Newly released emails from the US Justice Department’s Epstein files show that Jeffrey Epstein paid for genetic testing and explored experimental research tied to extending human life.
The records suggest that years after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution, including of a minor, Epstein was pursuing advanced genomic analysis and discussing the possibility of using gene-editing tools to study longevity, CNN reported.
Among the scientists referenced in the documents is Joseph Thakuria, who at the time was a senior physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and affiliated with Harvard Medical School’s Personal Genome Project. Thakuria has not previously been publicly linked to Epstein and is not accused of wrongdoing.
According to emails and invoices included in the files, Epstein paid USD 2,000 in 2014 to sequence portions of his genome. The invoice outlined USD 1,000 for sequencing his exome — the protein-coding regions of DNA — and another USD 1,000 to sequence fibroblasts, cells that have been studied in ageing research.
Epstein’s staff sent payment the same day the invoice was issued.
Thakuria said in a statement that Epstein was enrolled in the Personal Genome Project, a public global database of volunteer genetic data used by researchers. He described Epstein as a research participant and said early conversations about potential research funding never materialized.
“I was a physician-researcher and he was a research subject,” Thakuria said, adding that he regrets not knowing more at the time about the extent of Epstein’s crimes.
The emails also show that Thakuria proposed additional research options, including what he described as “personalized longevity studies” and the possible use of CRISPR gene-editing technology to modify stem cells. One proposal suggested editing stem cells to introduce mutations believed to increase longevity.
The total cost of the projects outlined in the invoice, including broader sequencing and research initiatives, could have reached nearly USD 200,000. CNN did not find evidence that Epstein paid for those additional services, though correspondence between his assistants and Thakuria continued into 2015.
At one point, Epstein expressed frustration over delays and threatened to escalate concerns if results were not delivered quickly.
The files also reference a larger research idea labelled “The Venus Project,” which carried a proposed price tag of USD 160,000. Thakuria later described the concept as preliminary and said it never moved forward. According to his statement, the idea involved research into the genetics of facial features but received no funding and resulted in no study.
Epstein’s interest in gene editing and longevity research was not new. Through his foundation, he had previously donated to transhumanist organisations that advocate using technology to expand human capabilities and potentially reverse ageing. He was also known to have discussed ambitious genetic ideas with scientists in his network.
The latest disclosures add further detail to Epstein’s connections with researchers in genomics and gene editing, including ties to prominent Harvard-affiliated scientists. While none are accused of wrongdoing in connection with the newly released emails, the documents once again highlight how Epstein sought access to elite academic and scientific circles long after his earlier conviction.
Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. The release of additional records continues to shed light on the breadth of his relationships and the extent of his efforts to position himself within influential scientific and philanthropic networks.
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