A Summer with Deep Knowledge Group — Sawsan Haider

By Sawsan Haider

Deep Knowledge Group 2025 Summer Intern

Fulbright Scholar (Harvard University)

This summer, I had the privilege of interning at Deep Knowledge Group (DKG) as part of my Career Development Experience (CDE) through the LongX XPlore Fellowship, an introductory program for individuals interested in the longevity industry. I am currently a Fulbright Canada Scholar at Harvard University pursuing a Master of Science in Bioethics, where I hope to do work in FDA reform and clinical trial governance. I am particularly interested in the question of how governments, institutions, and even private capital mechanisms can be structured to responsibly accelerate biotechnology development.

My summer experience with LongX and DKG offered a rare opportunity to explore my interests from both a practical and global perspective. The LongX Fellowship began with a month-long primer course covering topics from the biology of aging to the drug development process and broader longevity entrepreneurship. Through workshops, fireside chats, and collaborative assignments, I not only gained a foundation in the science and industry landscape, but also exchanged ideas with peers equally committed to advancing longevity. Following the course, fellows moved into Incubate and Translate, where we tested ideas, worked on projects, and engaged in career development experiences with industry partners.

It was through this process that I was matched with DKG. At DKG, I had the opportunity to work on their Global Longevity Competitiveness Index Reports, developed in partnership with the International Finance Forum (IFF). These reports assess countries’ readiness to support the emerging longevity economy, looking at factors such as healthcare infrastructure, R&D ecosystems, investment climate, and policy frameworks. The data behind these reports was incredibly extensive, with hundreds of data points ranging from the share of financial services in total exports to the age dependency ratio of national populations.

This work gave me a deeper appreciation for the scale of collaboration and analysis required to advance longevity science. There are countless metrics, variables, and considerations at play, and DKG is doing vital work by synthesizing them into actionable insights.

My experience with DKG solidified my interest in longevity governance. My upcoming Master’s thesis will explore questions at the intersection of ethics, innovation, and regulation in pharmaceutical development: how we can better design clinical trials, regulatory pathways, and governance models to both protect patients and accelerate the delivery of longevity therapies.

My summer with LongX and DKG helped sharpen my vision for how I hope to contribute to the future of biotechnology and longevity. I am deeply grateful to the mentors, peers, and colleagues at DKG and LongX, and I look forward to carrying these lessons into both my academic work and beyond.

Author bio

Sawsan Haider — Fulbright Canada Scholar at Harvard University (MSc, Bioethics).

Summer 2025 Intern, Deep Knowledge Group (LongX XPlore Fellow).

Interested in FDA reform, clinical trial governance, and governance models that responsibly accelerate biotech innovation.