All it took for Dato Shaun Lim to begin his journey towards geroscience was a flight. While other passengers used the in-flight entertainment to pass the time, Dato Shaun Lim became engrossed in an ageing documentary that questioned his preconceptions of what it meant to become older. Then, Regenosis begun.

After experiencing episodes of irritation with the signs of ageing in his own body, Dato Shaun Lim formed a vision to reverse ageing.

In order to realise this goal, he resolved to assemble a group of skilled medical professionals, researchers, and dieticians. In fact, he even hunted out researchers he had seen in the documentary, such as Prof. Brian Kennedy, who eventually joined his group as Chief Scientific Officer. Regenosis was established with the goal of empowering people to age on their own terms, right down to the cellular level, together with many other renowned medical professionals and researchers.

Now in his mid 50s, Dato Shaun is enjoys spending meaningful time with his wonderful family who keeps him feeling whole and motivates him to move forward in his life. Sitting down for this interview with Dato Shaun was eye opening and insightful. For many of us, ageing is a huge concern, especially once we feel the effects that it has on our bodies. Read on to find out what Dato Shaun has to share, from his journey to build Regenosis to the fascinating discoveries he made along the way.

Interview With Dato Shaun Lim

Prior to founding Regenosis what career did you lead?

I was in the real estate development business prior to founding Regenosis.

What drove you to create Regenosis?

The real fear of growing old knowing that in a short few years, I am at 60% risk of developing chronic illnesses or debilitating conditions. The discovery that there is a field of science (Geroscience), where thousands of researches are happening, all to combat ageing or even reversing ageing: imagine the very real possibility of being at 90 years old but biologically looking and functioning like you’re in your 40s, humans living to 200 or more years!

How did your experience from your endeavours prior to Regenosis help build the company?

As a businessperson, professionally I do have the traits and creativity to bring people from a diverse area of expertise to a common cause, doctors and specialists in various fields, in this regard to share their knowledge contributing to develop programs and treatments to reverse biological age and extend healthspan.

How was it like transitioning into geroscience and creating Regenosis?

It was certainly an exciting and magical journey for me. Along the way, there were many credible discoveries and research and exploration of many companies to reduce biological ageing. To be productive in this mission we have made tremendous progress with the help of our founding doctors and scientists, especially Dr Teo Cheng Peng, who is also a founder of Parkway Cancer Group and StemCord Private Limited. As well as the distinguished Professor Brian Kennedy, Director of the National University Health System (NUHS) Centre for Healthy Ageing, Singapore.

What do you believe is the reason behind the growth of Regenosis?

The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified ageing as a medical condition in 2018. Many developed countries now face a huge ageing population. In this context, if ageing can be improved instead of deteriorating without any intervention, imagine the economic and social impact. There is therefore a large number of people who will want to do something about it,  thus the market. Essentially if you can improve or increase 1 day of healthy living,  that’s time that’s earned: time to spend with loved ones, economic endeavours, etc. With the right understanding of our body and the right approach by scientists and doctors, we believe we can deliver the promise of time and treat biological ageing. Driving community and society of different backgrounds to improve their healthspan, hence the market potential.   

How do you think Regenosis can help with age reversal and extending the healthspan of Singaporeans?

Regenosis is among the first clinics in Singapore in the field of Geroscience to introduce various programs, treatments and supplements cutting edge research to the public that is scientifically and medically safe. One of the programs targets recognizing the types of food intake, lifestyle and present health conditions and how it affects or harms our health. This condition is very personal and differs from every individual. An example is that eating a bar of milk chocolate causes a bad spike of the glucose level in one individual but does not affect another. We will be eating and enjoying our food all our lives; isn’t it essential to find out in precision what is good or bad for us one and for all. What we offer is also a precision discovery programme, which lets you learn in-depth about your body and exactly what is suitable uniquely for you. In that understanding alone, many health conditions have been improved over a short few months.

Another aspect to ponder, about maintaining beauty is creams, aesthetic treatments etc. If you can regenerate like Wolverine (from X-Men), isn’t that the ultimate beauty goal we seek,  to stay perennially young. Beauty is thus about cellular regeneration to keep young. If we can improve our biological regeneration, we will have better skin and look younger. Regenosis has programs to do that. Having good healthspan includes looking great physically as well.

Besides your own personal experience with ageing, were there any other factors that motivated you to build Regenosis?

Through my age, I have observed many of my family members, friends or people that are related to them that have passed before their time at a young age. Personally, my dad was bed-ridden for 10 years due to a stroke. These unfortunate instances have always been the most driving motivation behind Regenosis. Essentially, is not only to add years to life but also life to years. So that Regenosis can be part of that solution and a better chance without going through these same predicaments.

Where do you see Regenosis in the next 5 years?

Regenosis have operations in Singapore and Malaysia. We are also in the late stage of discussion in many countries in the Asia Pacific to set up collaborative partnerships for more Regenosis Centres over the next few years.

What challenges did you face as a Managing Director of Regenosis through the revolutionary breakthroughs the company has achieved in geroscience?

The field of geroscience is on an explosive trajectory with many breakthroughs already, but public awareness is still very low about it. The challenge is to educate the broad public that ageing is NOT natural and you can do things to improve it.

Regenosis has partnerships in various biotechnology companies. One of them has developed a cure for blindness caused by various illnesses. It is being reviewed by FDA USA now to move it to human clinical trials in a few short years.

Through the intensive research to build the brand, what would you say is your most interesting finding to date?

Currently, one of the most profound discoveries is that biological age is reversible.  Conceivably, within the  next 15 to 20 years, there is a possibility that there will be breakthroughs  to extend human lifespan to 200 to 300 years or more.