Keck School of Medicine of USC will launch a new research initiative focused on extending the human health span with a $10 million transformative gift from R. Rex Parris and his wife Carrol Parris. R. Rex Parris is the founding partner of the Parris Law Firm.
The USC Parris Longevity Accelerator, to be led by Denis Evseenko, MD, PhD, professor of orthopedic surgery and regenerative medicine, will bring together experts from engineering, stem cell research and gerontology to uncover predictive biomarkers of aging and develop early interventions for age-related diseases. Parris and Evseenko have worked together on advancing medical innovations for nearly a decade, and this synergistic partnership led to the concept for the Longevity Accelerator at USC.
"Age-related diseases are a crisis our country is not prepared for," said Evseenko. "With 4 million Americans turning 65 each year, we must accelerate our work. The support from the Parris family allows us to advance promising therapies to clinical trials much faster."
Parris is a long-time mayor of Lancaster and a philanthropist, attorney and business leader. He said his interest in longevity research stems from the urgent need to improve quality of life as Americans age. The USC Parris Longevity Accelerator aims to create treatments for major age-associated conditions like osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disorders, with the goal of bringing them to clinical trials within a few years.
"It's really pretty simple - I'm afraid of dying, as most of us are," said Parris. "My wife Carrol and I are proud to back science that can help people to live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives. USC has the talent, leadership and infrastructure to lead this important work."
The USC Parris Longevity Accelerator will use AI and large-scale data to develop diagnostic tools and targeted therapeutics, aimed at early-stage intervention for those most at risk. The research hub will also include regulatory experts who will streamline the path from discovery to treatment. Early efforts will focus on chronic inflammation, osteoarthritis and pulmonary conditions - areas where Evseenko's team has already demonstrated success in translating lab research into drug development.
USC health leaders said the gift could advance research and improve health. "The USC Parris Longevity Accelerator will catalyze new discoveries to improve human health across the lifespan," said Steven D. Shapiro, Senior Vice President for Health Affairs. "This work has the potential to benefit millions of Americans."
As the population ages and healthcare costs soar, the Parris family hopes their investment in science can reduce suffering and ease the economic burden of age-related illness.
"Unlocking the biology of aging could lead to therapies that preserve mobility, restore strength, and help people stay active longer," said Jay R. Lieberman, MD, chair of the department of orthopaedic surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. "This is the next frontier in medicine."
