Researcher
Linda Partridge
Last updated Sat May 30 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Background
Linda Partridge is Professor of Biometry at University College London and was founding director of the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing in Cologne (2008–2019). She trained in Oxford under John Maynard Smith and pioneered the use of Drosophila for studying the evolutionary biology of aging.
Key contributions
- Demonstrated that the cost of reproduction principle (disposable soma) operates measurably in Drosophila and shapes aging trajectories.
- Established dietary restriction as a conserved lifespan modifier across species.
- Identified the insulin / IGF-1 pathway as a longevity lever in flies (parallel to Kenyon’s worm work).
- Translated rodent and invertebrate findings into a framework for human geroscience (Partridge, Deelen, Slagboom 2018 Nature review).
Public role
A frequent and authoritative voice on the realistic scope and timeline of geroscience interventions; serves on multiple UK and EU advisory bodies on aging research.
Related entries
Disposable soma theory, Insulin/IGF-1 signalling, Caloric restriction.
References
- Partridge, L., Deelen, J. & Slagboom, P. E. Facing up to the global challenges of ageing. Nature 561, 45–56 (2018).