Dr Staša Stanković is a reproductive geneticist with a PhD in Reproductive Genomics from the University of Cambridge. She studies why the ovary ages faster than any other organ — and how the genetic code behind it can be rewritten to extend women's fertility and healthspan.
Women's health, she says, sat "under the veil of taboo" for far too long — until 1993 women weren't even required in clinical trials. Working with the UK Biobank (around 200,000 women), her team mapped roughly 300 genetic determinants of ovarian aging and the age at which menopause begins.
Then they went further. By mimicking the DNA-repair genes carried by women with naturally later menopause, her team showed — for the first time — that you can extend reproductive lifespan and improve fertility (by around 25% in mice): the first proof that delaying menopause is possible.
Her bigger idea reframes the field: because the ovary ages two-to-five times faster than the rest of the body, it is a proxy for a woman's whole-body health — early menopause tracks with heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis. Understand ovarian aging, she argues, and you learn about aging itself. She is now building the models — ovarian organoids — and a company to turn the science into medicine.
University of Cambridge · Reproductive GenomicsUK Biobank · ~300 menopause genesOvarian organoidsWomen's-health founder
University of Cambridge
Where we met
In Cambridge, the home of genetics
We filmed with Staša in Cambridge — the home of genetics and, at the Babraham Research Campus, a hub for aging science too. On camera and on a walk through the gardens, she explained why the ovary is the fastest-aging organ in the body, and how her lab is using genetics to rewrite the menopause clock. We picked up the thread again in London.
Cambridge
Babraham Research Campus
Where we filmed — two epicentres in one place, genetics and aging. Staša walked us through ovarian aging and the ~300 menopause genes.
London
England
We continued the conversation on women's health — why it was neglected, and why it matters for everyone's healthspan.
The bigger picture
The ovary as a clock
Her reframe: the ovary is a proxy for whole-body aging — understand it, and you learn about aging itself.
"When I'm thirty, my ovaries are almost geriatric. That's why this matters."
— Staša Stanković, in Cambridge
On the quest
Moments with Staša
In the gardens at CambridgeWalking the science, Babraham Research CampusIn conversationOn women's health and ovarian agingTwo epicentres in one placeGenetics and aging, CambridgeMaking the caseWhy the ovary ages fastestLongevity friendsCatching up in London, 2025The Babraham InstituteWalking the grounds in Cambridge — 2024In the gardenwith Marek at Babraham — Cambridge, 2024The conversationovarian ageing & female longevity — CambridgeThe interviewBabraham Research Campus, Cambridge — 2024With Marekat Babraham — Cambridge, 2024
In her words
On women's health, rewritten
"Ovaries age almost five times faster than any other organ. So when I'm thirty, my ovaries are almost geriatric."
Staša Stanković · Cambridge
Women's health was under the veil of taboo for a very long time. Until 1993, women weren't even required in clinical trials.
Staša Stanković
We were the first to prove that by manipulating genes, we can extend reproductive lifespan, postpone menopause and improve fertility.
Staša Stanković
The ovary is a proxy for a woman's whole-body health — early menopause tracks with heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis.
Staša Stanković
Science, science, science. With knowledge, you can unlock so many opportunities.
Staša Stanković
In her own words
Straight from the interview
Pulled from our conversation with Staša in Cambridge — the science, her approach, and her message to the next generation.
Staša's view on longevity
The ovary ages faster than any organ — and it's a window on the whole body. Understand ovarian aging, and you learn about aging itself.
"We have to stop thinking about ovarian aging as just fertility. It's an architect of overall healthspan."
Cambridge · 2024
How Staša does longevity
Two boats in parallel — use the knowledge we already have (lifestyle, biomarkers) while investing heavily in the science that's still missing.
"Get tested — know your hormone profile. Then education, education, education, and invest in the research."
Her approach
Her message to young women
Women's health was neglected for too long; the fix starts with understanding your own body — and syncing biology with your plans.
"There's a huge gap in how we understand our own bodies. Educate yourself — and sync your biology with your life plans."
The video interview is coming. Recorded interviews go live after the launch of the film & series Live Beyond.
Selected passages from our filmed conversation with Dr Staša Stanković — in Cambridge, on women's health, ovarian aging and the genetics of menopause.
On why women's health is understudied
Marek Piotrowski"What's the problem, and how do you want to solve it?"
Staša Stanković"Women's health was under the veil of taboo for a very long time. There wasn't much investment or research, so the basic biology of female reproductive health isn't understood — and until 1993 women weren't even required in clinical trials. Modern medicine was shaped around male physiology. If you don't have the basic knowledge, you can't innovate."
On the fastest-aging organ
Staša Stanković"There's one organ that doesn't follow the trend of the others — the ovary. Ovaries age almost five times faster than any other organ. So when I'm thirty, my ovaries are almost geriatric — even before I use them for fertility, their function has started declining. We're born with a finite, non-renewable reserve of one to two million eggs, and it only ever gets smaller."
On the ~300 menopause genes
Staša Stanković"At Cambridge we studied more than half a million people in the UK Biobank — about 200,000 women. We identified around 300 genetic factors that determine the age you'll go through menopause. It's like a lottery you're born with. Now we can use that knowledge to predict a woman's fertility window, and to invent new therapeutics."
On the first proof menopause can be delayed
Staša Stanković"We took two DNA-repair genes carried by women with naturally later menopause and mimicked their effect in mice. We prolonged reproductive lifespan and increased fertility by about twenty-five percent — one of the first proofs that delaying menopause is a possibility. Those mice also responded far better to IVF."
On the ovary as a clock for the whole body
Staša Stanković"We have to stop thinking about ovarian aging as just fertility. Because ovaries age two to five times faster than any other organ, we can use them as a proxy for a woman's overall health — even the brothers of women with early menopause tend to live shorter. Ovarian aging is an architect of overall healthspan."
Her message to young women
Marek Piotrowski"What's your message to the younger generation of women?"
Staša Stanković"Education, education, education. There's a huge gap in how we understand our own bodies. Get tested — know your hormone profile. Be mindful of the environmental factors. And invest in science: with knowledge, you can unlock so many opportunities."
More passages from the full interview will be published here.
Continue the quest
More minds on the quest
Staša Stanković explores Radical Life Extension on the Longevity Map — here are others on the same frontier, and the full cast of 100+.
