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Jeff Bezos, the richest man in the world, is said to have supported a mysterious Silicon Valley startup that is working on an “elixir of life” technology that could allow humans to “live forever.”
It is understood that the billionaire who founded Amazon in 1994 was part of a group of prominent investors funding the Northern California startup “Rejuvenation”. Founded earlier this year by Russian billionaire Yuri Milner, Altos Labs is experimenting with so-called biological reprogramming technology. The technology, if proven effective, could extend the life of a 50-year-old, according to reports.
Bezos stepped down as CEO of Amazon earlier this summer and instead focused his attention on other projects, including spaceflight company Blue Origin.
He made headlines in late July when he flew to the edge of space aboard his New Shepard rocket.
It now appears that part of its attention has turned to Altos Labs, where researchers say they will try to return cells to a state of “primitive” stem cells, allowing them to heal and regenerate.
Manuel Serrano, a researcher at the company, told Technology Review: “The philosophy of Altos Labs is to do research driven by curiosity. This is what I can do and I love to do. In this case, through a private company, we are free to be daring and to explore. The goal is to understand the Renewal. I would say the idea of generating income in the future is there, but it’s not the immediate goal. “
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Serrano has already worked with stem cells through experiments with genetically modified mice.
As part of his research, Serrano and his colleagues “reprogrammed” cells from adult mice to behave like embryonic stem cells.
The research, published in Nature, could one day help scientists develop regenerative therapies without the need to grow stem cells in a Petri dish.
Other scientists involved in the project include Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte of the Gene Expression Laboratories at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California.
Earlier this year, Professor Belmonte and a team of researchers claimed to have created the world’s first human monkey embryo.
The controversial study kept the hybrid embryos alive for up to 20 days in the lab.
The study’s authors claimed the research would help scientists better understand how early humans and primates evolved.
Altos Labs is reportedly looking to establish research bases around the world, including in Cambridge, UK.
According to Technology Review, the company has already raised 195.9 million pounds ($ 270 million) to support the project.
This is not the first time that Bezos has invested in biotechnology companies.
He previously funded the anti-aging company Unity Biotechnology, which designs drugs and treatments that can fight the worst effects of aging.
The company, also based in California, has raised more than 217.6 million pounds ($ 300 million) in funding.
Nathaniel David, president of Unity Biotechnology, said in 2018. “The standards of care for osteoporosis start with ibuprofen, then steroids, then are accepted by most people as the standard of care: you’re old, you’re old, it’s bad, and you’re in pain for the rest of your life. But we believe there is a better way to look through the lens of biological knowledge to find out why these diseases occur in the first place. “
Source: Express
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