Calico Life Sciences

A recent study by Calico researchers, in collaboration with teams from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital, explores a new approach that may help improve cancer immunotherapy. The study focuses on proteins called ERAP1 and ERAP2, which help cancer cells hide from the immune system. By targeting these proteins, the researchers found a way to interrupt a key mechanism (HLA-E/NKG2A checkpoint) that tumors use to evade immune attacks. The discovery of this alternative pathway for inactivating HLA-E-NKG2A signaling could one day help with the development of new immunotherapies. Explore key findings and read the full study here: https://lnkd.in/gs3QweFJ #cancerresearch #agingscience #immunotherapy

Advanced computing is critical to our work at Calico, enabling us to harness and make sense of the vast amounts of data from today’s high-throughput technologies. Jeffmin and his colleagues on the Computing team work closely with R&D to build infrastructure, develop software and invent new methods and algorithms that help us answer meaningful biological questions and advance clinical research. Learn more about how Jeffmin and the team at Calico work together to accelerate scientific discovery: https://lnkd.in/gG3reMZa #ExploreWithUs #ScienceCareers

We’re exploring the Integrated Stress Response (ISR) because of its possible connection to age-related diseases and its potential as a target for new drug development. Recent research conducted in our labs shows how the ISR impacts cell metabolism and lipid storage, offering new insights into this critical pathway. Our latest findings, published in Nature Communications, represent a step forward in understanding how the ISR affects cellular health and its role in aging. Learn more in this new Calico Story: https://lnkd.in/gZkYHHYs #AgingScience #Aging #PublishedResearch

Explore Life at Calico: Our Regulatory Affairs team bridges science and governance to help Calico introduce new medical treatment options that may help alleviate age-related diseases and fulfill high unmet medical needs. Learn more about Anna Rodriguez, Director of Regulatory Affairs, and other members of the Calico team here: https://lnkd.in/gdFFYBHb

Just published in Nature Portfolio: A recent seven-year study in collaboration with The Jackson Laboratory sheds new light on the relationship between genetics, diet, health, and longevity. Our teams collected biological data throughout the lifespans of nearly 1,000 genetically diverse mice to better understand the physiological impacts of caloric restriction and intermittent fasting. One of the highlights of the paper was how much genetics played a role in determining lifespan — far more than diet. Scientists also found that caloric restriction provided lifespan benefits for mice regardless of whether they started with high or low body weight. Actually, the mice that maintained more weight and higher body fat on the tested diets had longer lifespans. These findings challenge the prevailing belief that metabolic benefits are the primary drivers of lifespan extension through dietary interventions. This research underscores the importance of integrating genetic and phenotypic data into studies of dietary interventions, potentially paving the way for more effective strategies to promote healthy aging. Learn more in this feature article from Nature: https://lnkd.in/getUJkgE #AgingScience #Longevity

“The whole idea that aging is just something that happens and there’s nothing you can do about it, just went out the window…. And so it changed everything actually.” Cynthia Kenyon, PhD, Calico’s Vice President of Aging Research, recently spoke at The Atlantic Festival 2024 about her decades of contributions to the field of aging research– beginning with her pioneering discovery that has since become one of the defining studies in the field– and how scientific breakthroughs might one day lead to interventions that enable people to live longer and healthier lives. Watch the full discussion here: https://lnkd.in/erFMHjmA

At Calico, we combine the best parts of a traditional biotech company and academic institution, without the constraints of either. Our scientists ask tough questions about aging and age-related diseases, with the freedom and support to answer them, and then pursue their science in support of potentially advancing it to the clinic. Learn more about how Calico’s unique approach and culture enable Manoj and his colleagues to advance impactful research and devise potential interventions that may one day extend longevity and healthspan: https://lnkd.in/gdFFYBHb #ExploreWithUs #ScienceCareers

It's #PostdocAppreciationWeek, and we're proud to highlight the impactful work of some of our postdoctoral fellows who help drive scientific discovery at Calico. Thula Yoganathan is a postdoc whose research aims to understand how heart failure develops as we age, particularly heart failure with preserved ejection fraction—a condition where the heart struggles to relax and fill with blood, even though it pumps effectively. Through her work at Calico, Thula is developing new preclinical models and imaging methods to study heart failure, helping to bridge the gap between preclinical research and clinical practice. ??Listen to Thula as she shares how her work is contributing to potential breakthroughs in heart disease treatment. Postdocs are integral to our mission of understanding aging and age-related diseases. Our postdoc program is one way we support early career scientists as they explore new frontiers in research. #ScienceofAging #HeartHealth #PostdocResearch #ScienceCareers

It's #PostdocAppreciationWeek, and we’re celebrating the impactful contributions of our postdoctoral fellows who help advance the science of aging here at Calico. Sammy Villa is a postdoc in cell biology researching how cells manage protein levels to discover the strategies they use to stay healthy and function properly. Through his work, Sammy finds proteins and pathways involved in protein degradation and explores how and when these pathways control the removal of natural substrates. ??Listen to Sammy describe how he identifies the key strategies cells use to regulate their protein levels and maintain their health. Our postdocs are integral to our efforts in understanding aging and age-related diseases. We’re proud to support early career scientists like Sammy through our postdoc program. #ScienceofAging #CellBiology #PostdocResearch #ScienceCareers

Congratulations to Cynthia Kenyon, Calico’s Vice President of Aging Research, for being awarded the Lord Cohen Medal, a prestigious honor recognizing leaders in the field of aging. Awarded by the British Society for Research on Aging (BSRA), the Medal has only been awarded 16 times in the past 40 years, and is given to recipients who’ve made outstanding contributions to aging research. As part of this recognition, Cynthia delivered the prize lecture at the BSRA Annual Scientific Meeting on September 5 at University of Birmingham. Titled “Genes and processes that control the rate of aging,” Cynthia's talk discussed her pioneering studies with C. elegans showing that the rate of aging is not immutable, as previously thought, but instead is plastic and under active genetic control by specific genes and hormones. Congratulations, Cynthia, on this well-deserved honor!