Berkeley CA
Vitalist Bay Summit
Vitalist Bay Summit
Vitalist Bay Summit
Vitalist Bay Summit


@Summit Week
.avif)
The most influential meeting of longevity leaders in one magical campus.

Why attend?
Gain insights from top experts in biotech, AI, policy, wellness, DeSci, biostasis, investment and more—bringing together the sharpest minds solving aging from every angle, in one event.
Experience Lighthaven: A private, intimate setting designed for breakthrough discussions and collaboration— now enhanced with cutting-edge health optimization tools like saunas, cold plunges, and biomarker tracking.
Connect with like-minded founders, scientists, investors, and visionaries in a setting built for meaningful conversations, high-impact partnerships, and real-world collaboration.
Be part of the movement shaping the next wave of biotech, startups, and investment—where the biggest decisions and boldest ideas in longevity take root.
Key areas of discussions
Workshops, sessions, and latest ideas in the longevity frontier








Speakers

Tim Urban is an author, speaker, and popular blogger best known for his blog, "Wait But Why." He is renowned for his engaging long-form articles and stick-figure illustrations that cover a wide range of topics, from procrastination to artificial intelligence. Tim graduated cum laude from Harvard University with a degree in Government and has co-founded several successful ventures, including ArborBridge and truePrep. His unique blend of humor and insight has earned him a large following and recognition as one of the internet's most captivating writers.


Andrew Brack is a distinguished scientist and entrepreneur, currently serving as the Program Manager for Proactive Health at ARPA-H. He previously co-founded Arrive Bio, a biotechnology company that uses machine learning to identify drugs for age-related diseases. Andrew has a Ph.D. in molecular biology and biophysics from King’s College London and has held faculty positions at UCSF and Stanford University. His research focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of skeletal muscle repair during aging.


Jason Kelly is an entrepreneur and innovator with over a decade of experience in synthetic biology and biotechnology. He is the co-founder and CEO of Ginkgo Bioworks, a company pioneering the use of biological engineering to create sustainable solutions across industries. Jason's background is rooted in biological engineering and computational biology, with a focus on harnessing the power of living organisms to address global challenges. His work aims to revolutionize manufacturing, agriculture, and medicine by programming biology to create a more sustainable and healthier future.


Kristen Fortney is the co-founder and CEO of BioAge Labs, a computational biology startup in Berkeley, California. She received her PhD in Medical Biophysics from the University of Toronto and completed her postdoctoral training at Stanford University. Kristen is an expert in developing bioinformatics approaches to investigate aging and age-related diseases. Her research focuses on computational drug discovery, biomarkers of aging, and the genetics of exceptional human longevity. As CEO, she leads BioAge Labs in its mission to develop therapies that target aging to increase healthspan and address chronic diseases.


Matt Kaeberlein, PhD, is the CEO of Optispan, driving innovation in predictive, preventive, and personalized healthcare. A renowned expert in aging biology, he is also a professor at the University of Washington, where he has made significant contributions to the field of oral health sciences, pathology, and genome sciences. Kaeberlein co-directs the Dog Aging Project and serves as CEO of the American Aging Association. His research on longevity and aging has earned international recognition, and he has been a leader in advancing medical solutions to extend healthy human lifespans.


Brian Kennedy is a scientist and entrepreneur, known for his significant contributions to the field of aging research. He has held leadership positions at several prominent institutions, including the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, where he served as President and CEO. Brian's work focuses on understanding the mechanisms of aging and developing interventions to promote healthy longevity. His research has been instrumental in advancing the field of biogerontology and has garnered widespread recognition.


Andrew Steele is a scientist, writer, and campaigner based in Berlin. He holds a PhD in physics from the University of Oxford and has transitioned to computational biology, focusing on aging research. Andrew is the author of "Ageless: The New Science of Getting Older Without Getting Old" and regularly contributes to major publications like the Wall Street Journal and WIRED. He is also a popular science presenter on television and YouTube, making complex scientific concepts accessible to a broad audience.


