ABOUT US
As a group of scientists working on various projects in human health, we realised that our research was united by common themes surrounding ageing, age-related diseases and health span longevity. Recognising the interdisciplinary nature of this field, we decided to collaborate and draw on our experience in pathology, biochemistry, physiology, nutrition and genetics to tackle some of the most pressing health challenges facing the world today: Diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cardiovascular disease and liver disease. We are particularly interested in understanding the immunological and metabolic mechanisms that underpin these diseases, with the goal of figuring out how to keep people younger and healthier for longer.
Dr Isabella D. Cooper, PhD, AFHEA, MRSB
Biochemistry, Pathology, Ketogenic Metabolic Therapy, Nutrition
Human ex vivo and in vitro wet lab and clinical trials scientist: Dr Cooper is a biochemist, medical pathologist and ketogenic specialist. Her research focuses on ageing biology, ketogenic science, hyperinsulinemia, and chronic diseases including cancer, Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases.
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Isabella’s PhD elucidated the first full spectrum metabolic, endocrine, lipidology LDL responses and extracellular vesicles phenotypes, in cross-over clinical trials with participants in different metabolic states. She published a diagnostic grading scale for metabolic phenotypes and classified and named the disease Hyperinsulinaemia-Osteofragilitus in MDPI Medical Dictionary.
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Isabella is a Member of and accredited with; the Royal Society of Biology; Endocrine Society; Biochemical Society, and Physiological Society and an Associate Fellow of The Higher Education Academy. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry with Medical Physiology, molecular genetics, advanced cell and cancer biology, neurology, endocrinology and immunology, protein and enzyme biochemistry, bioinformatics in influenza and metabolic biochemistry. She has won multiple awards including the Faculty of Science and Technology Awards, Individual Teaching Award and Group Teaching Award for Medical Pathophysiology, multiple Dean’s List Awards and the UK Biochemical Society Award.
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Dr Cooper is published in the British Medical Journal, Frontiers Cardiovascular Disease, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Biomedicines, Antioxidants, Frontiers in Nutrition, Journal of Oncology, HART and The Brownstone Institute. ​She is on the Scientific Advisory Board of: PHC (Public Health Collaboration); HART; and KetoLive, a Swiss Medical Association and German Medical Society continued medical eduction accreditation institute.
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Dr Lucy Petagine, PhD, AFHEA
Biochemistry, Pathology, Immunology
Human ex vivo and in vitro post-doctoral scientist: Dr Petagine is a Biochemist and Immunologist with a focus on the pathobiology and metabolism of liver diseases, including how exogenous and endogenous toxins may accelerate cellular ageing and disease progression.
Lucy’s PhD thesis investigated the inflammatory pathways in alcohol-associated liver disease, understanding how oxidative stress, mitochondrial function and cell death underpin the progression of disease. She also investigated novel nanoformulation-based treatments encapsulating Curcumin, in collaboration with UCL School of Pharmacy, to establish their protection against oxidative stress and liver injury.
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Dr Petagine completed her PhD in Biochemistry and Pathology, majored with Honours in her Bachelor’s in Biomedical Science and has a Masters degree with Merit in Immunology. from Imperial College London. She was also awarded the Jan Campbell Prize during her BSc and is also an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Dr Petagine has published various articles and reviews including topics such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, a condition afflicting young adults increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. She has extensive experience in biochemical and immunological assays as well as analysis of large UK BioBank datasets and in proficient in R programming language.
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Sandra Jacome, BSc (Hons), ANutr
Nutrition Biochemistry & Applied Nutrition
Sandra specialises in metabolic health and evidence-based nutrition practice, with a focus on metabolic dysfunction, insulin resistance, and cardiometabolic disease in the context of ageing and long-term health. Her work integrates biochemical, physiological, and nutritional approaches to support prevention-focused interventions across diverse populations.
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Sandra's academic training is in Human Nutrition, with strong foundations in biochemistry, endocrinology, metabolic physiology, and clinical nutrition. Her undergraduate dissertation investigated the biochemical effects of ketogenic vs. non-ketogenic dietary states on key type 2 diabetes biomarkers, including glucose, insulin, and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), shaping her interest in metabolic mechanisms underlying chronic disease and ageing.
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Alongside her academic work, she contributes to interdisciplinary human health projects through data collection and analysis, data curation and biological material handling. She also plays a key role in programme coordination and collaboration across academic, healthcare and community partners, and contributes to applied nutrition teaching, supervision and translation of scientific evidence into accessible learning materials. Sandra is a member of the Association for Nutrition and a Health & Wellbeing Programme Lead and Nutritionist, supporting applied academic practice. ​​​
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Andrew Scarborough, BSc (Hons), ANutr
Biomedical Scientist & NHS Injectable Medicines
Andrew is a scientific writer and researcher specialising in brain tumours, metabolic health, and ketogenic metabolic therapies. Working with the Forever Young Group, he contributes to manuscript development, study design, implementation, and translational research focused on metabolic interventions in cancer and human health. He has extensive experience across academic research, laboratory science, editorial work, and NHS clinical services. His personal motivations for entering cancer research have been featured in New Scientist. He has collaborated with leading cancer advocacy organisations, serving previously as an editor for the International Brain Tumour Alliance, campaigning in Parliament with Brain Tumour Research, and currently co-leading the Brain Tumour Advocacy Group (B-TAG). His academic background includes human and medical sciences with a focus on cancer biology, alongside postgraduate training in Clinical Bioinformatics and Professional Writing. He has conducted laboratory research within a brain tumour research group at Imperial College London, supporting his interests in tumour metabolism, hyperinsulinaemia, and metabolic dysfunction. Alongside research, Andrew works within NHS aseptic services, preparing sterile injectable medicines in GMP-controlled cleanroom environments. His work integrates academic expertise and clinical practice, underpinned by a commitment to rigorous, evidence-based strategies to improve outcomes in cancer and metabolic disease.
