DOC Fellows are the backbone of our community, a diverse group of emerging voices representing scientific, academic, and entrepreneurial perspectives that broaden and enrich our DOC gatherings. Each year, we invite a select group to join us in Napa as our guests, where they participate in a dedicated track of programming. This is generously supported through directed charitable donations via our partnership with The Buck Institute, which you can make here.
As we gear up for our third year of our DOC Fellows Program, we caught up with some of our 2024 and 2025 alumni to hear the latest updates on their research and achievements — and hear how DOC (and you!) have supported their next stage.
Our DOC 2024 Fellows, our inaugural group, are hard at work launching studies, publishing findings, growing their companies and investing in early-stage longevity-driven startups — including some founded by their peers.
Ariel Ganz, Ph.D., co-founder of Arben Ventures, an early-stage investing fund focused on precision medicine, found DOC to be both insightful and fruitful. Arben’s portfolio includes top scientists and entrepreneurs, including DOC Alums Michael Snyder, M.D., and Bailey Renger. DOC 2024 opened the doors to new investments for the portfolio, and new startups to pursue. “Two of those founders were fellows!” she told DOC.
Gul Dolen, Ph.D., published a 2026 review in the Annual Review of Neuroscience advancing her field-defining theory that psychedelics reopen the brain’s “critical periods” — with implications for how the aging brain learns and heals. Laura Towart’s precision oncology company Vivan Therapeutics received IRB approval for a study on personalized colorectal cancer treatments, Amie Leighton opened the mental health platform Allia Health to the public, and Amanda Henry launched “Therabody, for Her,” a new women’s wellness initiative.
Our DOC 2025 Fellows continue to push discoveries in new pathways for precision medicine, mental health and longevity. Since attending DOC 2025, Helen M. Blau, Ph.D., received the National Medal of Science and published research finding that blocking an aging-linked enzyme regrew knee cartilage and prevented arthritis in aging and injured joints. A 2026 peer-reviewed study of more than 84,000 users of Reveri, a self-hypnosis app co-founded by David Spiegel, M.D., found that app-delivered self-hypnosis produced consistent, meaningful reductions in stress. Rich Joseph, M.D., continues to expand VIM Medicine, his physician-led health management practice, and Andrea Olsen, a Caltech-based founder, is developing Luria Health, an AI platform for personalized care and longevity.
DOC 2025 and 2024 Fellow Monica Plath saw her startup Littlebird ship its screen-free family safety wearable in early 2026, and Melanie Goldey led Tally Health, the consumer longevity company she helms, through an acquisition by Infinite Epigentics. And Andrea Gartenbach, M.D., spoke at the 2026 Longevity Investors gathering at Davos — and is now a DOC Advisor.
The DOC Fellows Program doesn’t happen without generous support from our partners and donors. Directed donations are tax-deductible through The Buck Institute, and you can learn more — or give — here.
We can’t wait to see you all in Napa in October!