Jean Hebert is a distinguished scientist and entrepreneur, currently serving as a Program Manager at ARPA-H, where he focuses on health science futures. He previously held faculty positions at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, specializing in genetics and neuroscience. Jean is the founder of BE Therapeutics, a company dedicated to reversing age-related damage to brain tissue. His research explores stem cell transplantation, neurodegeneration, and cortical health, aiming to develop regenerative therapies for aging tissues.


Morten Scheibye-Knudsen is an associate professor at the University of Copenhagen, where he leads the Scheibye-Knudsen Group. His research focuses on understanding the cellular and organismal consequences of DNA damage, with the goal of developing interventions to combat age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Morten's work has shown that replenishing certain metabolites altered by DNA damage can influence the aging process in model organisms, suggesting potential therapeutic approaches for healthier aging.


Leo Nissola, MD, is a distinguished immunologist, researcher, and cancer specialist. He serves as the Chief Scientific Officer at FirstBio Research, focusing on drug development and medical intelligence. Dr. Nissola previously worked as a Medical Oncology fellow at MD Anderson Cancer Center, supporting prostate cancer clinical trials. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he advised health officials and contributed epidemiological models used by the White House. A bestselling author of THE IMMUNITY SOLUTION, his innovative work in oncology and immunotherapy has earned international recognition, including collaborations with Nobel Laureates and industry leaders.


Dr. Emil Kendziorra is the Founder and CEO of Tomorrow.Bio, a startup dedicated to advancing biostasis (cryonics) research and providing human cryopreservation services. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Göttingen and has extensive experience in cancer research and entrepreneurship. Dr. Kendziorra has founded and led multiple tech and medical startups, including MedLanes and onFeedback. His vision is to build an organization that significantly contributes to the field of cryonics and promotes public awareness about its potential.


Laurence Ion is a longevity advocate, entrepreneur, and investor dedicated to bringing aging under medical control. As the Founding Steward and Strategy Advisor at VitaDAO, he focuses on funding aging research projects and spinning out longevity biotech startups. Laurence is also the Co-initiator of Vitalia.city, a decentralized city aimed at accelerating drug development, and a Core member at JellyfishDAO, where he helps create inspiring content about longevity. His work aims to extend healthy lifespans through innovative and collaborative approaches.


Matthew "Oki" O'Connor is the Co-CEO of Cyclarity Therapeutics, a company focused on developing treatments for cardiovascular diseases through innovative cyclodextrin technology. With a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and extensive research experience in aging and regenerative medicine, O'Connor has made significant contributions to the field. His work aims to eliminate toxic oxidized cholesterol, a major factor in atherosclerosis, and improve overall healthspan.


Ronjon Nag is a British-American inventor, entrepreneur, and educator, known for his pioneering work in mobile technology and artificial intelligence. He is the Founder and President of the R42 Group, a venture capital firm investing in AI and longevity companies, and an Adjunct Professor in Genetics at the Stanford School of Medicine. Ronjon has co-founded several successful companies, including Lexicus and Cellmania, and his innovations have been instrumental in advancing mobile technology. His work continues to focus on the intersection of AI and biology, aiming to create solutions for healthier aging.

Kevin Caldwell is the co-founder, President, and CEO of Ossium Health, a pioneering bioengineering company focused on creating the world's first bone marrow bank for transplants. With a background in physics and economics from MIT and a JD from Harvard Law School, Kevin has also worked as an Engagement Manager at McKinsey and a Senior Investment Associate at Bridgewater Associates. His diverse experience and dedication to improving human health through innovative solutions make him a significant figure in the biotech industry.

Mark Hamalainen is a visionary scientist and entrepreneur dedicated to extending human lifespan through innovative biotechnology. As the co-founder and co-executive director of the Longevity Biotech Fellowship, he focuses on fostering a community of researchers and innovators working on breakthrough technologies to combat aging. His career has spanned from manual bench work in academia to lab automation at Synthego, and now to building the longevity movement. Mark is passionate about finding higher leverage methods to accelerate progress in the field of longevity.


