Longevity Science Foundation - ARK Partnership Launch

Longevity Science Foundation - ARK Partnership Launch 15 March 2023

Event recap with recording available here

The Longevity Science Foundation (LSF), an international nonprofit funding cutting-edge longevity research, has partnered with King’s College London to advance human longevity education and research. King’s College London (KCL) is the LSF’s first academic partner. The Ageing Research at King’s (ARK) consortium conducts industry-leading research on therapeutics, diagnostics, the social impact of ageing and more. The LSF will join the ARK in spearheading a new body of research and educational efforts around ageing, psychedelics and mental health treatments.

This aligns closely with the LSF’s open funding call for projects exploring the synergies between these areas. Mental health is an instrumental component of human longevity, as it directly influences brain health and physical well-being. Researchers believe better and more accessible approaches to mental health treatments, including new applications of psychedelics like psilocybin and cannabis, will contribute to a greater understanding of other ageing-related diseases. By understanding how these compounds impact the brain, they hope to unlock discoveries about neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Mental health, psychedelics and longevity are closely linked to other emerging technologies like blockchain and cryptocurrency, and the partnership will draw from these communities to advance research and raise awareness.

The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), part of the ARK consortium, is ranked second in the world for psychology and psychiatry (US News, Best Global Universities) and is one of the world’s largest centres for neuroscience research. The LSF will support strategic initiatives related to research on longevity and psychedelics at the Centre for Mental Health Research and Innovation, also part of the ARK network. The Centre is a new initiative at King's in partnership with COMPASS Pathways, led by Dr James Rucker and Prof Allan Young, Head of Academic Psychiatry. COMPASS Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS) is a mental health care company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health.

An international team of researchers, physicians and visionaries established the Longevity Science Foundation in 2021. Since its establishment, the Foundation has put out two funding calls to support early-stage research on ageing clocks and psychedelics for mental health treatments. Similarly, ARK contributes to national and international discussions on healthy longevity and its implications for society, healthcare, and policymakers.

ARK has partnerships with several global stakeholders across longevity and ageing. “Ageing Research at King’s College is one of the longevity industry’s foremost educational institutions,” Lisa E. Ireland, president and CEO of the LSF, said. “We are honoured to support their ground-breaking work and establish an enriched body of knowledge around emerging treatments for mental health and other under-explored aspects of human longevity.”

“We are committed to changing the way society views mental health and longevity,” Dr Richard Siow, Director of ARK, said. “By partnering with the LSF, we will work with their expert board and visionary community to ensure our research is actionable and promotes accessibility within the longevity field.”

The LSF and ARK will be hosting a partnership kick-off event entitled "Adding Years to Our Lives and Life to Our Years: An Afternoon with the Longevity Science Foundation and Aging Research at King's College London” on the 15th of March. Their joint programming will highlight the potential of psychedelic applications for mental health and longevity, featuring Lisa Ireland, CEO of the LSF, Dr Richard Siow, Director of ARK, Prof Allan Young, Vice-Dean of Academic Psychiatry, Prof Dag Aarsland, Head of Old Age Psychiatry, Dr Guy Goodwin, CMO of COMPASS Pathways and Catherine Bird, Clinical Trials Manager (psychedelics research).

Adding Years to Our Lives and Life to Our Years

14.00 Dr Richard Siow – Welcome and brief introduction to ARK

14.10 Lisa Ireland - The Longevity Agenda, Psychedelics and LSF Funding 

14.35 Allan Young - Centre for Mental Health Research and Innovation

15.00 Guy Godwin - The King's - COMPASS Pathways Partnership

15.25 Catherine Bird - Clinical Trials for Mental Health and Longevity

15.50 Dag Aarsland - Longevity Interventions and Monitoring Cognitive Health

16.15 Panel Discussion moderated by Richard Siow

16.35 Summary and Future Directions – Allan Young and Richard Siow

16.45-18.00 Networking Reception