Joe Betts LaCroix on Longevity and Building and Destroying Things
Jan 17, 2025
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Joe Betts-LaCroix, co-founder and CEO of RetroBio, dives into the fascinating world of longevity biotechnology. He discusses RetroBio's mission to extend healthy human lifespans through innovative cell reprogramming techniques. With a background that fuses software and electronics design, Joe shares his journey from MIT to Silicon Valley, emphasizing the significance of hands-on leadership and iterative innovation. He also examines the ethical dimensions of scientific research and the exciting potential of regenerative therapies in combating aging and neurodegeneration.
The podcast discusses the current limitations in addressing age-related diseases, including Alzheimer's, highlighting humanity's need for better solutions.
Joe Betts-LaCroix outlines RetroBio's innovative approach to extending healthy lifespan through targeted pharmaceuticals and partial cellular reprogramming.
The conversation reveals how advancing technology and biological understanding converge to reshape the future of longevity science and personalized medicine.
Deep dives
Understanding the Challenges of Aging
The discussion begins with the stark reality of age-related diseases, highlighting the current lack of effective solutions for conditions like Alzheimer's. It emphasizes that humanity has limited understanding when it comes to addressing these degenerative diseases. This acknowledgment sets the stage for the exploration of technological advancements aimed at improving human health and longevity. By diving into the technical realm, the potential exists to significantly impact people's lives as researchers seek innovative solutions.
Creating a Longevity-Focused Pharma Company
Joe Betts-Lacroix, CEO and founder of RetroBio, outlines their mission to extend healthy human lifespan by a decade through targeted pharmaceutical developments. The company operates with the intent to embrace various innovative avenues, including partial cellular reprogramming, to promote healthier aging. This approach indicates a foundational shift in pharmaceutical development within the longevity sector that seeks to implement multiple strategies for maximum efficacy. This vision highlights the potential of RetroBio to lead the charge in altering perceptions and outcomes related to aging.
A Unique Path to Innovation
Betts-Lacroix shares insights into his unconventional upbringing, characterized by creativity and exploration, which shaped his career path in technology and longevity. Growing up in a community where open-ended experimentation flourished, he developed a passion for building and understanding complex systems from a young age. This formative background fueled his desire to pursue meaningful contributions to society, ultimately leading him to found a company with a significant social impact focus. His diverse experiences have facilitated a unique perspective on innovation and problem-solving that he carries into his current work.
The Intersection of Biology and Technology
The conversation details how the advancement of technology has begun to reshape the understanding of biology, particularly in genetics and aging. With powerful tools now available for analyzing vast amounts of biological data, researchers can delve deeper into the mechanics of aging and identify potential avenues for intervention. The discussion of partial reprogramming and its implications presents a bright future for personalized medicine and treatment options that directly address cellular aging. This convergence between biology and tech holds the promise of unprecedented breakthroughs in longevity science.
Developing Targeted Therapeutics
RetroBio's strategy centers on developing specific therapeutics that target the mechanisms of aging, exemplified by their focus on partial cell reprogramming and autophagy. By pursuing therapies that can rejuvenate or replace aged cells, the company aims to offer tangible solutions to age-related health decline. The explanation of how autophagy works to remove harmful proteins within cells provides insight into the scientific approaches that could lead to breakthroughs in treating diseases like Alzheimer's. This targeted effort not only addresses immediate health concerns but lays the groundwork for a longer, healthier life.
Sam Altman has placed a few very large bets. There’s OpenAI, of course, and Helion Energy for fusion; World (fka Worldcoin) for finance and identity; and then Retro Bio for longevity.
In late 2023, I did a deep dive on Retro’s technology and Altman’s $180 million investment in the company. [Update: Would like to make it clear that MIT Technology Review reporter Antonio Regalado broke the story on Retro’s existence and Altman’s backing. This post previously had some self-congratulatory language that made it sound like I got there first. My apologies to Antonio, who does brilliant work.] Along the way, I got to know the Retro co-founder and CEO Joe Betts-LaCroix and have spent a lot of time following Retro’s work since. Betts-LaCroix has an unusual background and an original philosophy on life. In this episode, we explore both along with the heart of Retro’s science.
This is the first episode of the Core Memory podcast, and we’re beyond amazed to reveal that James Mercer and Jon Sortland of The Shins worked up the music for the show. We go hard.
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