Person

David Sinclair

Harvard biologist studying aging and longevity through sirtuins and NAD+ metabolism; prominent longevity researcher and author.

David Sinclair
Nationality
Australia
Life
1969 – present
Roles
  • scientist
  • academic
  • author
  • entrepreneur

David Sinclair is a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School and co-director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research. He is best known for his research on sirtuins, a family of proteins involved in cellular aging and longevity, and for his work on NAD+ metabolism as a key regulator of aging processes. His laboratory has demonstrated that activating sirtuins can extend lifespan in model organisms and may reverse aspects of aging.

Sinclair has become a prominent public intellectual on aging and longevity, authoring the bestselling book "Lifespan: Why We Age—and Why We Don't Have To" (2019), which synthesizes his research for general audiences. He advocates for treating aging as a disease that can be therapeutically targeted, a perspective that has influenced both scientific discourse and popular understanding of gerontology. His work bridges basic biology and translational medicine, with implications for age-related diseases including cancer, neurodegeneration, and metabolic disorders.

Beyond academia, Sinclair has founded or co-founded biotech companies focused on aging interventions and has become a visible figure in longevity and life-extension communities. His research and public engagement have made him one of the most recognizable voices in contemporary aging science.

Australian-born biologist who earned his PhD from the University of New South Wales and conducted postdoctoral research at MIT before joining Harvard Medical School. He is a leading gerontologist whose research on sirtuins and NAD+ has fundamentally shaped modern understanding of aging mechanisms. Sinclair has translated his scientific work into public discourse through books, media appearances, and entrepreneurial ventures, making him a central figure in the longevity science movement.

Last updated 31 August 2026