Alberto Aparicio is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Bioethics and Health Humanities. He completed postdoctoral fellowships at the Global Observatory for Genome Editing at Harvard University and the Alexander von Humboldt Biological Resources Research Institute in Colombia. Dr. Aparicio holds a PhD in Science and Technology Studies from University College London and an MPhil in Technology Policy from Cambridge University. With experience in policy, academia, consultancy, and government, his research focuses on the governance of emerging biotechnology and the societal implications of bioscience, including evolving attitudes toward life and technoscience.


Prof. Peter Lidsky is an expert in virology and genetics, with MS and PhD training from Moscow State University, focusing on virus-host interactions in Picornaviruses. He advanced his career at the University of Zurich, developing fluorescent imaging tools for Drosophila. At UCSF, Prof. Lidsky integrated his virology and genetics expertise, establishing a renowned research program. He is best known for developing the "pathogen control" hypothesis of aging, a pioneering framework that continues to shape his groundbreaking research on the intersection of aging, immunity, and pathogen dynamics.


Ethan Perlstein is a visionary scientist-entrepreneur dedicated to eradicating rare diseases. As Founder/CEO of Perlara PBC, the first biotech public benefit corporation, Ethan has pioneered healthspan-extending therapeutics and cures for rare metabolic disorders. He also leads Maggie's Pearl LLC, advancing precision medicines for ultra-rare conditions, and recently launched Curetopia, a groundbreaking DAO aiming to transform rare disease treatment through decentralized collaboration. With a PhD from Harvard and impactful roles at Princeton and the Reeve Foundation, Ethan blends innovation and leadership to redefine biotech’s role in global health.


Daniel Ives is the CEO and founder of Shift Bioscience, a company dedicated to reversing cellular aging using AI-guided cellular rejuvenation techniques. With a background in mitochondrial biology from the University of Cambridge, Daniel has been at the forefront of developing innovative solutions to combat age-related diseases. His work focuses on leveraging advanced machine learning and epigenetic aging clocks to discover new therapeutic interventions that can extend human healthspan.


Anar Isman is the co-founder and CEO of AgelessRx, a telemedicine platform dedicated to slowing down the aging process through scientifically-backed interventions. With a background in investment management, Anar transitioned to the field of longevity science driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact on human health. He believes in making cutting-edge longevity treatments accessible to everyone and is passionate about advancing the field to help people live healthier, longer lives.


Jun Axup is a biotechnologist and entrepreneur, currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer at E11 Bio, a non-profit focused on building high-throughput molecular tools to map the brain connectome. She previously held the position of Chief Science Officer and Partner at IndieBio, where she funded and advised over 160 companies working on improving human and planetary health. Jun holds a PhD in chemical biology from the Scripps Research Institute and has co-founded multiple startups in fields such as immuno-oncology, protein engineering, and lab automation robotics. Her passion for brain longevity and innovative biotechnological solutions drives her work.


Dr Jack Scannell is best known for his work to diagnose the causes of the progressive decline in R&D productivity in the drug and biotechnology industry. He coined the term “Eroom’s Law” (from computer science’s “Moore’s Law” spelled backwards) to describe the contrast between falling biopharma R&D output efficiency since 1950 in the face of spectacular gains in basic science and in the brute force efficiency of the scientific activities on which drug discovery is generally believed to depend. His work has considered the contributions of scientific, economic, regulatory, and organisational factors. Recently, he has focused on the predictive validity of screening and disease models in drug R&D, which constitute perhaps the major productivity bottleneck. Dr Scannell is currently the CEO of Etheros Pharmaceuticals Corp. Etheros is developing small molecule enzyme mimetics, based on fullerene chemistry, for age-related and neurodegenerative diseases. He is an Associate of the Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation Studies at Edinburgh University. He led Discovery Biology at e-Therapeutics PLC, an Oxford-based biotech firm. He has experience in drug and biotech investment at UBS and at Sanford Bernstein where he ran the European Healthcare teams. He has a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Oxford University and a degree in medical sciences from Cambridge University.


