Dr. Joon Yun is managing partner and president of Palo Alto Investors, LLC, who recently agreed to donate a $1 million Palo Alto Prize to reverse the aging process. The Palo Alto Longevity Prize is a $1 million life science competition dedicated to ending aging.
There are two prizes available and teams may compete for one or both prizes:
• A $500,000 Homeostatic Capacity Prize will be awarded to the first team to demonstrate that it can restore homeostatic capacity (using heart rate variability as the surrogate measure) of an aging reference mammal to that of a young adult.
• A $500,000 Longevity Demonstration Prize will be awarded to the first team that can extend the lifespan of its reference mammal by 50% of acceptable published norms. Demonstration must use an approach that restores homeostatic capacity to increase lifespan.
Each team participating in the Prize is responsible for funding 100% of its participation in the Prize including all research and development costs and publishing its work and/or the reproduction of results.
To enable a rapid commercial path forward for the innovations, the sponsor of the Prize will be contributing an existing pool of relevant intellectual property to the Prize effort.
Prize Timeline:*
| Launch prize and open registration | September 9, 2014 |
| Public commenting on rules opens | September 9, 2014 |
| Public commenting on rules closes | November 15, 2014 |
| First registration deadline for teams closes | January 15, 2015 |
| Second registration deadline for teams closes | June 15, 2015 |
| Homeostatic Capacity Prize ends | June 15, 2016 |
| Longevity Demonstration Prize ends | September 9, 2018 |
* Timeline to be finalized by November 15th after public commenting period ends.
Innovation happens in the most magical ways and often it requires people from outside the field of study to see the challenge with a new perspective.
- If you are ready to sign up as a team to compete – please fill out an Intent to Participate Application.
- If you have any questions or if you would like to review the Prize rules, please let us know.
LET’S DO THIS!
“There is a possibility that the timed switch from a functional ANS to a dysfunctional ANS may be a key underlying mechanism of chronic diseases and aging.”
“The Palo Alto Longevity Prize has the potential to fundamentally impact humankind by unlocking the secrets to longevity and healthy aging.”
“The answers we find with this prize could not only teach us how to enhance lifespan but more importantly brain function and human health in general.”
“Health extension needs to happen sooner rather than later. I, for one, do not want to be part of the last generation that only lived to an average of 80 years.”
“Prizes work. They attract the best minds to focus on a breakthrough, media to educate the public and the money necessary to support the innovators.”
“For far too long aging research is undercapitalized and over promoted in non rigorous contexts. Its great to finally see an effort to foster cogent science.”
“Heart rate variability is a powerful potential biomarker. This prize will attract the best and brightest to take on the full puzzle.”
“As a venture investor, I am super excited to meet future teams and the potential opportunities that could result from this prize.”
