Our Mission
Targeting the Root Causes of Age-Related Disease
Founded in 2024, Functional Longevity Labs (FLL) is a Maryland-based pharmaceutical company using deep scientific understanding of the aging process to develop therapies that maximize healthspan and push back the onset of age-associated disease.
Rather than treating the individual manifestations of aging, FLL modifies the underlying biologic mechanisms — an approach that holds enormous potential for alleviating the personal, social and economic costs of age-related illness and functional decline.
The Health Gap
The period between the end of healthspan and the end of lifespan — a concept coined by FLL CEO Dr. William K. Smith in 2019. FLL's mission is to narrow this gap.
Our Approach
Translating Aging Research into Therapeutics
Novel Molecular Targets
Targeting TyrRS (YARS1), a therapeutic target nominated by the NIA's Accelerating Medicines Partnership in AD (AMP-AD) Consortium, to modulate PARP1-regulated pathways central to aging and neurodegeneration.
The Science of Aging
Grounded in the geroscience hypothesis: therapeutically addressing aging physiology can directly prevent or mitigate multiple chronic diseases simultaneously, rather than treating them one by one.
Biomarker-Driven Development
Leveraging advances in epigenetic clock biomarkers, proteomic clocks, and DREAM Complex activity biomarkers as potential surrogate endpoints to accelerate clinical trial timelines.
NIH Collaboration
Operating under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the National Institute on Aging at NIH to develop and rigorously test therapeutics designed to modify the aging process.
Therapeutic Pipeline
Advancing Breakthrough Therapies
FLL is developing both a proprietary small molecule for Alzheimer's treatment and a dietary supplement to address age-related decline — both are based on groundbreaking research into tyrosine metabolism that has been published in preeminent, peer-reviewed, scientific journals.
TTC-369
Lead Program Alzheimer's DiseaseA proprietary small molecule targeting Tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (TyrRS/YARS) to ameliorate neuroinflammation (microgliosis and astrocytosis), synaptic dysfunction and neuronal loss. TyrRS/YARS has been nominated by the NIA's AMP-AD Consortium as a therapeutic target, and FLL is the first company to advance a small molecule specifically designed to engage it. Early discovery-phase activities have validated neuroprotection, target engagement and mechanism of action. TTC-369 exhibits a favorable preliminary ADME & safety profile, with potency and bioavailability data supporting once-daily dosing.
Cis-Resveratrol
Supplement Age-Related DeclineResearch by Dr. Sajish Mathew into resveratrol, a natural phenol found in grape skin, knotweed and other botanicals, explains decades of contradictory clinical results relative to this important dietary supplement. Dr. Mathew's insights into the target and biologic effects of the cis and trans isomers of resveratrol are fueling the development of FLL's dietary supplement formulations that are designed to counteract the age-accelerating impact of tyrosine and maximize PARP1 driven cellular repair processes.
National Institute on Aging (NIA) Agreement
FLL operates under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the NIA at the National Institutes of Health to develop and test therapeutics designed to modify the aging process. This collaboration provides access to world-class research infrastructure and scientific expertise in geroscience.
Leadership
Experienced Team in Aging Science and Drug Development
A multidisciplinary team combining deep expertise in geroscience, clinical neurology, drug discovery and regulatory affairs.
William K. Smith, MD, FAAPMR
Chief Executive Officer
Board-certified physician in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Assistant Professor at the Uniformed Services University. Co-Chair of the 2019 and 2021 NIA Geroscience Symposia. 25+ years in complex R&D with DOD, VA, DARPA and the World Bank.
Donald K. Ingram, Ph.D.
Chief Scientific Officer
Adjunct Professor at Pennington Biomedical Research Center (LSU). Former Chief of the Laboratory of Experimental Gerontology at NIA/NIH. 400+ scientific publications. Past President of the American Aging Association and the Gerontological Society of America.
Sajish Mathew, Ph.D.
VP of Research & Development
Assistant Professor at University of South Carolina. Former staff scientist at The Scripps Research Institute. Published in Nature, Nature Communications and Nature Chemical Biology on resveratrol and TyrRS/YARS1 — foundational work underpinning FLL's therapeutic approach.
Paul Miller, Ph.D.
Director, Pre-Clinical Pharmacology
30+ years in drug discovery research. Former CSO at Artizan Biosciences. Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from Albany Medical College. Track record leading R&D teams from early stage through Phase II clinical trials to FDA approval.
David Seiden, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Board-Certified Neurologist with 25+ years of experience. Clinical Investigator for 250+ clinical trials. Proven track record in clinical development, pharmacovigilance, drug positioning strategies and partnerships with key opinion leaders.
Jennifer Eubanks, CPA
Treasurer
Certified Public Accountant (CPA, CGMA, CMA). Founder and CEO of The CPA Department. Experienced in corporate financing, M&A, and regulatory compliance. Former CFO and DCAA auditor with government contracting expertise.
Contact
Connect with Functional Longevity Labs
Interested in our research, partnership opportunities, or careers? We'd like to hear from you.
Address
108 Tech Park Drive, Suite 016
Cambridge, Maryland 21613
Phone
410-401-5330
Website