-- In a recent episode of the Financial Times' podcast series "Tech Tonic," titled "Defying Death: The Longevity Lab," hosts Michael Peel and Hannah Kuchler examine Singapore's emergence as a global hub for longevity research and development. Through interviews with key industry players, the episode reveals how a combination of government policy, venture capital, and regulatory flexibility has transformed the city-state into a testing ground for some of humanity's most ambitious—and controversial—attempts to extend life.
The podcast establishes Singapore's unique position as a longevity epicenter. Government initiatives focused on extending "healthspan" rather than merely lifespan, coupled with substantial research funding and Singapore's strategic location bridging East and West, have created an attractive environment for leading scientists and investors. The episode notes that Singapore functions not only as a global financial center but also as a place where certain scientific endeavors face fewer regulatory barriers than in Western countries.
At the center of this narrative is Boyang Wang, founder of Immortal Dragons, a venture capital firm dedicated to funding what he describes as "moonshot" longevity projects. Boyang's perspective offers a window into the ambitions driving the longevity industry. He emphasizes Singapore's advantages in terms of what he calls "regulatory arbitrage"—the ability to conduct research that would be prohibitively difficult or expensive elsewhere. He points to primate studies as a concrete example: while such research requires extensive approval processes and substantial funding in the United States, Asian jurisdictions maintain more lenient regulatory frameworks, enabling ambitious scientific exploration.
Boyang's most striking contribution to the discussion concerns his portfolio company's work on what he terms "brainless clones." Drawing inspiration from a rare medical condition called hydranencephaly, where infants are born without a developed cerebral cortex, Boyang envisions a future in which artificially induced versions of this condition could create backup bodies for organ transplantation or, more speculatively, brain transplantation. As he explains in the podcast: "Imagine if we can do a brain transplant, then this new body can become our second home." He acknowledges that this concept extends far beyond current scientific consensus, yet it exemplifies the speculative and forward-looking nature of his investment philosophy.
The podcast balances Boyang's vision with voices of caution. Andrea Meyer, a physician and researcher at the National University of Singapore, notes that the longevity field often skips diagnosis and moves directly to radical interventions—something that would be malpractice in conventional oncology. Chet Lim, a 53-year-old fitness entrepreneur dubbed Singapore's "Benjamin Button," champions a more measured approach: focus on eliminating "disease span" rather than merely extending lifespan. Hannah Kuchler raises the regulatory problem directly, warning that without standards for biomarkers and without adequate oversight, vulnerable populations—the elderly, the health-anxious—may spend substantial sums on unproven treatments.
What emerges is a portrait of Singapore as a kind of petri dish for longevity medicine, where government investment in research, an aging population, technological ambition, and regulatory leniency converge. Boyang's presence in this ecosystem is significant precisely because he articulates the logic of the space so clearly: Singapore offers capital, talent, and the freedom to pursue directions that Western regulatory environments would restrict or prohibit.
Yet freedom to experiment is not the same as wisdom in experimentation. The podcast suggests that as the longevity movement shifts from niche pursuit to mainstream interest, the absence of clear rules and global consensus becomes increasingly problematic. Boyang's brainless clones may remain theoretical, but the investments in less dramatic interventions—unregulated supplements, unproven therapies, questionable biomarkers—are already flowing toward ordinary people with ordinary concerns about aging and death. Singapore's openness to innovation, which Boyang celebrates as strategic advantage, may prove to be exactly the vulnerability that requires addressing.
About Immortal Dragons
Immortal Dragons is a purpose-driven longevity fund headquartered in Singapore. The fund invests in cutting-edge, high-impact technologies and currently supports more than 15 portfolio companies. Beyond conventional investments, the fund advances longevity advocacy through book translation and publishing, translation of longevity leaders’ talks, hosting a leading Chinese-language longevity podcast, and providing sponsorships and grants to longevity initiatives and conferences.
Contact Info:
Name: Boyang Wang
Email: Send Email
Organization: Immortal Dragons
Website: https://www.id.life/
Release ID: 89173407
Should any errors, concerns, or inconsistencies arise from the content provided in this press release that require attention or if a press release needs to be taken down, we kindly request that you immediately contact us at error@releasecontact.com (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our efficient team will be at your disposal for timely assistance within 8 hours – taking necessary measures to rectify identified issues or providing guidance on the removal process. We prioritize delivering accurate and reliable information.
