English author and biogerontologist
Aubrey David Nicholas Jasper de Grey (; born 20 April 1963)[4][5] is an English author and biomedical gerontologist.[6][7][8][9] He is the author of The Mitochondrial Free Radical Theory of Aging (1999) and co-author of Ending Aging (2007). He is known for his view that medical technology may enable human beings alive today not to die from age-related causes.[10] As an amateur mathematician, he has contributed to the study of the HadwigerNelson problem in geometric graph theory, making the first progress on the problem in over 60 years.[11]
De Grey is an international adjunct professor of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology,[12] a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America,[13] the American Aging Association, and the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies.[14] He has been interviewed in recent years in a number of news sources, including CBS 60 Minutes, the BBC, The Guardian, Fortune Magazine, The Washington Post, TED, Popular Science,Playboy, The Colbert Report, Time, the Skeptics' Guide to the Universe, and The Joe Rogan Experience. He was the Chief Science Officer of the SENS Research Foundation, but was fired in August 2021 after allegedly interfering in a probe investigating sexual harassment allegations against him.[15]
De Grey was born and brought up in London, England.[16] He told The Observer that he never knew his father, and that his mother Cordelia, an artist, encouraged him in the areas in which she herself was weakest: science and mathematics.[17] De Grey was educated at Sussex House School[18] and Harrow School. He attended university at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, graduating with a BA in computer science in 1985.[19]
After graduation in 1985, de Grey joined Sinclair Research as an artificial intelligence researcher and software engineer. In 1986, he cofounded Man-Made Minions Ltd to pursue the development of an automated formal program verifier. At a graduate party in Cambridge, de Grey met fruit fly geneticist Adelaide Carpenter whom he would later marry. Through her he was introduced to the intersection of biology and programming when her boss needed someone who knew about computers and biology to take over the running of a database on fruit flies.[20] He educated himself in biology by reading journals and textbooks, attending conferences, and being tutored by Professor Carpenter.[21][22] From 1992 to 2006, he was in charge of software development at the university's Genetics Department for the FlyBase genetic database.[23]
Cambridge awarded de Grey an honorary Ph.D. by publication in biology on 9 December 2000.[19][24] The degree was based on his 1999 book The Mitochondrial Free Radical Theory of Aging, in which de Grey wrote that obviating damage to mitochondrial DNA might by itself extend lifespan significantly, though he said it was more likely that cumulative damage to mitochondria is a significant cause of senescence, but not the single dominant cause.
In 2005, de Grey argued that most of the fundamental knowledge needed to develop effective anti-aging medicine already existed, and that the science is ahead of the funding. He described his work as identifying and promoting specific technological approaches to the reversal of various aspects of aging, or, as de Grey put it, "... the set of accumulated side effects from Metabolism that eventually kills us."[25]
As of 2005[update], de Grey's work centered on a detailed plan called strategies for engineered negligible senescence (SENS), which is aimed at preventing age-related physical and cognitive decline. In March 2009, he cofounded the SENS Research Foundation (named SENS Foundation until early 2013), a non-profit organisation based in California, United States, where he served until 2021 as Chief Science Officer. The foundation "works to develop, promote and ensure widespread access to regenerative medicine solutions to the disabilities and diseases of aging,"[26] focusing on the strategies for engineered negligible senescence. Before March 2009, the SENS research program was mainly pursued by the Methuselah Foundation, cofounded by de Grey.
A major activity of the Methuselah Foundation is the Methuselah Mouse Prize,[27] a prize designed to incentivize research into effective life extension interventions by awarding monetary prizes to researchers who stretch the lifespan of mice to unprecedented lengths. 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 USD million in February 2007.
