Calico, a California-based Google-founded R&D company, and QB3, a University of California institute advancing biotechnology innovation, have partnered to conduct research into longevity and age-related diseases. This innovative partnership will create and foster an interdisciplinary community of scientists in these fields.

The objective of the four-year partnership is to make discoveries that will translate into a better understanding of the biology of aging and potential therapies for age-related diseases. With committed funding from Calico, the partnership will identify, fund and support QB3 research projects focused on aging. The partnership has two synergistic components: a broad sponsored research agreement to enable collaboration between Calico and multiple QB3 laboratories on specific research programs related to aging, and a grant mechanism to support innovation in longevity research led by QB3. Calico has the option to obtain exclusive rights to discoveries made under the sponsored research agreement.

"We are all aging," said Regis Kelly, QB3 director, "and we will all benefit from the discoveries made in this program and the therapies that will result… Tackling aging requires a translational perspective and multidisciplinary approach that QB3 is well-placed to coordinate."

The sponsored research portion of the agreement was arranged with the help of the Office of Innovation, Technology and Alliances at UC San Francisco.