Speakers

Speaker profile

Dr. Carina Kern is the CEO and Founder of LinkGevity, a biotech company focused on developing novel therapeutics to tackle aging and associated disease. With an extensive background in Biochemistry, Evolutionary Biology, and Genetics, she is renowned for her pioneering work on the mechanisms of aging and lifespan extension. Her labs are based at the Babraham Research Campus, affiliated with the University of Cambridge. Her latest research has resulted in the development of a revolutionary Anti-Necrotic^TM platform therapeutic. This cutting-edge technology, focused on inhibiting necrosis (unprogrammed cell death), has broad applications in both terrestrial and space medicine. More broadly, Dr. Kern’s work addresses the challenges of tissue degeneration, frailty, and loss of resilience in aging, aiming to develop therapeutics that target the “molecular roots” of multi-morbidity and chronic disease. Supported by funding from the European Union (Horizon), UK Government, and the KQ Labs Programme (delivered through The Francis Crick Institute), her research has captured significant attention, including from NASA’s Space-H Program, where it was selected as one of only 12 global technologies for its potential to mitigate the effects of accelerated aging and kidney dysfunction in astronauts on long-duration space missions. Under Dr. Kern’s leadership, LinkGevity is preparing to initiate a Phase II clinical trial for its transformative therapeutic. In addition to her work at LinkGevity, Dr. Kern serves as the Scientific Chair of the global CleanTech Challenge at London Business School and is the President of the London Evolutionary Research Scientific Network.