Russia launches $26 billion state program for longevity research

In 2024, the Russian government introduced a state initiative titled 'New Technologies for Preserving Health', aimed at increasing life expectancy and slowing biological aging. The program, which reportedly involves $26 billion in funding, focuses on advanced biotechnological applications including gene therapy, 3D bioprinting of tissues, cryotherapy, and organ transplantation research involving genetically modified animals. Russian Deputy Minister of Science Denis Sekirinsky described the initiative as a promising direction for anti-aging research. According to reports from the Wall Street Journal, these efforts reflect a long-standing interest of President Vladimir Putin in longevity. While the government claims success in laboratory tests, including the printing of human cartilage and mouse thyroid tissue, various critics and members of the scientific community have expressed skepticism regarding the initiative's scientific validity and feasibility. The project has been linked to previous informal discussions between Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping regarding the potential for medical advancements to extend life significantly.