Russia launches state-backed program to study life extension and organ regeneration
Russia is funding a multi-year research initiative aimed at extending human lifespan and regenerating tissues, with experiments using genetically modified mini-pigs.
A Russian state-funded research program targeting longevity and organ regeneration has been announced, covering studies on aging mechanisms, gene-therapy to slow cellular senescence, and advanced tissue-engineering. Funding of roughly 1.1 billion rubles will support biomedical and cognitive technology development through 2029. A key component involves creating genetically modified mini-pigs to serve as organ donors, with the first animal expected by 2030.
The initiative is supervised by Maria Voronova, the president’s daughter, and Mikhail Kovalkov, head of the Institute of Kurzhatov, who has previously discussed the prospect of 150-year lifespans. President Vladimir Putin raised the idea of such extended longevity in a conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping, citing medical advances as the pathway.
