Nature Awards and Voyager launch new Healthspan Accelerator to support researchers driving innovation in tackling age-associated diseases
Berlin | London | New York 15th September 2025
Nature Awards, part of Springer Nature, has partnered with Voyager, a company engaged in the discovery and development of precision medicine technologies, to launch the Healthspan Accelerator, a new program designed to support researchers driving innovation in identifying, delaying or reversing age-associated diseases.
Metabolic health research is central to our understanding around how to live healthier, longer lives. Our cells are under constant assault from internal processes and external factors. Over time, this accumulated damage degrades their function.
“We are starting to understand the primary reasons our bodies develop diseases when we are old but not when we are young. Signals are starting to emerge from the data that are impossible to ignore” stated Voyager co-founder George Church.
Yet despite the value of the research within this field to the wider public, many scientists face barriers when trying to translate their discoveries into practical health solutions. The Healthspan Accelerator seeks to change that by providing researchers with the platform, resources, skills and connections to speed up the time between their discovery and its transition into the clinic.
Speaking on the new award Richard Hughes, VP Publishing, Nature, commented:
“Consumers face an overwhelming landscape of anti-aging products, many lacking clear scientific backing. This program—led by experts from Nature Portfolio, Voyager and the wider community—will identify technologies grounded in solid science and support academic innovators on their journey to commercialisation. We're excited to partner with Voyager and look forward to receiving applications from research groups worldwide.”
For the 2025 awards, the accelerator will focus on four key areas of innovation:
- Regulating host metabolism and the rate of aging
- Better identifying and mediating aging cells
- Reducing risk factors and slowing neurodegeneration
- Attenuating age-associated inflammation
Applications are now open to researchers worldwide - applications close on 10th December. The judging panel will be made up of Voyager founders and Nature editors who will be searching for bold ideas in precision medicine. Winners will receive a cash grant and participate in a four-day residential programme offering training, science communication workshops, and networking opportunities with industry leaders. Winners will be announced in May 2025. For full submission, eligibility guidelines and more information, visit the award homepage here.
The Healthspan Accelerator joins Nature Awards’ growing global portfolio of prestigious programmes that celebrate scientific excellence and amplify the impact of research. The full Nature Awards portfolio and additional details can be found here.
- Applications for the award will be accepted from 12 September until10th December 2025.
- Eligibility Details - The Applicant
- Research group leader/principal investigator or researcher;
- Employed by a university, non-profit, or government funded research institute;
- Aspiration to commercialise research via licencing or creation of a spinout/spinoff company;
- Based anywhere in the world (excluding sanction sensitive countries list here)
- .Judging - All applications will be evaluated by a panel of commercial and scientific experts based on the following metrics:
- The originality and quality of the underpinning science
- A commercially attractive and appropriate solution to address a health need
- Potential to build an appropriate IP portfolio to enable commercialisation
- Successful market adoption has the potential to deliver meaningful human health benefits
- Aspiration to explore the commercial potential of the research and capability to pursue translation
Nature Portfolio’s high-quality products and services across the life, physical, chemical and applied sciences is dedicated to serving the scientific community. Nature (founded in 1869) is the leading, international weekly journal of science. Nature Portfolio is also home to the Nature research and Nature Reviews journals, the leading open access multidisciplinary journal Nature Communications, and open access journals including Scientific Reports. Together, these journals publish some of the world's most significant scientific discoveries. Online, nature.com provides over nine million unique visitors per month with Nature Portfolio content, including news and comments from Nature, and the leading scientific jobs board, Nature Careers. Nature Portfolio also offers a range of researcher services, including online and in-person training and expert language and editing services. For more information, please visit nature.com and follow @NaturePortfolio. Nature Portfolio is part of Springer Nature.
Voyager, Inc. (https://www.voyager.inc/) engages in the discovery and design of precision medicine technologies. It operates through the following segments: Precision Medicine, Biobanking, and Global Health Insurance. The Precision Medicine segment treats age-related diseases in partnership with leading scientists and physicians globally. The Biobanking segments securely stores biological samples and develops cell therapies. The Global Health Insurance segment services clients with a global health insurance policy accessing leading doctors, clinics, and hospitals worldwide. The company is headquartered in Davos, Switzerland and founded by Raja Dhir, George Church, Eran Segal, Ara Katz, Cezmi Akdis, Giammaria Giuliani, and Christopher E. Mason.
You can follow Voyager on LinkedIn here.
Springer Nature is one of the leading publishers of research in the world. We publish the largest number of journals and books and are a pioneer in open research. Through our leading brands, trusted for more than 180 years, we provide technology-enabled products, platforms and services that help researchers to uncover new ideas and share their discoveries, health professionals to stay at the forefront of medical science, and educators to advance learning. We are proud to be part of progress, working together with the communities we serve to share knowledge and bring greater understanding to the world. For more information, please visit about.springernature.com and @SpringerNature.
Theodore Hibbertgreaves| Springer Nature | Communications and Corporate Affairs
