The Download: an exclusive chat with Jim O’Neill, and the surprising truth about heists
A trillion-dollar health boss is betting big on living longer...
Deep Dive
In an exclusive MIT Technology Review interview, US Deputy Health Secretary Jim O’Neill reveals plans to direct ARPA-H funding toward longevity research to increase human healthspan. Simultaneously, he defends his controversial decision to reduce the number of broadly recommended childhood vaccines, a move widely criticized by medical experts. O’Neill oversees a department with a budget exceeding $1 trillion, giving his dual focus significant weight in public health policy.
Why It Matters
This signals a major, contentious shift in national health priorities, pitting futuristic science against established preventative care.