Dr. David Sinclair

David Andrew Sinclair (born 1969) is an Australian biologist and professor of genetics best known for his research on aging and longevity. He is a Professor at Harvard Medical School and co-director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging at Harvard Medical School. Sinclair is also a co-founder of several biotechnology companies and is known for his advocacy of using genetic and other therapies to combat aging.

Early Life and Education

David Sinclair was born in Australia in 1969. He received his Bachelor of Science (BSc) at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia, where he also completed a Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics under the guidance of Ian Dawes, graduating in 1995. His doctoral research involved studies on gene regulation in yeast, which is a model organism in aging research due to its short lifespan and well-documented genome.

Career and Research

After completing his Ph.D., Sinclair received a postdoctoral fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the lab of Leonard Guarente, where he studied the role of sirtuins in aging, particularly the yeast protein Sir2 which was linked to the regulation of lifespan in several model organisms. His research has contributed to the understanding of how sirtuins are activated by the compound resveratrol, found in red wine, which has been associated with extended lifespan in animal models.

Sinclair joined the faculty of Harvard Medical School in the early 2000s. His research group focuses on understanding the biological mechanisms of aging and developing new interventions to slow its process. They have identified several chemical compounds, including the NAD+ precursor nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), that appear to mitigate some effects of aging in animal models.

Sirtuins in Aging

Sinclair's research has significantly focused on the sirtuin family of protein deacetylases, which are thought to be responsible for the lifespan-extending properties of diets such as caloric restriction in various species. His lab has published extensively on the biochemistry of sirtuins and their role in DNA repair, metabolism, and mitochondrial function, among other cellular processes critical to the aging pathway.

NAD+ and Aging

Another major focus of Sinclair's research is the role of NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) in aging. NAD+ is a coenzyme found in all living cells that is involved in redox reactions. Sinclair's lab has shown that NAD+ levels decline with age in various organisms and that supplementing older mice with an NAD+ precursor can rejuvenate aspects of aging at a cellular and physiological level.

Public Advocacy and Business Ventures

Beyond his academic research, David Sinclair is an advocate for translating aging research into medical applications. He has co-founded several biotechnology companies, including Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, which focused on resveratrol formulations and sirtuin-activating compounds, and was later acquired by GlaxoSmithKline. He is also involved with companies working on NAD+ boosting molecules and other technologies meant to combat aging.

Sinclair is the author of the book Lifespan: Why We Age—and Why We Don't Have To, published in September 2019, where he discusses his view of aging as a disease that can be treated to extend human healthspan and lifespan.

Awards and Recognition

Sinclair has received numerous awards for his research on aging. Some of his accolades include the Australian Commonwealth Prize, the American Association for Aging Research’s Innovator Award, and being named to Time Magazine’s list of the "100 most influential people" in the world.

David is vegan since at least December 2021 ^[1].

Personal Approaches and Views on Anti-Aging

David Sinclair is known not just for his professional research into aging but also for his personal commitment to the field, often referring to himself as a "guinea pig" for anti-aging research. His approach is grounded in the belief that scientific knowledge is most powerful when it is experienced firsthand, a principle he applies by personally trying out therapies and interventions that emerge from longevity research. ^[2]

Experiential Scientific Philosophy

Sinclair adheres to an experiential form of scientific inquiry, often discussing his willingness to personally try interventions and treatments before discussing them publicly. He believes that firsthand experience is crucial if he's to speak authentically and authoritatively about his findings or suggestions, despite not being a medical doctor but a Ph.D. holder. He has clarified, however, that his discussions about his experiences are not endorsements or recommendations, acknowledging the limits of his professional domain.

Commitment to Transparency

Despite potential accusations of bias due to his personal use of molecules and treatments studied in his lab, Sinclair asserts a commitment to transparency. He argues that his and his family's personal use of these treatments motivates him to rigorously search for potential problems. He is driven by a responsibility to identify and announce any adverse effects or issues, prioritizing public health and safety. This commitment extends to his readiness to be the first to report any problems, reaffirming his position of responsibility within the anti-aging research community.

Personal Anti-Aging Regimen

Sinclair has been open about his personal anti-aging regimen, which includes the use of molecules like resveratrol and NAD+ precursors, reflecting his research interests. He also pays attention to emerging treatments and compounds within the field. For instance, he has mentioned his consideration of rapamycin, a drug known for its potential anti-aging effects, discussing the importance of risk-reward analysis in deciding whether to use such interventions.

Views on Aging as a Risk

A foundational aspect of Sinclair's perspective on anti-aging research and intervention is the view of aging itself as a significant risk. He often discusses how society tends to underestimate the risks associated with aging, failing to treat it with as much urgency as other health issues. For Sinclair, the ultimate goal of anti-aging research isn't just to prolong life but to mitigate the myriad risks associated with aging, which he quips is "known to cause death" and is a condition that "runs in families," using humor to underline the universal nature of aging.

Supplement Protocol

⇒ see Dr. David Sinclair's Supplement Protocol

Videos

Produced by David Sinclair

Podcasts

Longevity Lifestyle Series with Serena Poon

In August 2022 David Sinclair and Serena Poon startet the Optimize Longevity YouTube Channel that is all about tips for improving the quality of life and extending the lifespan.

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

2023-07-17 - Interview Dr. David Sinclair - Optimize Longevity - Build Muscle & Maintain Longevity

Interviews and Talks

References

[1] 2021-12-27 - Interview Dr. David Sinclair - Huberman Lab Podcast - The Biology of Slowing & Reversing Aging

[2] 2022-12-29 - Interview Dr. David Sinclair - Moonshots with Peter Diamandis - Age Reversal Breakthroughs, FDA Approval, and Living Forever

[1]

[2]