Dr Yvoni Kyriakidou, PhD, AFHEA, ANutr
Exercise Physiology & Metabolism, Sports Nutrition
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Senior Research Fellow in human clinical trials: Dr Kyriakidou specialises in exercise physiology investigating musculoskeletal changes associated with ageing and age-related diseases. Her expertise includes in vivo and ex vivo methodologies to characterise metabolic and immunological changes in skeletal muscle tissue.
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Yvoni's doctoral research examined nutritional & supplementation strategies to mitigate exercise-induced muscle damage, inflammation, and function decline in younger and older adults. Her PhD was among the first to explore extracellular vesicles as a novel biomarker of muscle damage. Her research interests also include the physiological mechanisms underlying exercise performance and the effects of ageing on muscle function and long-term health.
Dr Kyriakidou holds a PhD in Exercise Physiology and Sports & Exercise Nutrition, an MSc in Sports Nutrition and BSc in Nutrition & Dietetics. She is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a registered Associate Nutritionist (AfN), and a member of The Physiological Society and the Endocrine Society. She has received multiple funding awards, including the Globally Engaged Research Scholarship, Ignite Fund, and an Affiliate grant from The Physiological Society. ​​​​​​​​​​​
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Dr Kyriakidou has published extensively in leading peer-reviewed journals, including the British Medical Journal, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Biomedicines, European Journal of Applied Physiology, and Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. She has also presented her work at national and international conferences, including the World Congress on Exercise is Medicine ® in the United States.
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Dr Kurtis Edwards, PhD, AFHEA
Blood Cancer & Immunology
Dr Edwards is a cancer biologist with a strong interest in blood cancers, particularly B-cell malignancies, and in innate immune processes. His work is driven by a fascination with how metabolic changes shape immune function and influence the development and progression of haematological cancers. Kurtis earned his PhD in Cancer Biology, where he investigated the role of the CD180 Toll-like receptor in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) pathology, focusing on how CD180-associated signalling contributes to disease pathophysiology. During this time, he collaborated with researchers at University College London (UCL), Queen Mary University of London, and the University of Georgia (Tbilisi).
Dr Edwards has published original research articles and reviews on blood cancer and been invited to speak and present at international conferences. During his PhD was awarded exploratory start up funds from the university of Westminster’s ignite fund and travel grants from the UK CLL forum. During his Research Fellowship, he was also awarded the Eric Reid Fund for Methodology Grant to explore the role of biophysical stimuli on immune cell function. With extensive experience in immunology-focused and ex vivo experimental assays,
Kurtis has developed particular expertise in flow cytometry, applying advanced phenotyping approaches to understand immune dysfunction in cancer. He also has a strong interest in big data, using phenotypic and metabolic marker analysis to explore how immune and metabolic parameters correlate with blood cancer progression.
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Vanusa Novaes, BSc (Hons), ANutr
Nutrition Biochemistry & Applied Nutrition
Registered Associate Nutritionist and Certified Personal Trainer: Vanusa is a nutrition scientist specialising in metabolic, digestive, and brain health. Her academic and research interests focus on ketogenic science, hyperinsulinaemia, and metabolic dysfunction in chronic disease.
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She holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition (First Class Honours) and is a Registered Associate Nutritionist (AfN), with academic distinction recognised by a Dean's List Award. Vanusa is published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, contributing to the growing evidence base in metabolic and ketogenic nutrition science.
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Vanusa takes an individualised, evidence-based approach to nutrition, supporting clients in achieving their health goals through personalised nutrition plans, tailored education, and practical behavioural strategies to optimise nutritional status and overall wellbeing. She empowers clients to improve their health through simple, nourishing dietary changes centred on real food - without deprivation.
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Alongside her nutrition practice, Vanusa integrates physical training as a Certified Personal Trainer, combining nutrition and exercise to support metabolic health, long-term wellbeing, and health span optimisation.
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Naja Karis Cooper, Msci Final Year
Quantum Data Physicist
Naja is a final-year MSci Physicist at Queen Mary University of London, with academic training across quantum data analysis, astrophysics, and general physics. Her work is grounded in quantitative and statistical analysis, with particular strength in extracting structure and signal from complex, high-dimensional, and noisy datasets. She completed a master’s review project in flavour B physics, focusing on the detection of rare B-meson processes. This work emphasised background modelling, statistical inference, and the mathematical reasoning required to distinguish rare physical signals from experimental noise. Her current master’s project applies data analysis techniques to electricity generation systems, analysing historical trends to project and extrapolate future energy outputs. This research aims to inform improved planning across electricity generation types, including renewable, fossil, and nuclear sources. Naja performed the R-based statistical analysis for our two recent peer-reviewed human trial publications: one examining sex hormone dynamics and SHBG profiling, and another characterising extracellular vesicle phenotypes alongside more than 100 metabolic biomarkers across a three-phase human trial. She implemented linear mixed-effects modelling in R to account for repeated measures, inter-individual variability, phase-dependent effects, and complex biomarker interactions, enabling high-resolution interpretation of longitudinal metabolic and endocrine datasets. Naja has strong experience in scientific programming and computational analysis, working primarily in Python and R, with additional familiarity in Linux-based environments. Her academic interests centre on data-driven problem solving, multivariate statistical modelling, and the application of physics-informed analytical frameworks to complex real-world systems.