Every breakthrough looks obvious in hindsight.
Darwin watched finches' beaks change. Galileo dropped two balls. Wegener noticed continents fit together. Semmelweis said wash your hands. Simple observations that changed everything.
At Continue Research, we believe the next breakthroughs in aging biology are hiding in plain sight. They won't come from adding more complexity to our models, but from finding the foundational mechanisms that control everything downstream.
We're a $25 million fund supporting researchers brave enough to test ideas that seem too obvious to matter. The ones your department won't fund because they're too plain. If you have a hypothesis that makes you think "it can't be that straightforward" – we want to hear it.
Our current funding
priorities
Prove or disprove the Gravity Aging Hypothesis
Understanding the relationship between vascular throughput and aging
Characterizing the impact of evolutionarily consistent physical factors
* These are priority areas, not constraints. We welcome all researchers studying the fundamental drivers of aging.
What we're looking for
What if aging isn't a complex program requiring a thousand interventions, but a mere engineering problem? What if the miracle of exercise works through one fundamental mechanism, not fifty? What if we've been studying pixels when we should be seeing the entire picture?
We fund research that attacks root causes, not symptoms. While the field chases ever more sophisticated molecular pathways, we're interested in the simple physical and mechanical realities that might affect everything at once. Insights that make a hundred obscure theories suddenly unnecessary.
Funding structure
Moonshots ($50K - $250K) Ideas so simple that everyone thinks they're probably wrong. But if you are right, everything changes. 6-12 months to test the impossible. We expect most to fail spectacularly. That's the price of finding the one that doesn't.
Deep Dives ($250K - $2M) If you think there’s smoke somewhere, find the fire. Or prove there isn't one. 1-3 years to chase down mechanisms that you have conviction in. This is where you turn correlation into causation, or kill a beautiful theory with ugly facts.
Reach out to us
We welcome applications from everyone interested in advancing the frontiers of healthy human lifespan. You should be able to demonstrate the ability and discipline to see your work through, and have the facilities and credentials to carry out the proposed work.
Send a proposal to [email protected], refer to this sample application form. Plain language encouraged. Complex jargon discouraged. Tell us what you want to test, why it might matter, and how you'll know if you're wrong.
The proposals will be reviewed by eminent scientists in biology and longevity from top institutions across the world. To maintain fairness, their identities will not be disclosed. All reviewers are bound by an NDA to ensure your proposal remains confidential. We review proposals monthly and aim to provide decisions within 4-8 weeks.
It’s a partnership
Your Commitment: Everything you discover becomes open source. Raw data, failed experiments, successful protocols – it all goes public. Write your findings in language that a motivated high school student could understand. Participate when others try to replicate your work.
Our Commitments: No past publication requirements. No intrusive oversight. Just direct funding for ideas that could matter. We'll celebrate your failures as much as your successes, because both move science forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for these grants?
Researchers, clinicians, and scientists from any country or institution can apply. We also welcome independent investigators and teams outside traditional academia, provided they have the facilities and credentials to carry out the proposed work.
What is your cap on indirect costs?
Indirect costs (institutional overhead) are capped at 10% of the total grant amount. This ensures that the majority of funding is directly allocated to support the research.
What are the priority research areas for Continue Research?
- Prove or disprove the gravity-aging hypothesis decisively - Research vascular throughput as the master regulator of aging - Identify and measure the effect of physical forces in shaping human biology
How are the proposals evaluated?
Each proposal is reviewed by domain experts and scored for: - Clarity of hypothesis and experimental design. - Relevance to understanding aging mechanisms. - Degree to which success or failure would meaningfully inform the field.
How long does it take to receive a decision?
Typically, within 4 weeks after submission. Timing may vary depending on review volume and project complexity. During this period, we may schedule follow-up conversations to discuss your proposal, clarify budget details, or better understand your research background and approach.
What are intellectual property (IP) and data sharing terms?
The grant recipient and their institution own the IP. All research data and code must be deposited in public repositories within six months of publication. The funder receives a perpetual, royalty-free license to use all funded IP for research, education, and nonprofit purposes globally. Additional terms will be discussed once the research agenda is finalized.
Do you fund for-profit companies?
Yes. For-profit entities can apply for research-driven projects.
Is there an application deadline?
Applications are open on a rolling basis throughout the year.
Who can I contact for eligibility or fit questions?
Reach out to [email protected] with your questions, and we will get back to you.