Aubrey de Grey 748517 225740354 2008-07-15T04:35:19Z McSly 2576398 [[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 225738643 by [[Special:Contributions/94.98.62.63|94.98.62.63]] ([[User talk:94.98.62.63|talk]]) Rv spamlinks {{Infobox Scientist |name = Aubrey de Grey |box_width = |image = Aubrey de Grey.jpg |image_width = |caption = Aubrey de Grey |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|4|20|mf=y}} |birth_place = [[London]], [[England]] |death_date = |death_place = |residence = [[Cambridge]], [[United Kingdom|UK]] |citizenship = |nationality = {{UK}} |ethnicity = {{ENG}} |field = [[Gerontology|Biogerontology]] |work_institutions = [[University of Cambridge]] |alma_mater = [[University of Cambridge]] |doctoral_advisor = |doctoral_students = |known_for = [[Engineered negligible senescence|SENS]], [[Methuselah Mouse Prize]] |author_abbrev_bot = |author_abbrev_zoo = |prizes = |religion = |footnotes = }} '''Aubrey David Nicholas Jasper de Grey''' (born [[20 April]] [[1963]] in [[London]], [[England]]) is a [[United Kingdom|British]] biomedical [[gerontology|gerontologist]] and [[gentleman scientist]] educated at [[Cambridge University]] in the [[United Kingdom|UK]]. He is the author of the ''Mitochondrial Free Radical Theory of Aging''. He is now working to develop a [[Tissue (biology)|tissue-repair]] strategy that would [[Rejuvenation (aging)|rejuvenate]] the human body and thereby allow an [[indefinite lifespan]] -- a medical goal he calls [[engineered negligible senescence]]. To this end, he has identified seven tissue-damages caused by aging that need to be repaired medically before this can be done.<ref>[http://www.sens.org SENS (Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence)]</ref> He has been interviewed in recent years in many news sources, including CBS ''[[60 Minutes]]'', [[BBC]], the ''[[New York Times]]'', ''[[Fortune Magazine]]'', ''[[Free Talk Live]]'', ''[[Popular Science]]'' and ''[[The Colbert Report]]''. His main activities at present are as chairman and chief science officer of the [[Methuselah Foundation]]<ref>[http://www.methuselahfoundation.org The Methuselah Foundation]</ref> and editor-in-chief of the academic journal ''[[Rejuvenation Research]]''. ==Education== Aubrey de Grey was educated at [[Sussex House School]], [[Harrow School]] and [[Trinity Hall, Cambridge]]. Prior to his work in cellular and molecular [[biology]], he studied [[computer science]]. In 1985, he received a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] in Computer Science from the [[University of Cambridge]] and joined [[Sinclair Research Ltd]] as an [[artificial intelligence|AI]]/software engineer; in 1986, he co-founded Man-Made Minions Ltd<ref>[http://www.manmademinions.com Man-Made Minions - HOME]</ref> to pursue the development of an [[formal verification|automated formal program verifier]]. Until 2006, he was in charge of software development at the University of Cambridge [[Genetics]] Department for the [[FlyBase]] [[genetics|genetic]] database. During this time Cambridge awarded de Grey a [[Doctor of Philosophy|Ph.D.]] by a mechanism available only to previous Cambridge undergraduates (of whatever discipline) &mdash; the "special regulations," which require evidence of "...a significant contribution to scholarship,"<ref>[http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/gradstud/special/regulations.pdf University of Cambridge Special Regulations:]</ref> and are evaluated by the usual methods (examiners appointed; oral defence of the submitted work) but do not require an applicant to have been registered as a Ph.D. student while performing such work. The degree was granted in 2000<ref>[http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/reporter/2000-01/weekly/5831/27.html Reporter 13/12/00: Congregation of the Regent House on 9 December 2000]</ref> on the basis of de Grey's book concerning the biology of one aspect of aging, ''The Mitochondrial Free Radical Theory of Aging'' (ISBN 1-58706-155-4), which he wrote in 1999. The book controversially claimed that obviating damage to mitochondrial DNA might by itself extend lifespan significantly, though it stated that it was more likely that cumulative damage to mitochondria is a significant cause of senescence, but not the single dominant cause. A February&nbsp;8, 2007 search for "de&nbsp;Grey&nbsp;AD&nbsp;[au]" on PubMed <ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?DB=pubmed PubMed Home]</ref> revealed 61 publications in 25 peer-reviewed journals, of which 19 are in ''Rejuvenation Research'', the journal edited by de Grey. [[Image:Rejuvenation Research.jpg|left|thumb|''[[Rejuvenation Research]]'', the academic journal edited by de Grey.]] Regarding his background as a computer scientist (and subsequently a bioinformatician in genetics), he states: :"There are really very important differences between the type of creativity involved in being a scientist and being a technical engineer. It means that I’m able to think in very different ways and come up with approaches to things that are different from the way a basic scientist might think."