Carina Kern

Dr. Carina Kern is a geneticist and biotechnology executive specializing in longevity science. Kern is recognized for her research on the biology of aging, molecular mechanisms of chronic disease, and space biology. She is the founder, chief executive officer, and chief scientific officer of LinkGevity, a biotechnology company operating at the intersection of artificial intelligence and longevity science. Her laboratories are based at Babraham Research Campus, affiliated with the University of Cambridge. Kern also serves as a research fellow at University College London (UCL), where she investigates the causes and interventions to prevent aging-associated diseases. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree from UCL, specializing in genetics, evolution, and environment.

Kern's scientific work has influenced the field's understanding of biological aging. She proposed the Blueprint Theory of Aging, which integrates genetics, molecular biology, and evolutionary theory to explain how aging-related diseases arise from conserved biological constraints. Her research includes studies on the interface between metabolism and immunity, co-authoring work on mitochondrial reprogramming and innate immune training, and demonstrating that resistance to infection can be modulated through metabolic cues across species, from C. elegans to humans. Kern has also been a vocal critic of certain prevailing concepts in aging research, including cellular senescence, which she argues has been surpassed by recent scientific advances.

A central focus of Kern's work is necrosis, a form of unregulated cell death, and its role in aging and disease. She led the development of a therapeutic compound, Anti-Necrotic™, which targets the early stages of necrosis to preserve cellular integrity. Her broader research addresses tissue degeneration, frailty, and loss of resilience in aging, with the goal of developing therapeutics that target the molecular roots of multi-morbidity and chronic disease. LinkGevity's Anti-Necrotic™ program has received institutional and government support, including grants from the European Union and Innovate UK, as well as equity investment from the Francis Crick Institute through its KQ Labs Programme, which selects 10 startups annually after a competitive process.

Kern's research extends to space health, with Anti-Necrotic™ selected by NASA's Translational Research Institute for Space Health as one of 12 global innovations for study in spaceflight contexts, reflecting its potential to address accelerated aging in astronauts exposed to microgravity and cosmic radiation. Under Kern's leadership, LinkGevity has prepared to initiate a Phase II clinical trial for its therapeutic. In published work, Kern has demonstrated how necrosis could be key to slowing the aging process in humans and may serve as a therapeutic target across complex diseases such as cancer and kidney disease.

Kern is also active in science communication, regularly appearing on global media including BBC News, Sky News, and The Observer podcast, and has been featured in Financial Times, The Times, and The Independent. She has delivered a mainstage lecture at the Royal Institution in London. In addition to her work at LinkGevity, Kern serves as the scientific chair of the global CleanTech Challenge at London Business School and is president of the London Evolutionary Research Scientific Network. Kern is known for bridging rigorous science with accessible communication on the science of aging, longevity biotechnology, and healthy lifespan extension.