Lara Lewington’s Post

Had the most incredible time filming in California for my BBC brain ageing documentary. Visited Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Southern California, as well as talking to biotech companies and many experts. Thanks so much to everyone who took part Andrei Irimia, Leanne Williams, Jordan Shlain, MD, Matthew Walker, PhD, Fauna Bio, Owen Phillips, Ph.D., Bryan Johnson, everyone at Loma Linda (such great sports!), and of course to my brilliant cameraman Ben Derico. The show shall be on air 29th June!

The most incredible, fascinating, life-affirming, shoot at Loma Linda. As one of the world’s blue zones, its Seventh Day Adventist residents are exceeding life expectancy across the US. For women, this is an average of four to five years of extra healthy life, for men seven. 103-year-old Mildred (picture 3) is still razor sharp. She was a doctor, and had set up a hospital in Uganda in her (relative) youth, but having lost her daughter 30 years ago, and always at risk of falling; she doesn’t recommend centenarian living. Meanwhile 99 year old Ester (pic 2) prays every night that she’ll wake up the next morning. Thank you so much to them for pouring their hearts out to us, and a HUGE thank you to Marjike and Tom (pic 1) for opening up their home to us, making a stonkingly good breakfast and to Marjike for introducing us to their lives, friends, and community. I both laughed and cried whilst filming. The experience will stay with me forever. As will their evangelism over lifestyle. As vegetarians who don’t drink alcohol or caffeine, and exercise (even at 99), (my fabulous cameraman) Ben Derico and I left feeling extra inspired to have a healthy dinner (and life!). It’ll feature in my brain ageing documentary, “Mind Over Matter” across the BBC at the end of June.

A gold 3D printed model of my brain awaited me at my shoot at University of Southern California. Was there to discuss the latest research in brain ageing through imaging with Andrei Irimia. My favourite new ornament came via BrainKey, another platform I’ve been looking at to assess brain age. Absolutely fascinating stuff, and it’ll all be in my documentary (a BBC Click special), “Mind Over Matter”, on in June.

Back in California making a brain ageing documentary, also featuring some Bryan ageing (or not). Thanks to Bryan Johnson for the fascinating chat and experiments!

Today I filmed AI drug discovery at Ochre Bio. Many companies in this space, but what’s unique here is that it’s testing on actual human livers being kept “alive” in an “ICU” lab.

Talked AI and trust on ITV Lorraine this morning, ahead of tomorrow’s Willy Wonka documentary on Channel 5 , where I look at how easy it is to create AI generated content. Meanwhile was so engrossed in a backstage chat about longevity with Dr Michael Mosley I nearly needed AI generated makeup as was a bit last minute with the real thing.

I’ll be talking AI this Saturday night at 7.35pm on Channel 5’s “Willy Wonka: The Scandal That Rocked Britain”. A quick messy behind the scenes photo…

Been filming alternative leather created using leftover grain from brewing beer for BBC Click. Fascinating process at Arda Biomaterials as I saw how sacks full of what is often animal feed (or heading to landfill) is turned into sheets of planet friendly faux leather - dubbed “New Grain”. And thanks to Yasmin Morgan-Griffiths for a brilliant few days of filming. Drug discovery for immunotherapy, hydrogen planes, and beer “leather”, what a start to the week!

Could hydrogen planes be the future of air travel? I’ve been to ZeroAvia today for BBC Click to see how it’s been retrofitting and testing aircrafts for more sustainable travel.

Fascinating day spent at LabGenius with James Field for BBC Click. Great conversation on the future of cancer treatment (thanks Professor Tobias Arkenau) and the role of machine learning and automation in drug discovery. Whilst results won’t come overnight, at least optimism lies ahead. (And thanks Tonya Frolov for excellent organisation and scientific knowledge).