Here's some key information about him:
* Founder and CEO of BioViva Sciences: West is the founder and CEO of BioViva Sciences, a company dedicated to developing gene therapies for age-related diseases and extending human lifespan.
* Controversial Gene Therapy Trials: West gained notoriety in 2015 when he publicly disclosed that he had undergone gene therapy on himself, claiming it had reversed some of his aging biomarkers. This self-experimentation sparked controversy and raised ethical concerns regarding the safety and efficacy of his work.
* Focus on Telomerase Gene Therapy: BioViva's primary focus is on telomerase gene therapy. Telomerase is an enzyme that can lengthen telomeres, the protective caps at the end of chromosomes that shorten with age. West believes that increasing telomere length could potentially slow down aging and prevent age-related diseases.
* Advocacy for Lifespan Extension: West is a vocal advocate for research into lifespan extension and believes that biotechnology has the potential to significantly extend human lifespans.
* Criticism and Skepticism: Despite his efforts, West's work and claims have been met with skepticism and criticism from many scientists and ethicists. The scientific community largely considers his self-experimentation premature and his claims about lifespan extension exaggerated.
While Michael A. West's work is undeniably groundbreaking and raises important questions about the potential of gene therapy for anti-aging, it remains highly controversial and requires further scientific validation before it can be widely accepted.