George Church: Breaking Boundaries of Possibility in Gene Therapy, Moderated by Simon Sakhai

The Founding Father of Genetics, Prof. George Church: on Gene Therapy and Longevity
The Oxford Society of Ageing and Longevity is delighted to invite you to a captivating online event featuring Dr. George Church, a visionary scientist and pioneer in the fields of genetics, synthetic biology, and gene therapy. A professor at both Harvard Medical School and MIT, Dr. Church consistently pushes the boundaries of scientific understanding, opening new possibilities for the future of human health and longevity.
Join us Wednesday, May 3rd. 8:30pm UK time, online, to explore the forefront of longevity research and the transformative potential of gene therapy in extending a healthy human lifespan. Dr. Church's innovative contributions to genomic science include the development and optimisation of CRISPR-Cas9, a ground-breaking gene-editing technology that has revolutionized our ability to modify DNA with unparalleled precision. This revolutionary tool has not only deepened our understanding of genetic mechanisms but also paved the way for new treatments for genetic disorders and personalized medicine.
His recent work has focused on gene therapy for promoting health and extending lifespan. The first study, "A single combination gene therapy treats multiple age-related diseases," published in 2019, investigates the potential of a single combination gene therapy to address multiple age-related diseases simultaneously. Using adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors to deliver a combination of three longevity-associated genes in mice models, the researchers observed significant improvements in various age-related diseases, such as heart and kidney diseases, obesity, and cognitive decline.
The second study, "New intranasal and injectable gene therapy for healthy life extension," published in 2022, focuses on developing innovative gene therapy approaches to promote healthy life extension. The research explores the use of intranasal and injectable gene therapies to target cellular mechanisms associated with aging. The study demonstrates the potential of these novel therapies for promoting health and longevity in humans.
In the realm of synthetic biology, Dr. Church has co-developed Multiplex Automated Genome Engineering (MAGE), a method for large-scale, targeted manipulation of cellular genomes. This transformative technology has led to breakthroughs in environmental sustainability, such as engineering microbes to produce biofuels and sequester carbon dioxide, providing innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing questions. As an advocate for open science, Dr. Church launched the Personal Genome Project, an ambitious initiative aimed at creating a public repository of human genomes and medical histories. This pioneering project seeks to accelerate the advancement of personalized medicine by making vital genetic data available to researchers worldwide.
Dr. Church's research also delves into combating pathogens using novel approaches, such as phage-assisted continuous evolution (PACE). His work in this area holds the potential to revolutionize the way we fight infectious diseases and tackle antibiotic resistance, showcasing the transformative power of his scientific contributions. In addition to his numerous accomplishments, Dr. Church is a captivating speaker known for his ability to inspire audiences with his visionary ideas and dedication to pushing the frontiers of science.