Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn

Elizabeth H. Blackburn, AC FRS FAA FRSN

Dr. Blackburn is a pioneer in work on telomeres and telomerases

She discovered the molecular structure of telomeres, the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes that serve as protective caps at the ends of chromosomes, which are linked to a host of age-related illnesses, from cancer to heart disease

Dr. Blackburn and her research team continue their work with different cells (including human cells), with the goal of understanding telomerase and telomere biology

She and her research team also collaborate via clinical and other human trials in a broad variety of investigations of the functions of telomere biology in human health and diseases

Blackburn is currently a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at University of California, San Francisco.

In 2006, Blackburn has been honored as the recipient of The Albert Lasker Medical Research Award in Basic Medical Research.

In 2007, she was named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most influential People and she was the 2008 North American Laureate for L’Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science.

In 2009, Dr. Blackburn was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology.

Blackburn's website

Telomeres play a key role in the maintenance of chromosome integrity and stability, the shortening of telomeres is one of the main causes of human aging and age-related diseases such as cancer, autoimmunity and heart disease. Analysis of the length of telomeres is a precise index of biological age in relation to chronological age and constitute a major breakthrough for medicine in the fight against chronic diseases and lifespan.

The science to make cells live longer

Never get old

The secret

What to avoid

Cortisol, generate mainly by stress, in long term, shorten your telomeres, the more chronic stress you are under, the shorter your telomeres

Childhood violence, emotional neglect, bullying, discrimination, sexism, racism all shorten telomeres and the effects are long-term

Constant fear: feeling insecure at home for example

Short telomere means you are more likely to be a victim of early illness and death

Avoid sugar

How to naturally lengthen them

Having a good quality of life
Meditation for 12 minutes a day for 2 months, improved the telomere maintenance capacity studies shows
keeping low stress, see stressful situations as challenges
Your attitude towards life, have a more positive view of bad situations
Taking care of others
Good relations, longtime relationship, positive community
Good couple

Become the master of your cells

Life events of people around you and how they respond affect how you maintain your telomeres

You have control over the way you age all the way down into our cells

You have the control and the power over your own telomeres and you have the power, a very big responsibility, over the telomeres of the others

The science of telomeres is teaching us how we are interconnected

And maybe your are curious about you. Now that you know how to protect your telomeres are you curious what are you going to do with all those decades of brimming good health? And now that you know you could impact the telomeres of others are you curious how you will make a difference? And now that you know the power of curiosity to change the world, how you will make sure that the world invests in curiosity for the sake of the generations that will come after us?

- Elizabeth Blackburn