Tech

Eric Leire: How Biotechnology Can Contribute To Longevity Research

Published

4 years ago

August 6, 2021

Dr. Eric Leire, MD, MBA, is the CEO and Founder of GenFlow Biosciences. He has an impressive background in the biotechnology and gene therapy sector. Furthermore, Eric has a plethora of remarkable experience in the pharmaceutical industry, having held Pfizer, Schering Plough, and Pharmacia posts. His success has also translated into academic research, where he has held a research position at Harvard University.

In addition, his career has soared throughout the biotechnology industry, being the CEO of several private and public biotech companies. He is also the inventor of several patents and serves on the board of several biotechnology companies, such as Pherecydes (ALPHE.PA), Immunethep (developing a Covid vaccine), Inhatarget, and BSIM.

With the Biotech sector forecast to grow close to $2.5 trillion by 2028 – the financial benefits are straightforward and the moral importance to serve societal needs. In addition, research into longevity and healthy aging have progressed rapidly in recent years. We chatted with Eric, who explains how developments in the biotechnology sector can aid the longevity research process.

“Many US biotech companies shifted their research focus to improving longevity. However, only a few European biotech companies are working on a science-based development of therapeutic interventions that could delay the aging process.”

He continues, “Our company is interested in identifying the genetic and molecular pathways underpinning the aging process.” Specifically, Genflow Biosciences’ work is based on the fact that DNA repair plays a crucial role in determining an organism’s lifespan. As humans and other mammals grow older, our DNA is more and more prone to breaks. GenFlow intends to provide extra copies of a gene involved in DNA repair called SIRT6 and, more specifically, a variant of the SIRT6 found in centenarians. The additional copies of centenarian SIRT6 will improve the ability to repair DNA damage.

The feasibility of gene transfer to patients was demonstrated around 30 years ago and these methods have improved substantially. As a result, many commercial gene therapy candidates are now focussing on gene therapy for multiple diseases.

Scientists now can inject more efficient AAVs that can express a transgene such as SIRT6 into specific cells. Like other viruses, the tropism of an AAV for particular cells is controlled by the particular interaction between the proteins of its capsid (the protein shell enclosing the AAV genetic material) and the receptors of the targeted cells. In the last decade, there has been a tremendous advance in the ability to design novel, highly efficient AAVs that can target specific cells or organs.

Having a toolbox of enhanced AAVs is an important step; however, to develop an effective SIRT6 gene delivery, we also needed an understanding of the potential immunity to AAVs. A pre-existing barrier to AAV gene delivery stems from our natural exposure to AAV, resulting in a possible pre-existing humoral and cellular immunity to AAVs. Even a highly efficient and specific AAV delivering an ideal transgene (such as SIRT6) means nothing if an immune response prevents the AAV from reaching the appropriate cells. Therefore, it is critical when translating AAV gene delivery for clinical applications first to determine whether the patient has pre-existing immunity to AAV and then mitigate the development of potentially damaging immune responses when the gene is delivered intravenously. Fortunately, several studies have assessed the immune response to AAV-mediated gene therapy in both pre-clinical models and human patients. Overcoming pre-existing immunity is not trivial, but we now have strategies to enable AAV treatment without triggering immunity.

Eric believes that GenFlow’s contribution to advancing the understanding of anti-AAV immunity in our pre-clinical program. During clinical trials will help not only the development of our product but will also participate in the development of other safe and highly efficacious AAV therapies for other diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer.

Tech

Future Unfolding: Your Guide to the Hottest Upcoming Solana Projects

Published

1 month ago

July 19, 2025

Jonathan Grilli

If you’ve been peeking into the world of blockchain lately, you’ve probably heard whispers about some exciting upcoming Solana projects. And no, this isn’t just the usual crypto chatter. Solana’s unique combination of speed, scalability, and low fees has been turning heads in all the right ways. Now, a fresh wave of developers is flocking to the ecosystem—and what they’re building could shake up the whole game.

Whether you’re a casual investor, a tech-savvy early adopter, or just crypto-curious, knowing what’s around the corner can give you a serious edge. So grab a coffee, pull up a chair, and let’s take a closer look at where Solana is headed—and which projects might just become the next big thing.

Why Solana, and Why Now?

