James L. Kirkland

Dr. James Kirkland directs the Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging at Mayo Clinic. In 2015 his group identified dasatinib + quercetin as the first drugs that selectively eliminate senescent cells, coining the class ‘senolytics’. Kirkland has since published mechanistic and pre‑clinical studies linking senescent‑cell burden to osteoporosis, frailty, and metabolic dysfunction, catalyzing >20 biotech startups focused on the approach. He leads ongoing Phase I/II trials of senolytics in diabetic kidney disease and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, translating bench insights to the clinic.