FAQs
What is How I Became a GMO and Why You Will Too about?
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It's Liz Parrish's firsthand account of becoming "Patient Zero" — the first person to personally undergo experimental gene therapy aimed at treating biological aging as a disease. The book traces her journey from a mother searching for better treatments for her son's Type 1 diabetes into the frontier science of gene therapy, regenerative medicine, and human longevity, and makes the case for rethinking how medicine approaches aging and disease.
Who is Liz Parrish?
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Elizabeth (Liz) Parrish, MBA, is a futurist, humanitarian, and the Founder and CEO of BioViva Sciences USA Inc., a biotechnology company focused on extending healthy human lifespans through gene therapy and advanced genetic medicine. She has spoken internationally at forums including WIRED and TEDx, and has contributed to multiple books, including an academic chapter published by Springer.
Why did Liz Parrish get into gene therapy?
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Her son's diagnosis with Type 1 diabetes as a child led her to search for better ways to treat and ultimately cure childhood diseases. That search took her from stem-cell research and regenerative medicine into gene therapy, driven by the belief that medicine should treat the biological causes of disease rather than just manage its symptoms.
What does "Patient Zero" mean in this context?
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It refers to Liz Parrish becoming the first person to personally undergo an experimental combinatorial gene therapy treatment specifically targeting biological aging — not a disease in the traditional sense, but the underlying cellular processes that drive age-related decline.
Is gene therapy for aging scientifically accepted?
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Gene therapy targeting biological aging is an active and evolving area of research. The book doesn't shy away from the science's open questions, setbacks, and controversies — it's written from the perspective of someone working at the frontier of the field, not claiming settled consensus.
What topics does the book cover?
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Telomeres and cellular aging, gene therapy and gene-delivery platforms, regenerative medicine, the regulatory landscape for genetic medicine (including the Best Choice Medicine framework), and broader questions about how far medicine should go to prevent, repair, and reverse biological aging.
Is this a memoir, a science book, or both?
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Both. It's a personal narrative — including the risks, setbacks, and controversies Liz encountered — woven together with an accessible explanation of the underlying science: telomere biology, cellular aging, gene therapy, and regenerative medicine.
Who is this book for?
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Readers interested in longevity science, biotechnology, gene therapy, and the future of medicine — as well as anyone drawn to a personal story of a parent's search for a cure turning into a broader scientific mission. Also, it might inspire you if you are looking to embark on your own journey!