In the spring of 2017, celebrities and scientists gathered at the Los Angeles home of legendary television producer Norman Lear and his wife Lynn. The Hollywood power couple, outspoken supporters of myriad liberal causes, were also interested in the burgeoning field of longevity science.

Among the speakers invited to update attendees on the latest advancements was Nicole Shanahan, the chief executive of an intellectual property software company in Silicon Valley. Shanahan, a slight woman, with long, highlighted hair, told the audience about the relatively mundane but valuable process of tracking new research through the patent system.

Financial Times