Our Mission
Targeting the Root Causes of Age-Related Disease
Founded in 2024, Functional Longevity Labs (FLL) is a Maryland-based pharmaceutical company using deep scientific understanding of the aging process to develop therapies that maximize healthspan and push back the onset of age-associated disease.
Rather than treating the individual manifestations of aging, FLL modifies the underlying biologic mechanisms — an approach that holds enormous potential for alleviating the personal, social and economic costs of age-related illness and functional decline.
The Health Gap
The period between the end of healthspan and the end of lifespan — a concept coined by FLL CEO Dr. William K. Smith in 2019. FLL's mission is to narrow this gap.
Our Approach
Translating Aging Research into Therapeutics
Novel Molecular Targets
Targeting TyrRS (YARS1), a therapeutic target nominated by the NIA's Accelerating Medicines Partnership in AD (AMP-AD) Consortium, to modulate TyrRS Triad-regulated pathways central to aging and neurodegeneration.
The Science of Aging
Grounded in the geroscience hypothesis: therapeutically addressing aging physiology can directly prevent or mitigate multiple chronic diseases simultaneously, rather than treating them one by one.
Biomarker-Driven Development
Leveraging advances in epigenetic clock biomarkers, proteomic clocks, and DREAM Complex activity biomarkers as potential surrogate endpoints to accelerate clinical trial timelines.
NIH Collaboration
Operating under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the National Institute on Aging at NIH to develop and rigorously test therapeutics designed to modify the aging process.
Therapeutic Pipeline
Advancing Breakthrough Therapies
FLL is developing FLL-001, a first-in-class YARS1 Chronomodulator for Alzheimer's disease, based on groundbreaking research into the TyrRS Cascade published in preeminent, peer-reviewed scientific journals.
FLL-001
Lead Program Alzheimer's DiseaseA first-in-class YARS1 Chronomodulator targeting Tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (TyrRS/YARS1) to restore the TyrRS Cascade in post-mitotic neurons — encompassing PARP1-mediated DNA repair, TRIM28/NuRD translational regulation, and LIN9/DREAM complex derepression. In preclinical studies, FLL-001 demonstrated neuroprotection at nanomolar concentrations against NMDA and etoposide toxicity, and rescued Aβ42-induced neurite degeneration at 100 pM (p=0.00004). Complete oral bioavailability (F=107%) and a clean safety profile (non-mutagenic; hERG IC50 >100 µM) support advancement toward IND-enabling studies. Presented at AAIC 2026, London (Abstract #13223).
National Institute on Aging (NIA) Agreement
FLL operates under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the NIA at the National Institutes of Health to develop and test therapeutics designed to modify the aging process. This collaboration provides access to world-class research infrastructure and scientific expertise in geroscience.
Research
Publications & Presentations
FLL's scientific leadership publishes foundational geroscience research underpinning our therapeutic programs.
FLL-001, a First-in-class YARS1 (TyrRS) Modulator in Preclinical Development for Alzheimer's Disease
Mathew S, Seiden D, Smith WK — Functional Longevity Labs, Inc. — July 13, 2026
FLL-001 is a first-in-class YARS1 modulator with picomolar neuroprotective potency, validated on-target mechanism, clean genotoxicity and cardiac safety profiles, and favorable oral pharmacokinetics in mice. These findings support advancement of FLL-001 toward IND-enabling studies as a novel multi-target therapeutic for Alzheimer's disease.
The TyrRS Cascade: Circadian Gating of Neuronal DNA Repair and Its Collapse in Aging
Mathew S, Seiden D, Ingram DK, Smith WK. GeroScience (2026).
DOI: 10.1007/s11357-026-02532-0 ↗Cis- and trans-resveratrol have opposite effects on histone serine-ADP-ribosylation and tyrosine-induced neurodegeneration
Jhanji M, Rao CN, Massey JC, et al. Nature Communications 13, 3244 (2022).
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30785-8 ↗A human tRNA synthetase is a potent PARP1-activating effector target for resveratrol
Sajish M, Schimmel P. Nature 519, 370–373 (2015).
DOI: 10.1038/nature14028 ↗For a deeper dive into the science of aging, visit our educational resource: geroscience.health ↗
Leadership
Experienced Team in Aging Science and Drug Development
A multidisciplinary team combining deep expertise in geroscience, clinical neurology, drug discovery and regulatory affairs.
William K. Smith, MD, FAAPMR
Chief Executive Officer
Board-certified physician in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Assistant Professor at the Uniformed Services University. Co-Chair of the 2019 and 2021 NIA Geroscience Symposia. 25+ years in complex R&D with DOD, VA, DARPA and the World Bank.
Donald K. Ingram, Ph.D.
Chief Scientific Officer
Adjunct Professor at Pennington Biomedical Research Center (LSU). Former Chief of the Laboratory of Experimental Gerontology at NIA/NIH. 400+ scientific publications. Past President of the American Aging Association and the Gerontological Society of America.
Sajish Mathew, Ph.D.
VP of Research & Development
Conducted foundational research on Tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase and resveratrol at the Scripps Research Institute and the University of South Carolina. Published research on the foundational work underpinning FLL's therapeutic approach in leading peer reviewed publications including Nature, Nature Communications and Nature Chemical Biology.
Paul Miller, Ph.D.
Director, Pre-Clinical Pharmacology
30+ years in drug discovery research. Former CSO at Artizan Biosciences. Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from Albany Medical College. Track record leading R&D teams from early stage through Phase II clinical trials to FDA approval.
David Seiden, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Board-Certified Neurologist with 25+ years of experience. Clinical Investigator for 250+ clinical trials. Proven track record in clinical development, pharmacovigilance, drug positioning strategies and partnerships with key opinion leaders.
Jennifer Eubanks, CPA
Treasurer
Certified Public Accountant (CPA, CGMA, CMA). Founder and CEO of The CPA Department. Experienced in corporate financing, M&A, and regulatory compliance. Former CFO and DCAA auditor with government contracting expertise.
Governance
Board of Directors
William K. Smith, MD, FAAPMR
Chair & Chief Executive Officer
Founder of Functional Longevity Labs. Board-certified physician in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Co-Chair of the 2019 and 2021 NIA Geroscience Symposia.
Julie A. Monaco
Director
Former Managing Director and Global Head (retired), Public Sector Banking, Citi, New York.
David Seiden, MD
Director
Chief Medical Officer, Functional Longevity Labs. Clinical Development & Medical Affairs. Board-Certified Neurologist with 25+ years of experience and Clinical Investigator for 250+ clinical trials.
Science
Scientific Advisory Board
Jamie Justice, PhD
Scientific Advisor
EVP, Health Domain and Executive Director, XPRIZE Healthspan, XPRIZE Foundation. Leading expert in geroscience clinical trial design and healthspan extension.
Richard Mayeux, MD
Scientific Advisor
Sergievsky Professor and Chair of Neurology; Chair, Sergievsky Center; Co-Director, Taub Institute — Columbia University & New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Paul Newhouse, MD
Scientific Advisor
Jim Turner Chair in Cognitive Disorders; Professor of Psychiatry, Pharmacology, and Medicine; Director, Vanderbilt Center for Cognitive Medicine; Clinical Core Co-Leader, Vanderbilt Alzheimer's Disease Research Center — Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Contact
Connect with Functional Longevity Labs
Interested in our research, partnership opportunities, or careers? We'd like to hear from you.
Address
108 Tech Park Drive, Suite 016
Cambridge, Maryland 21613
Phone
410-401-5330
Website