Dr. Kristina Zdantsevich
Kristina Zdantsevich, MD is a pioneering physician and biotech venture capitalist who bridges the worlds of cardiovascular medicine, longevity research, and healthcare innovation. Based in Stanford, California, she serves as a Research Scholar at the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, where she contributes to cutting-edge cardiovascular health research alongside world-renowned scientists and physicians.
Kristina is also active in the Venture Capital world, focusing on Biotech Venture Capital investing at Long Run Ventures. Her unique trajectory from frontline intensive care medicine to finance and biotechnology, perfectly positions her as a transformative leader in the emerging field of longevity medicine. After years of managing complex cases in cardiovascular intensive care units, including serving on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kristina transitioned into Venture Capital and research roles where her clinical expertise could be leveraged to achieve greater impact. Kristina actively invests in and advances solutions for age-related diseases that affect millions worldwide.
In March of 2024, Kristina joined Long Run Ventures, where she evaluates and supports biotechnology companies developing therapies for age-related diseases. This industry has experienced explosive growth over the past couple years, with recent major funding rounds including Retro Biosciences’ $1 billion initiative to extend human lifespan by 10 years, NewLimit’s $130 million Series B for liver rejuvenation, and Haya Therapeutics’ $65 million Series A for RNA-guided therapeutics targeting age-related diseases. Her medical background provides crucial evaluation capabilities for assessing the clinical viability and potential impact of emerging longevity therapeutics.
Kristina’s venture capital journey began with FounderPartners, a unique San Francisco Bay Area firm that operates as a global financial services platform of serial entrepreneurs and M&A advisors. Founded in 2013 by Brian Flynn and Greg Baszucki (investor and board member at Roblox), FounderPartners maintains an exceptional track record with over 85% of portfolio companies achieving successful outcomes.
The firm’s portfolio includes 18 successful exits and its M&A advisors have facilitated over 150 technology transactions worth more than $100 billion. During her time with FounderPartners from 2023 to 2024, Kristina focused on identifying and supporting innovative healthcare technology ventures, learning from a team that approaches investments as minority cofounders with deep operational involvement.
In October 2024, Kristina joined the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute where she engages in research within an ecosystem that has pioneered numerous breakthroughs in precision cardiovascular medicine. The institute, led by Director Dr. Joseph C. Wu, focuses on igniting collaborative research across Stanford’s schools of Medicine, Engineering, and Business, providing Kristina with an ideal environment to merge her clinical insights with cutting-edge innovation.
Kristina’s commitment to advancing longevity medicine extends through her membership in the Healthy Longevity Medicine Society (HLMS), an international organization founded in 2022 that aims to establish longevity medicine as a recognized medical specialty. Led by Founding President Dr. Evelyne Yehudit Bischof and Vice President Dr. Andrea B. Maier, both Lifeboat board members, HLMS has already certified over 5,000 physicians through its Longevity Medicine Courses and developed clinical standards in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Department of Health. As a member, Kristina contributes to setting the highest standards for interdisciplinary collaboration in this rapidly evolving field.
Kristina’s research endeavors also include a year-long collaboration at the National University of Singapore under the mentorship of Dr. Andrea B. Maier, a world-renowned geroscientist. This research focuses on investigating the therapeutic effects of dietary ingredients on cellular senescence in both animal models and human subjects. Dr. Maier’s laboratory at the NUS Centre for Healthy Longevity represents one of the premier global centers for translational aging research, which provided Kristina with access to cutting-edge methodologies and international collaborations. Read Dietary Ingredients Inducing Cellular Senescence in Animals and Humans: A Systematic Review.
Before transitioning to venture capital and research, Kristina built an exceptional clinical foundation through critical roles in Belarus’s leading medical institutions. Her medical internship at Minsk Regional Clinical Hospital from 2017 to 2018 exposed her to diverse specialties, including internal medicine, cardiovascular surgery, neurosurgery, and geriatric medicine, providing comprehensive understanding of the healthcare continuum.
During her tenure at Minsk Central District Clinical Hospital from 2018 to 2023, Kristina led anesthesia care teams and managed critically ill patients with multi-organ failures. Notably, she served courageously on the front lines of COVID-19 care from March 2020 to May 2022, witnessing firsthand the urgent need for innovative therapeutic approaches during the pandemic’s most challenging periods. This experience managing novel disease presentations and rapidly evolving treatment protocols enhanced her ability to evaluate emerging medical technologies.
At the Republican Scientific & Practical Center of Cardiology from 2020 to 2023, she specialized in managing the most complex cardiovascular emergencies. Her expertise encompassed treating acute and chronic heart failure, myocardial infarctions, cardiomyopathies, valve disorders, arrhythmias, and pulmonary embolism.
She developed particular proficiency in advanced life support technologies, including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), ventricular assist devices, and continuous renal replacement therapies — skills that provided intimate understanding of the critical unmet needs in cardiovascular care.
Kristina’s educational foundation reflects strategic preparation for leadership at the intersection of medicine and technology. Her medical training in anesthesiology and intensive care medicine at the Belarusian State Medical University provided deep clinical expertise, while her specialized focus on cardiovascular medicine positioned her to address one of healthcare’s greatest challenges — heart disease remains the leading cause of death globally.
Kristina represents a new generation of thinkers who understand that improving healthcare requires both clinical insight and strategic capital. Her journey from the cardiac ICU to venture capital demonstrates how medical professionals can shape the future of their field in unexpected ways. As she continues bridging cardiovascular medicine and longevity science, Kristina is helping build a healthcare system focused not just on treating disease, but on extending healthy human life itself.
Kristina spoke at the Unicorn Summit 2025 in Portugal. The summit aimed to connect founders, investors, and tech innovators to discuss the future of technology and startups. Kristina participated in sessions covering intriguing topics, such as human enhancement and innovation in Intensive Care Units.
Read Dietary Ingredients Inducing Cellular Senescence in Animals and Humans: A Systematic Review.
Keep up with Kristina’s exciting work by following her on LinkedIn and on X.