Meet Dr. David Sinclair
David A. Sinclair, A.O., Ph.D.
Professor of Genetics, Harvard Medical School
Dr. David A. Sinclair is a tenured Professor in the Department of Genetics at the Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research at Harvard Medical School.
Renowned for his pioneering research on aging and how to mitigate its effects, Dr. Sinclair obtained his Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics from the University of New South Wales and completed postdoctoral work at M.I.T.
His significant contributions include the discovery of the role of sirtuins in aging and the potential of NAD+ biosynthesis in lifespan regulation. He invented more than 50 patents, 170 papers, an h-index of 113, and cited 85,000+ times.
He was recognized on TIME magazine’s list of “The Top 50 in Healthcare” and the “100 Most Influential People in the World.”
Areas of Expertise
Primary Expertise
Molecular genetics
Research Interests
Sirtuins, NAD+ metabolism, epigenetic reprogramming, cellular senescence, therapeutic strategies to slow or reverse aging, development of small molecule activators, and gene therapies targeting age-related diseases.
Academic Credentials
Ph.D. : Molecular Genetics, University of New South Wales, 1995
Professional Affiliations
Co-Director, Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research, Harvard Medical School
Professor of Genetics, Harvard Medical School
Founder of Sinclair Lab, Harvard Medical School
PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY
Dr. Sinclair completed his Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics at the University of New South Wales, Australia, in 1995. After completing his postdoctoral work at MIT, he joined Harvard Medical School, where he has since become a leading figure in aging research. Dr. Sinclair's work focuses on the role of genes and molecules that can extend lifespan, including sirtuins and NAD+ boosters, and he has published over 200 scientific papers.
Major Contributions
Advancements in Aging Research
Dr. Sinclair is internationally recognized for his pioneering studies on the role of sirtuins, a family of proteins that influence aging, and NAD+ metabolism in regulating cellular processes. His research has identified potential therapeutic targets that could extend healthspan and delay age-associated diseases.
Philosophy and Approach
Dr. David Sinclair advocates for a paradigm shift in how society views aging — from a natural and inevitable process to a treatable condition. He promotes the idea that interventions targeting the biological mechanisms of aging could dramatically extend human healthspan and lifespan. His research is deeply rooted in scientific rigor, yet he encourages innovative thinking to challenge established norms about aging.
Detailed Information on Dr. Russel Reiter
Research Techniques
Molecular genetics
Gene editing
High-throughput screening
CRISPR technology
NAD+ quantification methods
Small molecule screening
BOOKS
- Sinclair, D. A. (2019). Lifespan: Why We Age – and Why We Don’t Have To. Atria Books.
PUBLICATIONS
Sinclair, D. A., & Guarente, L. (1997). Extrachromosomal rDNA circles--a cause of aging in yeast. Cell, 91(7), 1033–1042. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0092-8674(00)80493-6
Lu, Y. R., Tian, X., & Sinclair, D. A. (2023). The Information Theory of Aging. Nature aging, 3(12), 1486–1499. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-023-00527-6
Cipriano, A., Moqri, M., Maybury-Lewis, S. Y., Rogers-Hammond, R., de Jong, T. A., Parker, A., Rasouli, S., Schöler, H. R., Sinclair, D. A., & Sebastiano, V. (2024). Mechanisms, pathways and strategies for rejuvenation through epigenetic reprogramming. Nature aging, 4(1), 14–26. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-023-00539-2
Gold, D. A., & Sinclair, D. A. (2022). Sirtuin Evolution at the Dawn of Animal Life. Molecular biology and evolution, 39(9), msac192. https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msac192
Guarente, L., Sinclair, D. A., & Kroemer, G. (2024). Human trials exploring anti-aging medicines. Cell metabolism, 36(2), 354–376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2023.12.007
Zheng, M., Schultz, M. B., & Sinclair, D. A. (2022). NAD + in COVID-19 and viral infections. Trends in immunology, 43(4), 283–295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.it.2022.02.001
Rajman, L., Chwalek, K., & Sinclair, D. A. (2018). Therapeutic Potential of NAD-Boosting Molecules: The In Vivo Evidence. Cell metabolism, 27(3), 529–547. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2018.02.011
Contact Information
Professional Contact: david_sinclair@hms.harvard.edu
Office Address: Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115