Welcome to the oxford longevity project - your guide to longevity

The Oxford Longevity Project (OLP) is an Oxford-based non-profit organisation on a mission to amplify the latest breakthroughs in longevity lifestyle science and to guide, inspire, and advocate for action—starting in Oxford and reaching out to the world.

Founded during the 2021 lockdown by four long-time friends—Sir Christopher Ball, former Warden of Keble College; Professor Denis Noble, pioneering cardiovascular physiologist and systems biologist; Dr Paul Ch’en, College Doctor for Keble and Somerville Colleges; and Leslie Kenny, patient advocate and founder of Oxford Healthspan—OLP began with a question: what if the latest accessible lab discoveries in ageing could be shared directly with the public?

Their inaugural event, a virtual symposium titled "Autophagy & Ageing," hosted by the Interdisciplinary Institute at Balliol College, drew unexpected and overwhelming interest. Longevity scientists from the University of Osaka and the University of Oxford and leading healthspan clinicians translated complex scientific breakthroughs into actionable health insights, while London Business School Professor and ageing researcher, Andrew Scott, shared pre-publication research on the trillions of dollars to be reaped in a ‘Longevity Dividend’ by countries that actively help their citizens to age more slowly. The response to the symposia proved clear: the public is not only ready for real science—they're hungry for it.

In 2023, OLP hosted its first in-person event, the Smart Ageing Summit, at Keble College. These summits offer rare opportunities for the public to engage directly with pioneers in longevity science, all within the historic Oxford college setting. In 2024, the summit at St Hilda’s College marked a major milestone: the release of the Global Longevity Survey, groundbreaking research conducted in partnership with the Roundglass Foundation. The survey revealed the attitudes of over 14,000 people in 25 countries toward ageing, longevity, and personal and governmental roles in healthy lifespan extension.

OLP’s momentum continues into 2025 with its annual Smart Ageing Summit taking place at Rhodes House, Oxford, with a special focus on mental health and mindset in ageing. This evolution in theme reflects the Project’s dynamic approach to longevity, where biology meets psychology and lifestyle.

In 2024, Sir Muir Gray, former Chief Knowledge Officer of the NHS and a leading advocate for evidence-based healthy ageing, joined OLP’s Board, further solidifying the organisation’s influence and scientific credibility.

"The Oxford Longevity Project is more than a community—it’s a movement," says co-founder Leslie Kenny. "Our vision is a future in which everyone understands that longevity isn’t luck. It’s a proactive choice, grounded in science and available to all."

From public symposia to data-driven insights and curated wellness summits, OLP is redefining what’s possible when cutting-edge science meets an engaged, empowered public. With its roots in Oxford and its reach expanding globally, the Project continues to bring the future of longevity science to the fingertips of everyone who wants to age smarter.

If you would like to learn more about the new, longer life that most of us will be living and how we need to prepare for it, please read Professor Andrew Scott’s insightful books, The 100-Year Life (co-authored with Lynda Gratton), and The Longevity Imperative: Building a Better Society for Healthier, Longer Lives. Baroness Camilla Cavendish’s book, Extra Time, is another useful primer.

The OLP Board

  • sir Christopher Ball

    is a British runner and academic, who served as Warden of Keble College, Oxford, from 1980 to 1988, and as the first Chancellor of the University of Derby, from 1995 to 2003.

    After surviving a triple bypass surgery, he started running at the age of 67. At 72, he won a world long-distance running record for completing 10 marathons in 10 days and now he is preparing for his next big feat - to run the London Marathon at age 100.

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  • Dr. Paul Ch’en

    is a GP Partner at the Observatory Medical Practice in Jericho, Oxford, and the College Doctor for Keble and Somerville Colleges at the University of Oxford.

    While he enjoys all aspects of General Practice, he has a particular interest in cancer care, lifestyle medicine, and mental health. With his background in cancer immunology, his understanding of chronic illnesses as a whole, and his unique cultural and educational experiences, he has a broad knowledge base that enables him to practice holistic medicine. He is passionate about driving changes in healthcare, emphasising prevention, the importance of self-care, and fostering a partnership between the doctor and the individual.

    He recently launched OxCHIC, a holistic cancer care coaching service for cancer patients, and maintains his own website: https://cansurehealit.com. At the summit, he will be revealing his new blog, ‘The Doctor in You – Live Life Better & Smarter’ .

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  • Sir Muir Gray

    began his career in the NHS in 1972 and since then has made an indelible mark on it, developing screening programmes in the NHS for pregnant women, children, adults and older people. He has published numerous books and articles and was the first to identify the 'fitness gap' in the British Medical Journal. Sir Muir has held a number of NHS regional and national roles, latterly as the NHS's Chief Knowledge Officer, and he was the principal expert adviser to the European Union in the production of their report on Value Based Healthcare in 2019. His mission, of 50 years, is how to help people live longer better. He has authored or co-authored the popular health books, Sod70! and Sod60!, Sod Sitting, Get Moving and Sod It, Eat Well! Sir Muir has developed a new model to help people Live Longer and Better. In his model, morbidity at the end of life is compressed and the incidence of dementia and frailty and, therefore, the need for social care is reduced.

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  • Leslie Kenny

    is an autoimmune disease survivor, certified health coach, and founder of Oxford Healthspan, an Oxford, England based nutraceutical company bringing healthspan promoting molecules to market. She previously worked as a fundraiser for Oxford University regenerative medicine spinouts. Through her personal brandLeslie's New Prime, she shares her expertise via a comprehensive health and longevity guide, drawing from both her personal journey and professional knowledge. Her health journey and longevity expertise are often featured in print, including The Times and The Guardian, and she was a speaker at TEDx Oxford in February 2025.

    Leslie has a Harvard MBA and a BA from Berkeley.

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  • Professor Denis Noble

    is a British biologist who held the Burdon Sanderson Chair of Cardiovascular Physiology at the University of Oxford from 1984 to 2004 and was appointed Professor Emeritus and Co-Director of Computational Physiology. He developed the first mathematical model of cardiac cells in 1960 and is a pioneer in systems biology.

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Katsume Stoneham currently serves as Director of the Oxford Longevity Project, where she oversees various outreach projects, manages communications, and coordinates events whilst working with the board on strategic vision. She also works as a Communications Consultant, providing services to clients like Oxford Healthspan and contributing to publications such as "21st Century Sports." She worked previously in health informatics and communications, notably as Communications & Marketing Coordinator at Citizens Advice Barnet and as a Health Informatics Analyst at Saban Community Clinic. Her education includes both an MBA from WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management and an MPH from UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, positioning her at the intersection of healthcare management and communications strategy.