David Weinkove, a prominent aging researcher and chair of the British Society for Research on Ageing (BSRA), emphasized the necessity of collaboration between academia and industry to establish credible scientific evidence for anti-aging products. Speaking with NutraIngredients prior to his participation in the inaugural Nutra Healthspan Summit in London on November 12-13, Weinkove highlighted that the event aligns with the BSRA”s mission of connecting scientists and facilitating the translation of research into practical applications.
The BSRA is dedicated to promoting research aimed at helping individuals slow biological aging. To support this goal, the organization is strengthening partnerships with various disease-focused associations to ensure that advancements in healthy aging research translate into real-world benefits. Weinkove stated, “It”s important we work with people focused on prevention of diseases because, clearly, if you can slow aging then you can prevent diseases.”
He noted that while advancements in treatment have enabled many individuals with specific diseases to live longer, insufficient research on how these diseases affect aging individuals presents new challenges. The BSRA, according to Weinkove, is uniquely positioned to address these issues.
As co-founder and chief scientific officer of Magnitude Biosciences, Weinkove pointed out that disease-focused charities often allocate more funding toward treatment research. For instance, he mentioned that although Cancer Research UK invests £8 million in cancer prevention, this represents merely two percent of their overall budget. “Prevention is so important because if you can prevent one disease, chances are you will prevent another disease as a result,” he added.
Weinkove expressed confidence in the potential of preventive nutrition strategies but acknowledged the difficulty in proving their effectiveness. He explained that research involving nutraceuticals targeting aging and disease risk requires large sample sizes and extended intervention periods, which can be resource-intensive. “We have to give everyone the intervention, and we have to wait for long enough for some participants to get the disease or suffer the health issue,” he noted.
He further explained that addressing the aging population often necessitates larger sample sizes due to the increased variability among older individuals. Additionally, Weinkove remarked on the challenges of securing funding for aging research compared to that of specific diseases, despite aging being a universal risk factor.
Discussing the potential impact of the Nutra Healthspan Summit on longevity research, Weinkove expressed his eagerness to facilitate collaboration between various stakeholders in the field. “I want to talk to people from industry but there are some very good academic speakers as well that I want to link up with,” he added, appreciating the diverse interests in aging represented at the event.
The Nutra Healthspan Summit promises to deliver innovative scientific insights alongside business strategies aimed at extending healthspan through nutrition and supplements. This highlight event is set to provide clear, actionable information from leading scientists, brands, and innovators within the cellular aging sector.
At the Summit, Weinkove will participate in a panel discussion focused on the hallmarks of aging with other experts, including Trygve Bergeland, director of nutrition science at Balchem, Dr. Lee Chae, co-founder at Brightseed, and David Foreman, known as The Herbal Pharmacist. He plans to encourage panelists to consider the risks of concentrating on specific biomarkers while stressing the importance of overall outcomes and consumer experience regarding health.
The BSRA, founded in 1939, aims to foster research that contributes to slowing biological aging, thus promoting longer, healthier lives free from disease. The charity has outlined five key objectives: facilitating the translation of research for relevant stakeholders, connecting scientists for collaborative efforts, engaging the public on aging biology and research needs, advocating for increased funding for quality aging research, and raising funds to support exceptional aging research initiatives.