Chase Denecke is an entrepreneur and scientist with extensive experience in computational biology and biotechnology. He is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bootstrap Bio, a company specializing in advanced biotechnological research and development. Through his leadership at Bootstrap Bio, Mr. Denecke aims to advance the development of innovative biotechnological solutions, leveraging his expertise to address complex challenges in the field.


Nathan Price is a scientist and entrepreneur with extensive experience in systems biology and biomedical research. He is the Chief Scientific Officer at Thorne and the Co-Director and Professor at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. Nathan’s work focuses on leveraging multi-omics data, AI, and personalized health strategies to optimize human longevity and disease prevention. His research spans computational biology, precision medicine, and the development of interventions to promote healthy aging. Through his leadership in both academia and industry, he aims to transform healthcare by advancing science-driven approaches to longevity and well-being.


Xiaoxi Wei is an entrepreneur, scientist, and inventor specializing in biomimetic nanoscience and biopreservation for regenerative medicine. She is the founder and CEO of X-Therma, a pioneering company developing breakthrough ice prevention technologies to enable organ preservation and transplantation. With a vision to make "on-demand organs" a reality, Xiaoxi has dedicated her career to advancing cryopreservation and regenerative medicine. Her scientific expertise lies in supramolecular assembly and biomimetic chemistry. A recognized leader in her field, Xiaoxi has served as a healthcare advisor for the UC Regents Working Group on Innovation Transfer and Entrepreneurship, a scientific advisor to the Life Extension Foundation, and Vice Chair of the Younger Chemists Committee of the American Chemical Society. As a distinguished member of the RULEBREAKER Society in Germany, she continues to push the boundaries of science and innovation to revolutionize organ transplantation and regenerative medicine.

Jonathan Anomaly works with a company that offers embryo selection for polygenic traits. Before this, he was a professor who taught classes at Duke, Penn and UNC Chapel Hill. He co-authored Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (Oxford University Press, 2015), and more recently published Creating Future People: The Science and Ethics of Genetic Enhancement (Routledge, 2024).

Léo Pio-Lopez is a scientist specializing in artificial intelligence, computational biology, and regenerative medicine. He currently serves as an Affiliate Senior Scientist at the Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, working within Michael Levin's laboratory. His interdisciplinary research integrates AI, cognitive science, and developmental biology to uncover fundamental mechanisms of regeneration, morphogenesis, aging, and cognitive processes across multiple biological scales. With deep expertise in computational biology, deep learning, drug discovery, and bioinformatics, Léo is at the cutting edge of AI-driven approaches to understanding aging and creating targeted therapies. His work aims to harness interdisciplinary strategies to develop innovative solutions for regenerative medicine and promote healthy longevity.


We are the first generation who won’t die.

Michael Andregg builds tech to solve fundamental human challenges and expand life's flourishing across our lightcone. He founded Halcyon, which, developed high-speed, mass-producible electron microscopes and built a "molecular threader" to manipulate single DNA strands aiming at lowering the cost of DNA sequencing. He then founded Fathom, aiming at optical computing and high-bandwidth communication between chips and large memory inference for training AI at scale, now aiming at robotics. Currently, Michael leads Eon, which is developing human emulation technology for scanning people at the cell level to run high-fidelity emulations on cloud GPUs. This tech will help humanity avoid x-risks and gives solid state direct edit access to our own minds and bodies.

Sukhjit Takhar is a physician and entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in medical practice and healthcare innovation. He is the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of PrimaryMD, a concierge primary care practice committed to delivering personalized and proactive healthcare services. Dr. Takhar holds board certifications in Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and Infectious Disease, having completed his medical degree in 1999. He pursued residencies in Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine, followed by a fellowship in Infectious Disease at UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. His professional journey includes serving as an Associate Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine at UCSF Fresno. Dr. Takhar's work focuses on integrating advanced diagnostics, preventive strategies, and lifestyle interventions to enhance patient health outcomes and longevity.

.avif)
Workshops

Sauna

DEXA scan

Cold plunge

Instructors
Venue
Lighthaven Campus, Berkeley California. A beautifully designed environment for discussion, collaboration, and learning.
📍Address: 2740 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA.
Schedule
(tentative)