Joao Pedro de Magalhaes

Joao Pedro de Magalhaes is a distinguished Portuguese molecular biologist renowned for his innovative research into the biology of aging, employing both computational and experimental methodologies.

He earned his degree in Microbiology from the Escola Superior de Biotecnologia in 1999 and pursued a PhD under Olivier Toussaint at the University of Namur, completing it in 2004. Following his doctoral studies, he undertook a postdoctoral fellowship in the esteemed George Church lab at Harvard Medical School, which lasted until 2008. That same year, he joined the University of Liverpool as a principal investigator, focusing on genomic strategies to unravel the complexities of aging. In 2022, Magalhaes transitioned to the University of Birmingham, where he was appointed Chair of Molecular Biogerontology and now directs the Genomics of Aging and Rejuvenation Lab.

His contributions to the field are extensive; he maintains several key databases related to aging, including GenAge, AnAge, DrugAge, CellAge, and the Digital Aging Atlas. Notably, his research team played a pivotal role in sequencing the transcriptome of the long-lived bowhead whale, and he has also contributed to the genomic analysis of the naked mole rat, both of which are recognized for their remarkable longevity and resistance to cancer. Additionally, he serves as an advisor to the Lifeboat Foundation, reinforcing his commitment to advancing the understanding of aging.