Dr. David Sinclair Steps Down from Prominent Aging Research Position Amidst Backlash Surrounding ‘Reverse Aging’ ClaimDr. David Sinclair Steps Down from Prominent Aging Research Position Amidst Backlash Surrounding ‘Reverse Aging’ Claim
Harvard’s Dr. David Sinclair has claimed achievement of “age reversal” in animal models, prompting a whirlwind of criticism from fellow scientists and his resignation as president of the Academy for Health and Lifespan Research.
(Harvard’s Dr. David Sinclair has made a pledge to be more scientifically accurate with what he says in the future | The Wall Street Journal)
By Brett J. Weiss
Published: 7:00 am PST May 7, 2024 | Updated: 11:36 p.m. PST May 17, 2024
Highlights
Dr. Sinclair was elected president of the non-profit organization with goals of promoting future longevity work called the Academy for Health and Lifespan Research in June 2023.
A barrage of rebukes from fellow longevity researchers over his claims of “age reversal” in primates and dogs drove Dr. Sinclair to step down as president in March 2024.
Dr. Sinclair has co-founded a few companies, such as Life Biosciences and Animal Bioscience, that have created techniques and supplements that, according to Dr. Sinclair, reverse aging in animal models.
Harvard’s Dr. David Sinclair, a tenured professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School, stepped down as president of the Academy for Health and Lifespan Research. The Academy for Health and Lifespan Research is a non-profit organization, composed of about 60 aging scientists. Its overarching goals encompass ensuring that breakthroughs in aging research are accelerated and made available to all.
Dr. Sinclair’s resignation as president comes amidst caustic criticism from fellow aging scientists regarding claims he has made of “age reversal” in certain organisms. One example of this type of claim came in April 2023. At that time, Dr. Sinclair wrote on X that a gene therapy developed in his Harvard lab and being promoted by a company he co-founded, Life Biosciences, had restored vision and reversed aging in monkeys. He then followed his claim by saying, “Next up: age reversal in humans.”
In April 2023, Dr. Sinclair posted a claim on X that age reversal and vision restoration works in primates with humans next up for age reversal.
(In April 2023, Dr. Sinclair posted a claim on X that age reversal and vision restoration works in primates with humans next up for age reversal. | The Wall Street Journal)
Then, in February 2024, in the eyes of a multitude of scientists who work to unveil the mysteries of aging, Dr. Sinclair went too far. In this case, another company that he co-founded, Animal Bioscience, quoted Dr. Sinclair in a press release saying that a supplement the company developed had reversed aging in dogs.
Amid the Backlash, Dr. Sinclair Resigned as President of the Academy for Health and Lifespan Research
Scientists who study aging cannot even agree on what it actually means to “reverse aging,” much less how to measure it. Hence, the response from the aging science community came fast and harsh. The Academy for Health and Lifespan Research was bombarded by a cascade of resignations from members who were shocked and outraged by Dr. Sinclair’s claims. One of the scientists who quit referred to Dr. Sinclair on X as a “snake oil salesman.”
Days later, in a heated video conference, other board members from the academy urged Dr. Sinclair to resign as president. He retorted that the press release contained an inaccurate quote, a form of apology, and he later executed his resignation.
Dr. Sinclair Has a History of Overexcitement on His Research
Dr. Sinclair’s work is regularly published in top-tier journals and has garnered attention to the emerging longevity field, which earnestly seeks credibility and funding. There are also hundreds of millions of dollars invested into Dr. Sinclair’s work. Moreover, Dr. Sinclair has made a name for himself as a top internet media influencer in the aging research field. Furthermore, with more than 50 patents and millions in investments in various companies, Dr. Sinclair has set himself apart as a prominent figure in the aging research community.
Throughout his stint as a figurehead in the aging field, though, through claims in his social-media posts, interviews, and his book, other scientists have accused Dr. Sinclair of overhyping his research. Moreover, Dr. Sinclair also has a reputation of possibly glorifying unproven products, including some from companies in which he has a commercial interest.
“My lab’s ideas and findings are typically ahead of the curve, which is why some peers might feel the research is overstated at the time,” said Dr. Sinclair in an email to the Wall Street Journal. “I stand behind my track record as a trusted scientist in one of the most competitive professions of all.”
What’s more, Dr. Sinclair does not engage with critics on social media, including those who call him a snake oil salesman. He refers to such comments as nothing more than mischaracterizations.
Meet the New President of the Academy for Health and Lifespan Research — Dr. Nir Barzilai
At the same time, Dr. Nir Barzilai, the new president of the Academy for Health and Lifespan Research, said that Dr. Sinclair’s claim about age reversal in dogs along with his financial interest in Animal Bioscience crossed a line.