BACKGROUND AND TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION:

Populations across the world are living longer than ever before, but longer life does not always mean healthier life. Advances in translational science, integrative research, and AI-driven technologies are opening possibilities to slow the biology of aging itself. Yet a stark reality persists: while lifespan is increasing, healthspan (the years spent free of chronic disease and disability) lags far behind.

This panel explores the emerging frontier of longevity science, asking whether we can truly reset the “aging clock.” Recent discoveries in cellular and molecular pathways of aging, coupled with regenerative therapies and predictive biomarkers, suggest new ways to target the root causes of biological decline. At the same time, personalized interventions and cultural narratives are reshaping how societies view aging; not simply as inevitable decline but as a condition that may be delayed, managed, or even partially reversed.

Discussion will probe the widening gap between medical potential and institutional readiness. How do we incentivize prevention when payers remain focused on treatment? How do we overcome regulatory inertia when aging itself is not formally recognized as a disease? And what role can public health initiatives and inclusive perspectives play in closing the nearly decade-long divide between lifespan and healthspan?

At stake is nothing less than the quality of life for billions of people worldwide. By bringing together leaders in science, medicine, and patient advocacy, this conversation will examine whether the promise of delayed aging can be translated into equitable, sustainable gains for individuals, communities, and societies at large.

BACKGROUND AND TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION:

From rare disease advocacy to large-scale translational science, patients are no longer just subjects of research, they are leaders reshaping how innovation happens. By creating registries, driving data collection, and directly funding studies, patient communities are accelerating discovery timelines that once spanned decades.

This panel highlights the paradigm shift toward patient-driven research. What does it mean when patients set priorities for discovery, design clinical trials, and partner with industry to validate new therapies? How do we operationalize this model at scale, ensuring that patients are not just included but empowered as co-creators of biomedical progress?

The discussion will examine rare diseases as a proving ground for this new approach, while exploring how lessons can be applied to broader global health challenges. Central questions include: what infrastructure and resources are needed to sustain patient-led innovation? How can industry, academia, and government adapt to a system where patients demand – not request – a seat at the table?

Ultimately, this panel confronts the systemic inequities that still constrain patient power. Ensuring that every patient community has a voice requires realignment of research priorities, new funding models, and legal frameworks that enable shared ownership of data and discoveries. The goal is not incremental change but a fundamental redesign of the R&D pipeline, one where patients are recognized as essential innovators driving a more equitable and effective future for global health.

Artificial intelligence thrives on data, and in healthcare, patient data is among the most valuable – and sensitive – resources available. With AI promising to accelerate discovery, improve diagnostics, and personalize care, the question is not whether patient data will fuel progress, but how it can be used responsibly, ethically, and equitably.

This panel examines the crossroads of innovation and responsibility. How can we unlock the power of AI to deliver better outcomes without sacrificing patient privacy and trust? What governance models, evidence standards, and safeguards are needed to ensure that “black box” algorithms serve patients rather than perpetuate bias or inequity?

The conversation will probe deeper systemic issues: how can patients themselves have greater agency in how their data is shared? What new partnerships between industry, regulators, and advocacy groups are required to define responsible AI use? And what would true transparency look like in systems that increasingly shape diagnosis, treatment, and access?

At stake is the balance between promise and peril. AI could revolutionize medicine, or it could deepen divides. This discussion will confront the choices that determine whether patient data becomes a tool for empowerment or exploitation.

BACKGROUND AND TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION: