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SENS Foundation
SENS Foundation funds research into age-related disease using Aubrey de Grey's damage-repair framework, operating from Karlsruhe and Mountain View.
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. Annual deployment figures are not publicly disclosed; the foundation appears to operate on a lean budget relative to major biomedical philanthropies. 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.
General information
Firm type
Foundation
Year founded
2009
AUM
Undisclosed
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
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.
Is SENS Foundation structured as a family office or a venture firm?
Neither. SENS Foundation is a registered charitable organization under German law, focused on scientific research. It does not manage capital for external investors or operate as a wealth management entity.
What investment stages does SENS Foundation typically target?
The foundation funds basic research and early-stage translational work — pre-clinical and proof-of-concept projects. It does not typically fund later-stage commercial development or clinical trials.
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.
Does SENS Foundation maintain philanthropic structures, and how are they separated?
The foundation itself is a philanthropic structure. It does not have a separate family office or trust. Funding comes from individual donors and grants, not from a single family wealth pool.
What is SENS Foundation's known posture on co-investments alongside other funders?
The foundation occasionally co-funds projects with other non-profits and government agencies, but it does not typically participate in co-investment structures with private equity or venture capital firms.
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