BOSTON, MA — Aug 18, 2026 — Insilico Medicine and the ARDD organizing committee today announced that George Church, Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School and Professor of Health Sciences and Technology at Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will be a featured speaker at the 13th Aging Research & Drug Discovery (ARDD) Meeting. The event will take place October 1–3, 2026, at the David Rubenstein Treehouse at Harvard University.
Few scientists have influenced modern genomics as profoundly as George Church. His pioneering work spans genome sequencing, genome editing and writing, synthetic biology, AI-driven protein engineering, gene therapy, cellular reprogramming, and aging research. He has also contributed to major scientific initiatives including the Human Genome Project, Personal Genome Project, BRAIN Initiative, and Genome Project-write.
Church joins ARDD 2026 at a remarkable moment for the field. He has described longevity research as being in the midst of multiple scientific revolutions, with advances in gene therapy, cellular reprogramming, and other emerging technologies opening new possibilities for addressing age-related decline. His presentation will help examine a question increasingly moving from the margins of science toward mainstream biomedical research: How close are we to a genuine longevity revolution?
As longevity science advances from theoretical concepts toward multi-billion-dollar therapeutic pipelines, ARDD 2026 is bringing together academic researchers, clinical investigators, pharmaceutical leaders, biotechnology entrepreneurs, and institutional investors working to translate discoveries in aging biology into medicines.
"The biology of aging has become one of the most promising frontiers in biomedical science. Our challenge is to both better understand it and translate fundamental discoveries into interventions that improve healthspan. That will require an unprecedented level of collaboration across disciplines and sectors,” said Vadim Gladyshev, Executive Chair of ARDD and Professor of Medicine at Harvard University. “Conferences like ARDD play an important role by bringing together the people who can ask difficult questions, test new ideas, and build the partnerships needed to advance the field."
With visionary presenters sharing their insights alongside leaders from ten of the world's top pharmaceutical companies, ARDD 2026 is an unmatched catalyst for translating longevity science into real-world medicine.
“ARDD has always been about bringing together the world's leading minds in aging research to accelerate the development of interventions that extend healthy lifespan," said Morten Scheibye-Knudsen, Co-Chair of ARDD and Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen. “Moving ARDD to Boston marks an exciting new chapter, placing the conference at the heart of one of the world's strongest biomedical innovation ecosystems. At the same time, ARDD 2026 reflects the field's increasing maturity, with an incredibly strong focus on translating scientific discoveries into medicines. The future is bright.”
Officially organized by Insilico Medicine, the 2026 meeting is anchored by Tier 1 sponsors Insilico Medicine and Eli Lilly, with the McKinsey Health Institute joining as the Sole Knowledge Partner. The conference brings together a highly curated ecosystem of academic leaders, biotechnology innovators, pharmaceutical companies, entrepreneurs, and investors. This includes Tier 3 sponsors AbbVie, AniVC, AstraZeneca, BioAge Labs, Biocytogen, Cambrian Bio, Cyclarity Therapeutics, Dior, GlycanAge, Gordian Biotechnology, Human Longevity, the Institute for Healthier Living Abu Dhabi, LongeVC, Maxwell Biosciences, Nestlé, Tally Health, and TruDiagnostic. Synaro Capital, The Cat Health Company, and PranaGen Bioscience support the event as Tier 4 sponsors, alongside Tier 5 sponsors Estée Lauder, Morgan Stanley, the Intrinsic Capacity Frailty & Sarcopenia Research Conference for Healthy Longevity, and QuadraScope.
“George Church has repeatedly helped move ideas once considered speculative into the realm of serious scientific and technological possibility,” said Alex Zhavoronkov, Ph.D., Co-Chair of ARDD and CEO of Insilico Medicine. “His participation reflects what ARDD is designed to do: bring together scientists willing to think ambitiously with the researchers, companies, and investors capable of translating those ideas into interventions that may extend healthy human life.”
For further information or interview requests with the speakers, please contact: ardd@pharma.ai
The Aging Research & Drug Discovery (ARDD) Meeting is the world's largest meeting dedicated to aging and longevity biotechnology. Now in its 13th year, ARDD brings together researchers, clinicians, biotechnology and pharmaceutical leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers from around the world to accelerate the translation of breakthroughs in the biology of aging into practical R&D and therapeutic programs. The 2026 meeting will take place October 1–3 at the David Rubenstein Treehouse at Harvard University in Boston. Learn more at agingpharma.org.
The Nordic Aging Society is a supporter of ARDD and a non-profit scientific organization dedicated to advancing research on the biology of aging and promoting collaboration among researchers, clinicians, and industry across the Nordic region and beyond.