Let’s face it: not all chains are created equal. While Ethereum paved the way, and Bitcoin proved the concept, Solana showed up to prove that blockchains could be fast—really fast—without costing an arm and a leg to use. With transaction speeds clocking in at 65,000 per second (yep, you read that right) and fees that cost less than a penny, it’s no wonder developers are pouring in.

More importantly, Solana’s infrastructure opens up real creative freedom. Think dynamic NFTs, high-performance games, instant DeFi transactions, and next-gen social platforms. It’s like going from dial-up to fiber optic. And when does that kind of power meet an ambitious dev community? Sparks fly.

The Landscape: What’s Already Built

Before we dive into what’s coming, let’s talk briefly about what’s already here. Solana is no stranger to heavy hitters. Projects like:

Phantom (one of the smoothest crypto wallets out there)
Magic Eden (a major NFT marketplace)
Serum (a decentralized exchange engine)

…have already helped solidify Solana as a serious player in the Web3 world. But even more exciting is what hasn’t launched yet—the next wave of innovation that’s currently under wraps, in beta, or being whispered about in dev channels and alpha groups.

Categories to Watch

Let’s break this down a bit. These upcoming projects aren’t just NFTs or DeFi. They span several categories, and each one is pushing boundaries in its own way.

1. Gaming on Solana

Blockchain gaming is no joke anymore. We’re talking full-blown metaverses, player-owned economies, and real-time experiences that don’t feel like retro arcade games.

Projects like Aurory and Star Atlas are leading the charge, but newer games like Eizper Chain and Synergy Land are gaining steam. They aim to blend AAA-style graphics with actual on-chain mechanics, where players earn, trade, and even govern the game’s economy. Imagine a gaming world where your loot actually means something.

2. Next-Gen DeFi Platforms

Solana’s speed is a dream for decentralized finance. It eliminates lag and lowers gas costs, making it more attractive for traders and builders alike.

Keep your eye on platforms like Zeta Markets (for options trading), Mango Markets V4 (the next iteration of Solana’s leveraged trading platform), and Drift Protocol, which is all about smart margin trading. These platforms are redesigning financial systems—not just copying them.

3. Social and Creator Economies

You know how creators are always looking for ways to monetize without getting gouged by middlemen? Solana’s low-fee, high-throughput nature makes it perfect for social and creator platforms.

Projects like Grape Protocol, Only1, and Dialect are cooking up decentralized alternatives to Instagram, Patreon, and WhatsApp. Instead of centralized platforms owning your audience, you do. Finally, some freedom in the feed.

4. Infrastructure and Tools

Not every exciting project is consumer-facing. Some of the most powerful tools are being built quietly in the background.

Look out for GenesysGo, Helius, and SolanaFM—they’re building things like RPC networks, data explorers, and indexing solutions that help the entire ecosystem run smoother. It’s like paving roads before the cars show up.

How to Spot a Winner

Okay, so you’re excited. But how do you separate future stars from vaporware?

Check the Team

Do they have experience? Are they doxxed? Are they shipping updates consistently? A solid team isn’t shy about transparency.

Look at the Community

Great projects build great tribes. Join their Discord. Scroll through their Twitter. Are people engaged, or is it just hype?

Watch for Utility

Does this project solve an actual problem or improve something that already exists? If it’s just a reskinned NFT mint or copy-paste DeFi fork, maybe move along.

Follow the Builders

Founders often share sneak peeks, updates, and philosophies that give you insight into where a project is heading. Social platforms like X, Farcaster, and even dev blogs can be surprisingly revealing.

How to Stay in the Loop

Alpha doesn’t wait for newsletters. If you want to stay ahead, plug into:

Solana Hacker Houses and hackathons (they often preview upcoming talent)
Podcasts like Solana Breakpoint or Lightspeed
Research-focused Discord servers and Telegram groups
GitHub activity and dev toolkits

This stuff moves fast, but not without leaving clues. Pay attention to who’s building, not just who’s trending.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Chase, Anticipate

When everyone talked about it, the train had probably left the station. The trick with upcoming Solana projects is to think like a scout, not a fan. You want to spot the early signals, the creative builders, and the untapped problems being solved in clever ways.

Solana’s ecosystem isn’t just expanding—it’s evolving. As more serious capital, creators, and developers enter the space, the opportunities multiply. Stay sharp, do your homework, and remember: the best projects often start quietly.

In a world full of copycats, bet on the originals. That’s where tomorrow’s magic lives.