Investing in Longevity: How Rapamycin Protects the Ageing Immune System

Dr Loren Kell reveals how rapamycin and mTOR inhibitors can strengthen the ageing immune system, reduce DNA damage, and support long-term health. At the Longevity Forum Science Summit, Dr Loren Kell, the first Mellon Scholar, shares her groundbreaking research on how rapamycin and mTOR inhibitors enhance resilience in the ageing immune system. Drawing on four years of work—from in-vitro studies to a clinical trial in older adults - she explains why immune ageing, driven by DNA damage, impaired T-cell function, and cellular senescence, is a critical challenge for healthy longevity. Loren shows how low-dose mTOR inhibitors reduce DNA lesions, suppress senescence markers, and improve immune cell survival, offering insights into how these therapies could boost vaccine responses, protect against genome instability, mitigate radiation effects, and even support human health in space. This talk highlights the impact of the Mellon Longevity Scholarship and the emerging role of mTOR inhibition as a potential genoprotective strategy, making it essential viewing for anyone interested in longevity, healthspan, and future-focused investing.