Find a safer switch for cellular rejuvenation. The Yamanaka factors reverse cell age but can turn cells into tumour-prone stem cells; one gene that rejuvenates without that risk would be far easier to make into a medicine.
Cell-culture results in a 2025 preprint; moving to more cell types and first mouse studies.
Updated 9 Jun 2025Checked 11 Oct0 updates this week
The four Yamanaka factors wipe age-related DNA marks but, given too long, erase cell identity and can seed tumours; dosing them safely is the core problem.
Shift switched on 1,500 candidate genes one by one and read each cell's age on its AC3 gene-activity clock, guided by a machine-learning model.
SB000 lowered cell age on several DNA-methylation clocks while cells kept their shape, made normal collagen and formed no stem-cell colonies.
| Spec | SB000 |
|---|---|
| Candidate genes screened | 1,500R (reported) |
| Cell types rejuvenated | Dermal and lung fibroblasts, keratinocytesR (reported) |
| Epigenetic age drop (PCHorvath2013) | >13 years in keratinocytesR (reported) |
| Pluripotency markers | Not activatedR (reported) |
| Genes switched on | 1R (reported) |
R reported by the company
Shift Bioscience
Single-gene rejuvenation, AI aging clocks, SB000
Cambridge (UK) biotech that uses AI models and an aging clock to find single genes that make old cells younger without turning them into stem cells. Its first target, SB000, was disclosed in 2025.