In 2007, de Grey wrote the book Ending Aging with the assistance of Michael Rae.[28]
In a 2008 broadcast on Franco-German TV network Arte, de Grey claimed that the first human to live 1,000 years was probably already alive, and might even be between 50 and 60 years old already.[29]
In 2012, de Grey inherited a considerable fortune of more than US$16 million, US$13 million of which he donated to the SENS Research Foundation.[30]
De Grey is a cryonicist, having signed up with Alcor.[31]
On 8 April 2018, de Grey posted a paper to arXiv explicitly constructing a unit-distance graph in the plane that cannot be colored with fewer than five colors, increasing the previously known lower bound by one. The previous lower bound of four was due to the problem's original proposal in 1950 by Hugo Hadwiger and Edward Nelson.[32] De Grey's graph has 1581 vertices, but it has since been reduced to 510 vertices by independent researchers.[33][34][35]
De Grey was formerly Vice President of New Technology Discovery at AgeX Therapeutics, a startup in the longevity space helmed by Michael D. West, PhD. De Grey was appointed to the position within the company in July 2017.[36][37][38]
In 2005, MIT Technology Review, in cooperation with the Methuselah Foundation, announced a $20,000 prize for any molecular biologist who could demonstrate that SENS was "so wrong that it is unworthy of learned debate." The judges of the challenge were Rodney Brooks, Anita Goel, Vikram Sheel Kumar, Nathan Myhrvold, and Craig Venter. Five submissions were made, of which three met the terms of the challenge. De Grey wrote a rebuttal to each submission, and the challengers wrote responses to each rebuttal. The judges concluded that none of the challengers had disproved SENS, but the magazine opined that one of the submissions had been particularly eloquent and well written, and awarded the contestant $10,000. The judges also noted "the proponents of SENS have not made a compelling case for SENS", and wrote that many of its proposals could not be verified with the current level of scientific knowledge and technology, concluding that "SENS does not compel the assent of many knowledgeable scientists; but neither is it demonstrably wrong."[39] The critics single out three proposed therapies for criticism: somatic telomerase deletion, somatic mitochondrial genome engineering, and the use of transgenic microbial hydrolase.[40]
Later in 2005, he was the subject of an associated critical editorial article in the MIT Technology Review, which viewed his theories as oversimplifying anti-aging as a scientific goal, and expressed concern at a lack of ethical and moral considerations towards anti-aging research.[41]
A 2005 article about SENS published in the viewpoint section of EMBO Reports by 28 scientists concluded that none of de Grey's hypotheses "has ever been shown to extend the lifespan of any organism, let alone humans".[42] The SENS Research Foundation, of which de Grey was a cofounder, acknowledged this, stating, "If you want to reverse the damage of aging right now I'm afraid the simple answer is, you can't."[43] Moreover, de Grey argues that this reveals a serious gap in understanding between basic scientists and technologists and between biologists studying aging and those studying regenerative medicine.[44]
The 31-member Research Advisory Board of de Grey's SENS Research Foundation have signed an endorsement of the plausibility of the SENS approach.[45] In 2021, the National Institute on Aging (NIA), a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), showcased a SENS research project and provided a grant for the research.[46][47]
In August 2021, following allegations of sexual harassment by two women, de Grey was put on administrative leave by SENS.[48]
Both women describe situations in which de Grey, {...} explicitly spoke with them about sex. According to Haliouas account, he even told her that it was her responsibility to sleep with SENS donors to encourage financial contributions. Deming was only 17 when, she alleges, de Grey told her he wanted to speak with her about his adventurous love life. Deming says that when she recently became aware that this was not a one-off incident, she was angry to realize that Aubrey inappropriately propositioned more than one woman over whom he was in a position of power, many in the community knew about it, and no one did anything, she writes.[49]
Days later, the SENS board of directors decided to remove de Grey from his position as chief science officer, severing all ties with him following the report that he had allegedly attempted to interfere with the sexual harassment investigation.[50]
The independent investigator determined that de Grey made sexually inappropriate remarks to both Deming and Halioua. The investigator also decided de Grey's attempt to communicate with Halioua via a third party constituted interference, although de Grey stated he believed that phase of the investigation had concluded. The investigator found that various other allegations against de Grey were not substantiated.[51][52]
In March 2022, the SENS Research Foundation released a statement regarding de Grey's employment affirming that while his actions "did substantiate instances of poor judgment and boundary-crossing behaviors, Dr. de Grey is not a sexual predator."[53]
Read the original here:
Aubrey de Grey - Wikipedia
- Managing the ageing process [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2012]
