The Methuselah Mouse Prize, or MPrize, is a $4.5 million prize that was established in 2003 to reward scientists who set new records in mouse longevity and rejuvenation. The overall goal is to break what chief scientist Aubrey de Grey refers to as the “pro-aging trance” — the belief that aging is unavoidable and that no biotechnological interventions will be able to prevent it. De Grey and his foundation, the Methuselah Foundation, which administers the prize, hope that the public’s recognition of the fact that aging is not inevitable will lead to the realization that it can be overcome with enough biological research.
De Grey intends to use the MPrize to launch what he refers to as the “War on Aging.” Similar technology prizes, such as Charles Lindbergh’s prize for crossing the Atlantic and the X-Prize for private space development, inspired the MPrize.
A typical lab mouse lives for about three years, while a mouse with diverse genetics — as opposed to lab mice with similar genes — lives for about four years. In 2007, a genetically knocked-out mouse’s growth hormone receptor set a new record for lab mouse lifespan of just under 5 years.
The MPrize distinguishes between longevity and rejuvenation in mice. Longevity refers to the mouse’s total lifespan, with interventions allowed at any age, whereas rejuvenation refers to interventions performed in the mouse’s middle years. Both categories are given different portions of the pot, and the exact payout is determined by a formula. Every day the scientist waits until treatment begins counts twice for the rejuvenation prize. This helps to promote late-onset rejuvenation techniques, which, if developed, would be in high demand for humans.
The current rejuvenation world record holder MPrize is a mouse who lived 3.7 years rather than the standard 3. The mouse was fed a calorie-restricted diet and was raised in an enriched environment.