Welcome to the oxford longevity project - your guide to longevity
At the Oxford Longevity Project (OLP), our mission transcends the ordinary. We aim to demystify the complex science behind longevity, equipping you with the necessary knowledge and tools for a healthier, more fulfilled extended life. Our journey is not just about living longer, but living longer better.
Our Origin Story
Our story began with a landmark symposium on "Autophagy & Ageing" in April 2021. Hosted by the Interdisciplinary Institute, Balliol College, Oxford University, it featured preeminent autophagy experts from Osaka University and Oxford. The overwhelming public interest in this symposium sparked the creation of what is now known as the Oxford Longevity Project. This pivotal moment laid the foundation for our commitment to host regular webcasts, engaging the global community with transformative talks on longevity by leading scientists and clinicians.
Photograph, L to R: OLP Co-Founders Prof Denis Noble, Leslie Kenny, Sir Christopher Ball & Dr Paul Ch’en
OUR EXPANDING HORIZON
Inspired by Sir Christopher Ball, former Warden of Keble College, Oxford, we ventured beyond digital boundaries to establish a signature in-person event. The Smart Ageing Summit was born—a unique opportunity for direct engagement with the pioneers of longevity science in the historic and intimate setting of an Oxford University college. Our inaugural summit at Keble College, Oxford, in 2023, and our second at St Hilda’s College, Oxford, in 2024, were both a resounding success. We were especially thrilled to be at St Hilda’s, due to its deep connection with the original British suffragettes, symbolising our commitment to empowerment, innovation, and the relentless pursuit and sharing of knowledge.
Our Vision
The Oxford Longevity Project is more than a community; it's a movement towards a future where longevity is not left to chance but nurtured through informed science-backed decisions. We believe that the frontier of ageing is just the beginning. With a vibrant community, dynamic discussions, and a deep dive into the latest research, we are here to bring the future of longevity science to your fingertips.
We invite you to join us on this exhilarating journey towards a brighter, longer-living future. Here at OLP, we are not just observers of the future; we are active participants in shaping it. Together, let's unlock the secrets to a healthier, longer life.
Join the Oxford Longevity Project. Empower your journey towards a life reimagined.
The olp board
Professor denis noble
Prof 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 discovered the electrical process that generates the rhythm of the heart, thus making electronic pacemakers possible and saving many lives. Published in Nature in 1960, this discovery was honoured in 2022 by the award of the Lomonosov Grand Gold Medal of the Russian Academy of Science, an honour also held by several Nobel laureates. He is a pioneer of Systems Biology, explained in his popular books, The Music of Life and Understanding Living Systems. He is the most vocal opponent of gene-centred Biology. His message to people is that we, living organisms, control our genes. It is an empowering message.
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. He has advised governments of several countries outside the Uk, including Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Spain, and Germany.
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.
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.
Dr. Paul Ch’en
is a Practice Partner at the Observatory Medical Practice in Jericho, Oxford, and the College Doctor for Keble and Somerville Colleges at the University of Oxford. He recently launched CanSure Heal It, an online service providing holistic cancer care coaching for newly diagnosed patients.
With a background in cancer immunology, Dr. Ch'en focuses on early cancer diagnosis, disease prevention, cognitive behavioral therapy, and acupuncture. Having had an early education in Japan, he remains updated on Japanese therapies and research for healthy ageing and disease reversal.
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 brand Leslie'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.
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.