LifeTime

LifeTime.eu operates as a large-scale, transnational research initiative focused on revolutionizing healthcare through a deeper understanding of human cells. It originated as a shared vision among leading scientists from over 50 European organizations who proposed it as a FET Flagship project. In March 2019, the initiative was awarded a one-million-euro grant from the European Commission's Horizon 2020 program to fund a one-year preparatory phase for developing a detailed research roadmap. The consortium is jointly coordinated by Professor Nikolaus Rajewsky at the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin and Dr. Geneviève Almouzni at the Institut Curie in Paris.

The core mission is to track, understand, and target the molecular mechanisms of human cells as they transition from health to disease. This approach aims to facilitate the early detection, interception, and personalized treatment of complex illnesses such as cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. By analyzing the progression of diseases at a single-cell level, LifeTime seeks to pave the way for a new era of cell-based interceptive medicine. The initiative brings together a diverse, interdisciplinary network of over 120 scientists, clinicians, and technology experts from more than 60 research institutes. This collaboration also includes support from over 80 companies in sectors like pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and data science.

LifeTime's strategy is built upon the integration of three key technologies: single-cell multi-omics and imaging, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and patient-derived experimental disease models, such as organoids. This technological convergence allows researchers to create predictive computational models of disease progression, identify new drug targets, and ultimately forecast a patient's medical future to steer tissues back toward health. The project's structure is designed to connect academia, hospitals, patient associations, and industry partners to translate scientific discoveries into clinical practice efficiently. While the initiative has a broad European scope, a related entity, LifeTime GmbH, based in Hamburg, Germany, has developed certified secure mobile applications for both iOS and Android, suggesting a commercial arm focused on digital health tools for communication between doctors and patients.

Keywords: cell-based interceptive medicine, molecular mechanisms, single-cell multi-omics, personalized medicine, European research initiative, Horizon 2020, disease progression, artificial intelligence in healthcare, organoids, computational disease models, clinical translation, pharmaceutical research, biotechnology, data science, health data management, cancer research, neurological disorders, cardiovascular disease research, medical imaging, drug target identification