Valter Longo

Dr. Valter Longo is the Edna M. Jones Professor of Gerontology and Biological Sciences and Director of the Longevity Institute at the University of Southern California – Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, Los Angeles, one of the leading centers for research on aging and age-related diseases. He earned his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from the University of North Texas and completed his PhD in Biochemistry at UCLA, working under Dr. Roy Walford, a pioneer in calorie restriction research. He furthered his expertise with postdoctoral training in neurobiology under Dr. Caleb Finch at USC. Dr. Longo's research focuses on the fundamental mechanisms of aging in simple organisms and mice, aiming to translate these findings to human health. His laboratory has identified key genetic pathways regulating aging and developed dietary and genetic interventions that protect normal cells while sensitizing cancer cells to chemotherapy. These interventions are currently being tested in various hospitals across the U.S. and Europe. Notably, his laboratory published significant findings on a 5-day periodic dietary intervention called the fasting-mimicking diet, demonstrating in randomized clinical trials that it reduces risk factors and markers associated with aging and diseases. Dr. Longo has received numerous awards, including the 2010 Nathan Shock Lecture Award from the National Institute on Aging, the 2013 Vincent Cristofalo “Rising Star” Award in Aging Research from the American Federation for Aging Research, and the 2016 Glenn Award for research on aging. In 2018, Time Magazine recognized him as one of the 50 most influential people in healthcare for his research on fasting-mimicking diets as a means to improve health and prevent disease. His core objectives include offering treatments and health services to patients with serious diseases, educating the public on healthy living, sponsoring research for innovative and affordable treatment strategies, and identifying ways to prevent specific diseases. To support these goals, Dr. Longo donates all author proceeds from his books to research and programs through his foundations, Fondazione Valter Longo in Milan and Create Cures Foundation in Los Angeles. His publications include the best-seller “The Longevity Diet” and Italian books such as “Alla tavola della longevità” (“At Longevity’s Table”), “La longevità inizia da bambini” (“Longevity Starts in Childhood”), and “Il cancro a digiuno” (“Fasting Cancer”).