Michael D. West is a pioneering gerontologist known for his work in stem cells, cellular aging, and telomerase. He founded AgeX Therapeutics, a startup in interventional gerontology, and is Co-CEO of its parent company, BioTime, Inc. He previously led Advanced Cell Technology (ACT), later renamed Ocata Therapeutics, which was acquired by Astellas Pharma. At Geron, he initiated programs in telomere biology and collaborated on groundbreaking research in human pluripotent stem cells and telomerase with renowned scientists.