$101M Prize Hunt to Help Us Age Better Launches in 2030

Jamie Justice walked away from a secure university position to chase something bigger: a way to separate real anti-aging science from expensive snake oil.

She now leads XPRIZE Healthspan, a $101 million global competition designed to find treatments that actually restore muscle strength, brain power, and immune function in older adults. The grand prize winner will be announced in 2030 after rigorous testing.

The problem Justice wants to solve is urgent. Countless companies sell products claiming to slow aging, but most have zero proof they work. Older adults spend billions on supplements and therapies with no way to know if they're getting real results or just lighter wallets.

This year, ten teams were selected from 40 applicants to compete. Each must run a yearlong randomized controlled clinical trial, the gold standard of medical research. Their approaches vary widely, from exercise programs to drugs that target damaged "zombie" cells that accumulate as we age to personalized treatments based on individual biomarkers.

Justice, who keeps her academic credentials as an adjunct professor at Wake Forest University, brings scientific credibility to a field known for attracting questionable characters with wild theories. At a recent longevity conference in Berkeley, she spoke about the need for rigor while a man in a purple cape wandered the grounds.

But she welcomes diverse perspectives. "As scientists, we have to be really mindful to not turn into gatekeepers," she told reporters after her presentation. She wore jeans and a blazer, not a lab coat, speaking plainly about complex science.

Why This Inspires

Justice represents a new generation of researchers willing to leave traditional academic paths to tackle problems that matter to millions. Her decision to partner with entrepreneur Peter Diamandis shows how scientists and innovators can work together when the goal is clear: helping people stay healthy and independent longer.

The competition's structure ensures accountability. Teams can't just claim their treatments work. They must prove it through the same rigorous testing required for FDA approval. That protects consumers and builds trust in legitimate longevity research.

Justice also studies what older adults actually want from their later years, grounding the science in real human needs rather than Silicon Valley fantasies about living forever.

By 2030, families watching loved ones age will have evidence-based options backed by serious science, not just marketing hype.