Dr. Valter Longo PhD is internationally recognized as a leader in the field of longevity and age-related diseases. After extending the lifespan of a simple organism tenfold by a combination of fasting and genetic mutations and discovering one of the most important pathways in longevity research, his group identified in humans an equivalent mutation associated with protection from cancer, diabetes, cognitive decline, and cardiovascular damage.
His laboratory later described and developed the fasting-mimicking diet and published on its effect on multi-system stem cell activation, reprogramming, and regeneration. This led to over 30 clinical trials on longevity and age-related disease, some demonstrating the effect of fasting-mimicking diet cycles in reducing biological age, causing diabetes regression, improving autoimmunity therapy, and potentially increasing survival in cancer patients.
Dr. Longo is currently the 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 disease.
Dr. Longo is also the Founder and President of the Create Cures Foundation based in Los Angeles (USA) and Fondazione Valter Longo in Italy, nonprofit organizations, with educational programs and advanced care helping thousands of children and patients every year.
In 2018 he was named by “Time Magazine” one of the 50 most influential people in health care for his research on fasting-mimicking diets as a way to improve health and prevent disease. He is one of the world’s most cited longevity scientists and a leading expert on the role of fasting and fasting mimicking diets in aging and disease.
The Longo laboratory published key findings on a 5 day periodic dietary intervention called fasting-mimicking diet, and showed in randomized clinical trials that fasting-mimicking diet reduces the risk factors and markers associated with aging and diseases. Dr. Longo’s most recent studies focus on the use of fasting-mimicking diet interventions to activate stem cell- based regeneration to promote longevity.
His first book “The Longevity Diet”, is an international bestseller, translated into over 25 languages and sold in more than 40 countries around the globe. Prof. Longo devolves all profits from his books to research and charitable programs implemented by his Foundations around the world. These books include the best seller “The Longevity Diet”; “Fasting Cancer” (“Il Cancro a Digiuno”); “At Longevity’s Table” (“Alla tavola della Longevità”), and “The Seeds of Longevity are planted in Childhood” (La longevità inizia da bambini).
AWARDS
- 2021-2024 Highly Cited Award Recipient
Awards – Highly Cited Researcher in the field of Cross-Field - 2018 Named by “Time Magazine” one of the 50 most influential people in health care for his research on fasting-mimicking diets as a way to improve health and prevent disease
- 2016 Glenn Foundation Award for Research on Aging
- 2016 Merz Professorship, Germany
- 2016 Boehaave Professorship, Holland
- 2016 Jubilee Professorship, Sweden
- 2013 Vincent Cristofalo “Rising Star” Award in Aging Research, (AFAR)
- 2010 Nathan Shock Lecture Award, National Institute on Aging (NIA/NIH)
