Leonard P. Guarente

Novartis Professor of Biology at MIT. Director Glenn Labs for the Science of Aging at MIT.  Affiliate for Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT.  Made important discoveries in transcriptional regulation using yeast. Discovered that the protein SIR2 and its related proteins the sirtuins slow aging in many organisms from yeast to mammals.  Discovered the key activity of SIR2 related proteins is NAD dependent deacetylation.  His work links sirtuin activation in cells to the positive effects of calorie restriction on life span and health span extension.  His work also has led to compounds that can activate sirtuins during aging, such as polyphenols and NAD precursors.  He is a founder of Elysium Health, a company to develop health interventions such as natural products.  The first product Basis combines the polyphenol pterostilbene and the NAD precursor nicotinamide ribosode to extend health span.  Human trials on Basis are under way.