<ref name="050411_aubrey_interview.html">[http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/050411_aubrey_interview.html Hang in There: The 25-Year Wait for Immortality] interview with LiveScience</ref> ==Strategies== De Grey argues that the fundamental knowledge needed to develop effective anti-aging medicine mostly already exists, and that the science is ahead of the funding. He works to identify and promote specific technological approaches to the reversal of various aspects of aging, or as de Grey puts it, "the set of accumulated side effects from metabolism that eventually kills us,"<ref name="050411_aubrey_interview.html"/> and for the more proactive and urgent approaches to extending the healthy human lifespan. Regarding this issue, de Grey is a supporter of [[life extension]]. [[As of 2005]], de Grey's work centered upon a detailed plan called [[Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence]] (SENS) which is aimed at preventing age-related physical and cognitive decline. He is also the co-founder (with David Gobel) and chief scientist of the Methuselah Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in [[Springfield, Virginia]], [[United States]]. A major activity of the Methuselah Foundation is the [[Methuselah Mouse Prize]],<ref>[http://www.mprize.org Methuselah Mouse Prize]</ref> a prize designed to hasten the research into effective life extension interventions by awarding monetary prizes to researchers who stretch the lifespan of mice to unprecedented lengths. Regarding this, de Grey stated in March 2005 "if we are to bring about real regenerative therapies that will benefit not just future generations, but those of us who are alive today, we must encourage scientists to work on the problem of aging." The prize reached 4.2 [[United States dollar|USD]] million in February 2007. De Grey believes that once dramatic life extension of already middle-aged mice has been achieved, a large amount of funding will be diverted to this kind of research, which would accelerate progress in doing the same for humans. In 2005, de Grey was the subject of a critical article in [[MIT]]'s ''[[Technology Review]]''.<ref name=NulandFebr2005>Nuland, Sherwin (February 2005). "[http://www.technologyreview.com/Biotech/14147/ Do You Want to Live Forever?]". ''Technology Review''.</ref> See [[de Grey Technology Review controversy]]. In 2007, de Grey wrote the book "Ending Aging" with the assistance of Michael Rae.<ref name=EndingAging>de Grey, Aubrey; Rae, Michael (September 2007). ''Ending Aging: The Rejuvenation Breakthroughs that Could Reverse Human Aging in Our Lifetime''. New York, NY: St. Martin's Press, 416 p. ISBN 0312367066.</ref> It summarizes the science, politics and social challenges of the entire SENS agenda.<ref>{{cite web | last = [[Ben Best]] | title = Book Review: ENDING AGING | work = Life Extension Magazine | publisher = [[Life Extension Foundation]] | date = December 2007 | url = http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2007/dec2007_bookreview_01.htm | accessdate = 2007-04-12 }}</ref> ==The seven types of aging damage proposed by de Grey== {{main|Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence}} #[[Cancer]]-causing nuclear mutations/epimutations: #:These are changes to the nuclear [[DNA]] (nDNA), the molecule that contains our genetic information, or to proteins which bind to the nDNA. Certain [[mutation]]s can lead to cancer, and, according to de Grey, non-cancerous mutations and [[epimutation]]s do not contribute to aging within a normal lifespan, so cancer is the only endpoint of these types of damage that must be addressed. #[[Mitochondria]]l mutations: #:Mitochondria are components in our [[cell (biology)|cells]] that are important for [[energy]] production. They contain their own genetic material, and mutations to their DNA can affect a cell’s ability to function properly. Indirectly, these mutations may accelerate many aspects of aging. #Intracellular junk: #:Our cells are constantly breaking down [[protein]]s and other molecules that are no longer useful or which can be harmful. Those molecules which can’t be digested simply accumulate as junk inside our cells. [[Atherosclerosis]], [[macular degeneration]] and all kinds of [[neurodegenerative disease]]s (such as Alzheimer's disease) are associated with this problem. #Extracellular junk: #:Harmful junk protein can also accumulate outside of our cells. The amyloid plaque seen in the brains of [[Alzheimer's disease|Alzheimer’s]] patients is one example. #Cell loss: #:Some of the cells in our bodies cannot be replaced, or can only be replaced very slowly - more slowly than they die. This decrease in cell number causes the heart to become weaker with age, and it also causes [[Parkinson's disease]] and impairs the [[immune system]]. #Cell senescence: #:This is a phenomenon where the cells are no longer able to divide, but also do not die and let others divide. They may also do other things that they’re not supposed to, like secreting proteins that could be harmful. Immune senescence and [[diabetes mellitus type 2|type 2 diabetes]] are caused by this.