​​Longevity Global is launching our new Chicago chapter with an inaugural 2026 conference. We welcome scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in the science of longevity. Please join us in Cloud Gate Hub in 2 Prudential Plaza

​Schedule

​Morning Session

​8:00 am - Doors Open

​9:00 am - Longevity vs. Biotech Investing
Moshe Bellows (Maccabee Ventures), Joshua Rogers (Arete Wealth Management), Joshua Barney (Barrington Angels)

​10:00 am - Longevity Startup Showcase
John Ramunas, PhD (Rejuvenation Technologies), Glen Markov, PhD (Rejuvenation Technologies), Ashley Zehnder, PhD (Fauna Bio)

​11:00 am - Frontiers in Aging Biology
Alice Gilman (R3 Biotech), Dr. Sofie Wei, PhD (X-Therma, Inc), Ashley Zehnder, PhD (Fauna Bio), Louise Hecker (PsiloHeal)

​12:00 pm - Catered Networking Lunch

​Afternoon Session

​1:30 pm - Clinical Longevity Medicine
Dr. Hazel Szeto, MD PhD (Stealth BioTherapeutics), Louise Hecker (PsiloHeal)

​3:00 pm - The Emerging Longevity Care Economy

​4:00 pm - Networking Reception

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Featuring our speakers:

​Alice Gilman

​Alice Gilman is a CEO for a stealth experimental stem cell based startup aimed at transforming the medical industry and delay aging.

​Alice is a visionary in regenerative medicine, longevity science, and advanced biotechnology, building the platforms that will define the next century of healthcare. Leading efforts to develop stem cell–based and genetically engineered systems capable of repairing, replacing, and enhancing human biology.

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​Dr. Sofie Wei, PhD of X-Therma, Inc

​Dr. Sofie (Xiaoxi) Wei, PhD, is an award-winning entrepreneur, inventor, and biotechnology leader, best known as the Co-founder and CEO of X-Therma, Inc., a company pioneering breakthroughs in organ preservation and regenerative medicine. With deep expertise in biomimetic nanoscience and biopreservation, Dr. Wei is at the forefront of developing technologies that aim to make “on-demand” organs and living medicines a reality.

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​Dr. John Ramunas

​Dr. John Ramunas is a serial entrepreneur and neuroscientist dedicated to reversing human aging. He co-founded Rejuvenation Technologies to commercialize telomere extension technology he co-invented during his PhD in Neuroscience at Stanford University. His published research and patents span regenerative medicine, stem cells, RNA delivery, and microfluidics. Previously, he founded Pathways Development, a software company. His mission is to reverse aging—first to treat disease, and ultimately to restore youthful function to body and mind.

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​Dr. Louise Hecker, PhD

​Dr. Louise Hecker is a biomedical scientist and Associate Professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, specializing in aging, tissue repair, and regenerative biology. Her research focuses on how aging affects the body’s ability to heal—particularly in lung and fibrotic diseases—and how cellular stress, telomere shortening, and inflammation drive age-related decline.

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​Dr. Ashley Zehnder

​Dr. Ashley Zehnder is a biotechnology entrepreneur and leader in genomics-driven drug discovery. She is the Founder and CEO of Fauna Bio, a California-based biotech company focused on leveraging comparative genomics and artificial intelligence to uncover novel therapeutic targets for human disease.

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​Dr. Glenn Markov

​Dr. Glenn Markov is Co-founder and COO of Rejuvenation Technologies, a company developing therapeutics to increase healthspan by extending telomeres. He holds a PhD in Genetics from Stanford University School of Medicine, where he researched nuclear reprogramming to pluripotency and the conversion of human fibroblasts to embryonic stem cells. His postdoctoral work at Stanford further advanced his expertise in regenerative medicine, genomics, and bioinformatics. Earlier, as an undergraduate researcher at Arizona State University and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, he studied regeneration, evolutionary genomics, and cancer genetics. He earned dual BS degrees in Biology and Biochemistry from ASU, where he was named Outstanding Graduating Senior and received the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and an NSF Graduate Fellowship.

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​Dr. Hazel Szeto

​Dr. Hazel H. Szeto, MD, PhD, is a pioneering physician-scientist and entrepreneur in the field of mitochondrial medicine. She is best known as the founder and scientific innovator behind Stealth BioTherapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech company focused on developing therapies for mitochondrial dysfunction and age-related diseases.

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​Joshua Rogers

​Joshua D. Rogers is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Arete Wealth, Inc., a financial services holding company spanning 100+ offices and 320+ advisors nationwide. The firm specializes in comprehensive wealth management for high-net-worth individuals and institutions, with a focus on alternative investments, venture capital, and private equity. Earlier in his career, Joshua co-invented the "name your own price" e-commerce patents that created Priceline.com. He was elected to FINRA's National Adjudicatory Council, where he represented 3,600 small broker-dealers across the country. Joshua is an Elected Trustee of the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and a member of the Economic Club of Chicago. He is based in Chicago.


Deepti Agarwal, MD

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Dr. Deepti Agarwal is a triple board-certified physician specializing in precision medicine, regenerative therapeutics, and integrative pain management. Based in Chicago, she brings nearly two decades of clinical experience across anesthesiology, interventional pain medicine, and longevity-focused care.

​Her work centers on optimizing healthspan through a personalized, data-driven approach that integrates genomics, biomarkers, hormone optimization, and metabolic health. After years of treating complex surgical and chronic pain patients, Dr. Agarwal developed a systems-level perspective on the root causes of disease—focusing on inflammation, hormonal transitions, and physiological resilience.