continue reading “Why Inflammaging Causes Disease and Premature Aging” »