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} #Extracellular crosslinks: #:Cells are held together by special linking proteins. When too many cross-links form between cells in a [[Biological tissue|tissue]], the tissue can lose its elasticity and cause problems including arteriosclerosis and presbyopia.<ref name="050411_aubrey_interview.html"/> ==Controversies== ===De Grey Technology Review controversy=== {{main|De Grey Technology Review controversy}} The '''De Grey Technology Review controversy''' was a debate over the validity of the ideas of [[Aubrey de Grey]], published in [[MIT]]'s ''[[Technology Review]]''. In the end, none of the challengers to de Grey were able to convince the judges that SENS was "so wrong that it is unworthy of learned debate." ==Scientific journal== *[http://www.liebertpub.com/rej/ ''Rejuvenation Research''] (online reference) Editor: Aubrey de Grey. Publisher: [[Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.]] ISSN 1549-1684 - Published quarterly ==Titles and positions== De Grey is a fellow of the [[Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies]]<ref>[http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/bio/degrey Aubrey de Grey, Fellow, Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies]</ref> and an advisor for the [[Singularity Institute]].<ref>[http://www.singinst.org/aboutus/advisors Aubrey de Grey, advisor, The Singularity Institute]</ref> ==Recorded public appearances== ===Talks=== ====2008==== *[http://community.city.ac.uk/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?&pid=579&srcid=183 Aubrey de Grey speaking at Cass Business School, London, UK, on 12 FEB 2008 "Prospects for extending a healthy life - a lot".] *[http://www.darttalk.com Why we age, and how we can stop it] -- Discussions on Advancing Regenerative Therapies -- April 21, 2008 *Unconventional Wisdom -- Thinking Digital -- May 23, 2008 *[http://www.mfoundation.org/UABBA Understanding Aging: Biomedical and Bioengineering Approaches] -- June 27-29, 2008 ====2007==== *[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1233813146005285460 Edmonton Aging Symposium presentation] (28:45) -- Took place March 30-31, 2007 *[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8554766938711591377 Google TechTalk Video] (1:01:06) -- 1st Appearance (May 2007) entitled "Prospects for extending healthy life - a lot" *[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8617985714500843625 Google TechTalk Video] (1:13:10) -- 2nd Appearance (June 2007) entitled "WILT: taking cancer seriously enough to really cure it" *[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEyguiO4UW0 Google TechTalk Video] (1:02:26) -- 3rd Appearance (December 2007) entitled "Aging of the Other Genome: A Decisive but Ambitious Solution" ====2006==== *[http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/HETHR_bios/degrey/ Our Right to Life: A talk advocating a pro-life stance by de Grey] *[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5797136550128023855 Tomorrows People Forum 2006: Longer?] (2:00:58) ''The "Longer?" lecture (Presentation 3) for the Tomorrows People Conference Forum 2006 that took place on the 14-17 of March 2006 at the Saïd Business School at Oxford.'' *[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3847943059984264388 TED conference 2006 - Fixing Humanity's worst problem] (23:05) ''Presentation at the Technology Entertainment Design [[TED Conference]] 2006.'' *[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8462811396782471424 The unfortunate influence of the weather on the rate of ageing] (10:35) ''Excerpt of talk at CR-IV (2006 Calorie Restriction Society Conference), held [[April 6]]-[[April 9|9]] in [[Tucson, Arizona]], United States.'' *[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5362165726110332318 Immortality Institute conference presentation] (29:49) ''Presentation at the Immortality Institute's conference in [[Atlanta, Georgia]], United States.'' *[http://authorslounge.meettheauthor.com/35/aubrey_de_grey An interview for meettheauthor.com] filmed in November 2007 *GoogleTechTalks: [http://youtube.com/watch?v=wEyguiO4UW0 Aging of the Other Genome] (Dec. 2006, 62 minutes) On mutations of mitochondrial DNA and de Grey's [http://www.methuselahfoundation.org/index.php?pagename=mitosens MitoSENS] ====2005==== *{{youtube|id=llvP-7XgTEE|title=Defeating aging - July 2005 Oxford England - [[TED (conference)]]}} (22:28) ''Aging and death are solvable problems, and we can live for centuries, if we approach the aging process as an engineering problem.'' *[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7401972520761472404 Defeating aging - held [[July 2005]] in Oxford, England - TED (conference)] (29:59) ''longer version with interview.'' ====2003==== *[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6526709231920433808 