- Natures Elements Releases New Product: Reishi Mushroom - This Chinese Longevity Mushroom Has Miraculous Health Benefits [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2012]
- Dance conference [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2012]
- Immortal moment for Sonya [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2012]
- Read in [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2012]
- An artificially intelligent future: Ray Kurzweil on engineering the brain [Last Updated On: November 28th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 28th, 2012]
- OpenWorm brings simulated life one step closer with ‘real’ digital muscles [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- Tozer Devotional - The Alliance: Living the Call Together [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- The Eucharist: What Do Catholics Believe? [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- Elixir of life - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- Immortality - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- The Immortal Life « Rebecca Skloot [Last Updated On: December 21st, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 21st, 2013]
- Could humans attain immortality? - Curiosity [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2013]
- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot - Book ... [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2013]
- Alex Chiu Eternal Life Immortality Device [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2013]
- Jiaogulan - gynostemma pentaphyllum - China's "Immortality ... [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2013]
- FSU will go down as one of the all-time great teams [Last Updated On: January 8th, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 8th, 2014]
- Sermons and Papers [Last Updated On: January 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 9th, 2014]
- Twin fiestas mirror Filipinos’ duality of spirit [Last Updated On: January 19th, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 19th, 2014]
- Medicine of Immortality [Last Updated On: January 21st, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 21st, 2014]
- Hockey great Bobby Orr presents his new book in Vero Beach [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2014]
- RIP Jade Rabbit: China's lunar rover officially dead [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2014]
- Catholic Social Doctrine Can Help Rescue Aging Societies [Last Updated On: February 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 27th, 2014]
- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Science NetLinks [Last Updated On: March 13th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 13th, 2014]
- Community HealthNet offers comprehensive healthcare for all [Last Updated On: March 16th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 16th, 2014]
- REVIEW The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story, By Vivek J. Tiwary And Brian C. Robinson [Last Updated On: March 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 22nd, 2014]
- Wallace Baine, Baine Street: Why the silence on science? [Last Updated On: March 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 24th, 2014]
- Why Freezing Yourself Is a Terrible Way to Achieve Immortality [Last Updated On: April 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 2nd, 2014]
- Gene therapy successfully regenerates an old organ inside a living animal [Last Updated On: April 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 10th, 2014]
- Grief-stricken memorialize loved ones on 'R.I.P. T-shirts' [Last Updated On: April 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 11th, 2014]
- Doctors Can Now Grow Engineered Vaginas in Women [Last Updated On: April 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 11th, 2014]
- Celldex's Phase 1 study of CDX-1401 published in Science Translational Medicine [Last Updated On: April 17th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 17th, 2014]
- Researchers Link Aging to Cellular Interactions That Occur Across Generations [Last Updated On: April 25th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 25th, 2014]
- UNC researchers link aging to cellular interactions that occur across generations [Last Updated On: April 25th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 25th, 2014]
- Aging linked to cellular interactions that occur across generations [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2014]
- Sir Roger Bannister has Parkinson's Disease [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- Do Not Miss the Secrets to Longevity, Healing & Immortality with Soul Miracle Healer Dr. and Master Zhi Gang Sha at ... [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2014]
- New, young blood can reverse some signs of aging, improve cognitive abilities [Last Updated On: May 5th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 5th, 2014]
- Sixty years on from the day Sir Roger changed athletics [Last Updated On: May 6th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 6th, 2014]
- University Medal runners-up find turning point at Berkeley [Last Updated On: May 13th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 13th, 2014]
- How a Rare Medical Condition Could Help Extend All of Our Lives [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2014]
