An Exeter-based biotech company has partnered with L’Oréal to explore new ways of reversing the ageing process at the cellular level.
SENISCA, a spinout from the University of Exeter, will collaborate with L’Oréal under a newly announced research agreement targeting senescent cells — older cells that no longer function properly but remain active in the body.
These cells are believed to contribute to age-related disease and changes in skin health.
The partnership was announced as part of L’Oréal’s Longevity Integrative Ecosystem, an initiative designed to connect the company’s internal research with external ageing science experts.
Professor Lorna Harries, founder and chief scientific officer at SENISCA, said: “I’m incredibly excited that almost 20 years of my team’s research has resulted in this partnership with L’Oréal, a global leader in skin health and beauty products.
“This partnership recognises our potential to create new and better ways to slow the ageing process of our cells, which could have benefits for our skin health.
“Outside of this partnership, we’re also exploring how we can apply our technology to reduce the negative impacts of age-related diseases such as lung disease.”
L’Oréal said the partnership would draw on SENISCA’s proprietary technology to “reprogram aged ‘senescent’ cells,” which behave differently from younger, healthy cells and play what the company described as a significant role in longevity.
SENISCA is developing treatments aimed at halting or reversing cellular decline.
The company says it has identified a novel part of the ageing mechanism within cells and is using this insight to develop therapies that could reduce harmful inflammation and improve intercellular communication — two processes that tend to deteriorate with age.
Dr Sarah Cole, chief executive of SENISCA, said: “This exciting partnership serves as an excellent validation of SENISCA’s proprietary technology.
“Through collaboration, we will deploy world-leading research to expand the repertoire of senescence-targeting interventions.”
