Researcher
Tony Wyss-Coray
Last updated Sun May 17 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Background
Tony Wyss-Coray is Professor of Neurology at Stanford University and director of the Phil and Penny Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience. He trained in immunology and shifted to neuroscience/aging.
Key contributions
- Heterochronic-parabiosis and young-plasma transfer studies showing improvements in cognition, hippocampal neurogenesis, and synaptic plasticity in old mice.
- Identified candidate “young factors” (GDF11 was controversial; tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 / TIMP2 more replicated).
- Organ-level aging signatures from plasma proteomics — the discovery that different organs in the same person can have different “biological ages”.
- Helped launch first young-plasma human trials (Alkahest) in Alzheimer’s.
Influence
Wyss-Coray’s organ-aging proteomic work suggests biological aging is heterogeneous within an individual — possibly the most consequential shift in biomarker thinking of the past decade.
Related entries
Plasma exchange, Alzheimer's disease, Altered intercellular communication.
References
- Villeda, S. A. et al. Young blood reverses age-related impairments in cognitive function and synaptic plasticity in mice. Nat. Med. 20, 659–663 (2014).