Foundation

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SENS Foundation

SENS Foundation was established in 2009 by British gerontologist Aubrey de Grey, based on his scientific framework for addressing seven categories of cellular...

SENS Foundation

SENS Foundation was established in 2009 by British gerontologist Aubrey de Grey, based on his scientific framework for addressing seven categories of cellular and molecular aging damage. The foundation operates as a charitable entity, distinct from de Grey's earlier work with the Methuselah Foundation, and maintains dual offices in Karlsruhe, Germany and Mountain View, California. The foundation's research portfolio spans several therapeutic areas: mitochondrial mutations, cellular senescence, tissue regeneration, and amyloid-based pathologies. It has funded academic labs and early-stage biotech companies, often through grants rather than equity investments. The foundation's Geography is concentrated in North America and Europe, with some activity in Asia. It maintains a scientific advisory board of researchers in aging biology. No recent major organizational event has been publicly reported in the last 24 months. The foundation's structural differentiator is its focus on a specific, comprehensive damage-repair framework rather than aging as a general concept, and its use of a non-profit model to de-risk early-stage longevity science before private-sector adoption.

Website
sens.org

General information

Firm type

Foundation

Year founded

2009

Location

Region

Europe

Country

Germany

City

Karlsruhe

Corporate office

Karlsruhe, Germany

Additional offices

Mountain View, California, United States

Principals

Aubrey de Grey

Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer

Sector focus

BiotechLongevity ResearchHealthcare Services

Frequently asked questions

Who runs investment decisions at SENS Foundation?

SENS Foundation is led by co-founder and Chief Science Officer Aubrey de Grey, who sets the strategic direction for research funding. The foundation's board and scientific advisory board also influence grant allocations. Day-to-day financial management is handled by a small administrative team.

How does SENS Foundation source proprietary deal flow?

The foundation primarily funds academic labs and early-stage companies it identifies through scientific conferences, publications, and collaborations. It does not operate a venture capital arm or maintain a pipeline of proprietary deal flow.

Which scientific areas does SENS Foundation explicitly avoid?

The foundation does not fund research on caloric restriction, dietary supplements, or general anti-aging approaches outside its seven damage-repair categories. It also avoids research on life extension technologies not related to cellular aging mechanisms.

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