The Saudi “Hevolution” Foundation, with an annual budget of one billion dollars dedicated to combating aging, aims to change the lives of millions of people worldwide and add trillions of dollars to the global GDP by extending healthy lifespan across the planet, according to the foundation’s CEO during the opening of the inaugural Global Health Summit in Riyadh on Wednesday.
Global Lifespan Health Summit: A Revolution in the World’s Perspective on Aging Science and Lifespan Health
The two-day summit aims to revolutionize the way the world views the aging process and lifespan health science. According to an earlier report by Al Arabiya English, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman issued a royal decree four years ago to establish the “Hevolution” Foundation in the Kingdom. He pledged significant financial investment – over one billion dollars annually – in research that will extend the healthy human lifespan. The nonprofit foundation aims to make anti-aging science accessible for the benefit of all humanity.
Public Awareness and Education on Unhealthy Aging
Princess Dr. Haya bint Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud, Deputy President of Strategy and Organizational Development at the “Hevolution” Foundation, emphasized that the general public needs more awareness about unhealthy aging. She stated, “I believe the general public needs to start building awareness. I think the general public should have a better understanding of what we exactly mean by healthy aging. The reason is that unhealthy aging actually affects everyone around the world.”
Global Expansion of Hevolution
By 2023, the “Hevolution” Foundation has expanded beyond the borders of the Kingdom – which houses its headquarters in Riyadh – to its first international center in Boston, Massachusetts. The American office makes it the largest life sciences hub in the country. The foundation intends to establish another global center in the UK by the end of the year and has plans for a center in Asia. In the past 18 months, it has pledged $200 million for research in anti-aging and longevity health technology, invested in two biotechnology companies, assessed over 150 companies worldwide with a focus on funding opportunities, and is narrowing down over 500 applications from scientists around the world, and has published the first roadmap in the Gulf region for healthy human lifespan health.
Funding Saudi Scientists
Among them, nearly ten Saudi scientists received grants from this one billion dollar fund, contributing to the Kingdom’s global initiative on “aging slowdown.” According to Dr. Khan, 120 Saudi scientists have applied for funding to explore innovative approaches to slow down the aging process, and so far, 11 of them have been awarded funding.
Dr. Khan explained the necessity of diverse research in biotechnology, stating, “There is no single clinic in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries today where a patient can undergo aging science tests. Our members age in different ways, and every individual goes through a unique aging process. Consulting a doctor about ‘how old am I’ is very simplistic.
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