Presentation at Popular Technology conference Poptech] (45:06) ===TV interviews=== *[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/12/28/60minutes/main1168852.shtml The Quest for Immortality] - [[60 Minutes]] television interview ([[January 1]], [[2006]]) *[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5205242449757321186 News interview with Janet Street-Porter on Bloomberg Encounters] (12:29) ''A brief overview on how ageing could be curable and extreme life extension could be available in as little as 25 years and the scientific debate surrounding such a proposition.'' *[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5481460063764097799&pr=goog-sl Interview on GMTV's Good Morning] (7:23) ''Interview on Britain's GMTV program "Good Morning" with Fern Britton and Phillip Schofield surrounding extreme life extension and its feasibility in the next 25 years.'' *{{youtube|id=7q2M8SPg4iM|title=Interview for CBC Canada Now}} (5:53) ''Interview for CBC Canada Now.'' *[http://www.imminst.org/forum/index.php?s=&act=ST&f=1&t=17268&st=20&#entry189760 Link to Good Morning America Interview Announcements] ''Will be {{old fact}} Interviewed on ABC's Good Morning America on September 17th, 2007'' *{{google video|-1976125450128123227|Interview on the comedy show the Colbert Report}} *{{google video|1598612092045110436|Interview}} in the [[Death in the Deep Freeze]] documentary ===Radio and podcast interviews=== *[http://www.freetalklive.com/files/degrey.mp3 Radio interview with Ian Bernard and Mark Edge on [[Free Talk Live]]] (32:49) ''A half-hour interview (without commercials) given by Ian Bernard and Mark Edge of Free Talk Live on a discussion of how death can be defeated in our lifetime.'' *[http://media.libsyn.com/media/pointofinquiry/POI_2008_01_11_Aubrey_de_Grey.mp3 Aubrey de Grey - Ending Aging [[Point of Inquiry]]] (40:03) ''Interview by [[D.J. Grothe]]: Aubrey de Grey explains aging, and the SENS (Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence) program. (11 January 2008)'' *[http://gdayworld.thepodcastnetwork.com/2008/05/19/gday-world-323-aubrey-de-grey-2/ Podcast interview with TPN's [[Cameron Reilly]] (30:00) ''A half-hour interview with Aubrey de Grey from 19 May 2008.'' ===Film appearances=== *[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6581761732541483047 Exploring Life Extension] (1:45:32) ''A film by the Immortality Institute that explores various aspects of extreme life extension including cryogenics, caloric restriction, [[transhumanism]], and other scientific pursuits of extreme life extension.'' *Aubrey de Grey was the subject of the [[documentary film]] ''[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3329065877451441972 Do You Want to Live Forever?]'' (1:16:36), directed by [http://www.sykes.easynet.co.uk Christopher Sykes] and first broadcast on [[February 3]], [[2007]] by [[Channel 4]] in the UK. ==See also== *[[Human enhancement]] *[[List of basic life extension topics]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.machineslikeus.com/cms/MLU-interviews-aubrey-de-grey.html ''Machines Like Us'' interview] *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4003063.stm 'We will be able to live to 1,000'] Interview with BBC website, outlining views *[http://www.popsci.com/popsci/medicine/2917c4522fa84010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html Popular Science article] *[http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health_medicine/4248482.html Popular Mechanics article and podcast] *[http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2006/feb2006_profile_01.htm Interview with Life Extension magazine] *[http://chronicle.com/free/v52/i10/10a01401.htm The Man Who Would Murder Death] "A rogue researcher challenges scientists to reverse human aging" The Chronicle of Higher Education [[2005-10-14]] *[http://longevity-science.org/Science-2002.pdf Antiaging Technology and Pseudoscience] (a web site) *[http://www.ohpurleese.com/interview.htm#AG A short interview with AdG at Really Magazine (2005)] *Joel Garreau. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/30/AR2007103002222.html?hpid=sec-health 'The Invincible Man: Aubrey de Grey, 44 Going on 1,000, Wants Out of Old Age'], [[The Washington Post]], [[October 31]], [[2007]]. Page C01. *[http://www.acceleratingfuture.com/people-blog/?cat=10 Transcripts of Aubrey de Grey's conference lectures at Accelerating Future] *[http://conquest.se/2008/03/28/aubrey-de-grey-forskaren-som-kan-gora-dig-evigt-ung Interview with Conquest.se] {{DEFAULTSORT:De Grey, Aubrey}} [[Category:1963 births]] [[Category:English scientists]] [[Category:Transhumanists]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Biogerontologists]] [[Category:Life extensionists]] [[Category:Old Harrovians]] [[Category:Alumni of Trinity Hall, Cambridge]] [[de:Aubrey de Grey]] [[es:Aubrey de Grey]] [[fr:Aubrey de Grey]] [[hu:Aubrey de Grey]] [[nl:Aubrey de Grey]] [[sq:Aubrey de Grey]] [[fi:Aubrey de Grey]]