A few days ago, Calico, a company founded by Google with the goal to carry out research on longevity, announced a collaboration with the Broad Institute, a center for biomedical and genomics research founded by MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and Harvard University. The aim is to work together to research on age-related diseases to find new treatments.

In September 2013, Google co-founder and CEO of Larry Page (Photo ©Marcin Mycielski) announced the launch of Calico (California Life Company). One of the founders of Calico, Arthur D. Levinson, was appointed CEO of the company. Levinson also serves on the Broad Institute’s board of directors of the so all in all the real surprise is that it took so long to set up a collaboration between these two research centers.

Eric Lander, president and director of the Broad Institute – complete name Eli and Edythe L. completeness Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard – stated that the combination of their expertise on genetics, biology and chemistry combined with Calico’s expertise in the therapeutic field can accelerate the progress of therapeutic projects.

Arthur D. Levinson stated that this alliance is a key in Calico’s strategy to bring the best cutting-edge science to work on the problem of aging. In September 2014, Calico announced a collaboration with the pharmaceutical corporation AbbVie for the creation of a research center dedicated to age-related diseases, including neurodegenerative ones and cancer.

Calico and its partners’ task is long term. From the company news came about compounds that, in animal models, showed the ability to fight neurodegeneration but it’s only the beginning. Research and experimentation in this field requires a lot of time so results arrive in the course of years.

Bill Maris, founder and president of Google Ventures, venture capital investment arm that funds various startups, is also optimistic. Maris helped develop the project Calico and recently stated in an interview that he believes it’s possible for humans to live up to 500 years.

It’s still difficult to say when practical results will arrive but Google’s investment  in Calico are significant and its collaborations are very serious and prestigious. Finding ways to allow people to reach 100 years in good health would be a huge result. To get to 500 years there all the time.

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