- The Eternal Problem Silicon Valley Can't Solve [Last Updated On: September 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 1st, 2014]
- Americas highest-paid female CEO was born a man [Last Updated On: September 8th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 8th, 2014]
- Harry Potter Magic at the Eccles Library [Last Updated On: September 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 9th, 2014]
- Brain Trust: 15th Annual IdeaFestival Blossoms, Branches Out [Last Updated On: September 12th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 12th, 2014]
- The Essence of Senescence [Last Updated On: September 12th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 12th, 2014]
- The $1 Million Race For The Cure To End Aging [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2014]
- Hedge fund offers $1M to cure aging [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2014]
- Derrick Rose's Long Journey Back to Superstardom Is Only Just Beginning [Last Updated On: September 17th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 17th, 2014]
- 7 Most Audacious Medtech Predictions [Last Updated On: September 17th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 17th, 2014]
- What's up, docs? [Last Updated On: September 21st, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 21st, 2014]
- Forever creator previews the newest show about immortality [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2014]
- Penn Researchers Explain How Ends of Chromosomes are Maintained for Cancer Cell Immortality [Last Updated On: September 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 26th, 2014]
- Show mixes mystery and medicine [Last Updated On: September 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 26th, 2014]
- How the Ends of Chromosomes Are Maintained for Cancer Cell Immortality [Last Updated On: September 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 26th, 2014]
- Unraveling the Universe: Griffins Tower [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2014]
- 8 superfoods that arent all that super [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2014]
- 'The Strain' News: Season 1 Finale Recap, Show Renewed for Second Season [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2014]
- Author Rebecca Skloot to Present Free Public Lecture at UCR as Part of Immortality Project Lecture Series [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2014]
- Eskind Biomedical Library highlights world of Harry Potter [Last Updated On: October 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 24th, 2014]
- Ali Regained Title in Historic Fight 40 Years Ago [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2014]
- 'Rumble in the Jungle' Turns 40 [Last Updated On: November 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 1st, 2014]
- Death: Only Lazarus can refute [Last Updated On: November 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 1st, 2014]
- November 2014 [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2014]
- Here Are All the Movies Opening Today, November 7. What Will You See? [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2014]
- Brittany Maynard forced us to confront death [Last Updated On: November 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 9th, 2014]
- How Brittany Maynard made us look at death [Last Updated On: November 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 9th, 2014]
- Modern medicine unwraps ancient mysteries around 2,000-year-old child mummy [Last Updated On: November 15th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 15th, 2014]
- Revealed: Modern medicine unwraps ancient mysteries of Bolton's 2,000-year-old child mummy [Last Updated On: November 15th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 15th, 2014]
- EDEL: In a galaxy far far away [Last Updated On: November 17th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 17th, 2014]
- The Immortal Medication - Genetics Medicine [Last Updated On: November 20th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 20th, 2014]
- Dr. and Master Zhi Gang Sha, Creator of Soul Healing Miracles, Invites Public to Q & A Online Seminar About New Book ... [Last Updated On: November 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 22nd, 2014]
- I dont want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying. Woody Allen [Last Updated On: November 23rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 23rd, 2014]
- Part 2: Mushrooms for health and wealth [Last Updated On: November 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 26th, 2014]
- What should doctors do when the drugs wont work? Often its easier to push one more treatment than to acknowledge ... [Last Updated On: November 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 27th, 2014]
- CRUCIBLE: Hilot and Wellbeing (1) Julkipli Wadi [Last Updated On: November 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 30th, 2014]
- VP Gems: Medicine For Finals [Last Updated On: December 12th, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 12th, 2014]
- The Vampire Preservation Society Stands Out From The Pack As A Distinctive Narrative Of Brotherhood, Compassion, And ... [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2014]
- Dying we live [1995] [Last Updated On: December 18th, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 18th, 2014]
- The final chapter on the festive season [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2014]