Medium's Authority Magazine | Discovering Your Life’s Purpose: Dr Matt Kaeberlein of Optispan On How to Align Your Goals with Your True Self.

Our CEO, Dr. Matt Kaeberlein, was recently featured in an article published in Medium’s Authority Magazine. The article covers how Matt has built his work around advancing human and animal health through technology and science. He has published over 250 scientific papers and held leadership roles in major aging research organizations, with the goal of aligning ambition with authenticity.

Matt grew up in Seattle in modest circumstances after his parents’ divorce. Though initially unmotivated academically, he eventually found direction through personal relationships and chance experiences. After dropping out of college and working blue-collar jobs, He majored in biochemistry and mathematics, then pursued a PhD at MIT, where a lecture by Lenny Guarente on the genetics of aging changed his trajectory.

Matt credits Tammi, his wife, as his greatest source of support, grounding him throughout his career. He’s also grateful for the impact of mentors like Lenny Guarente, who introduced him to aging research, and Stan Fields at the University of Washington, who fostered his intellectual independence and integrity. These relationships shaped his scientific mindset and personal philosophy, reinforcing the importance of mentorship, intellectual honesty, and balancing career with a meaningful life. Matt identifies three core traits behind his success: his willingness to take bold risks, his intellectual integrity, and his desire to help others succeed.
A pivotal moment in Matt’s life was the realization that slowing aging in pet dogs could improve both animal and human health. This led to the Dog Aging Project, involving rigorous clinical trials with rapamycin. Matt notes that purpose often emerges when one recognizes an important gap and chooses to act decisively.

For over two decades, academia defined Matt’s identity. However, a moment of reflection at a conference revealed his dissatisfaction with the long timelines and bureaucracy of academic research. This prompted him to leave academia and transition into biotech leadership, where he could make a more immediate impact. Matt advises honesty and openness to change, noting that abandoning outdated goals can lead to new, more fulfilling directions.

If you’d like more, or to hear Matt’s strategies for staying aligned with your goals, check out the article here!