Bridging ancient wisdom with modern discovery.
The Sauna Research Foundation exists at the nexus of science, philanthropy, and public wellness. We are a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in the United States, organized to advance the scientific understanding of heat therapy and sauna bathing.
Mission
Our mission is to organize, sponsor, and support groundbreaking research and public education focused on how traditional sauna wellness practices promote resilience, longevity, disease prevention, and improved mental health.
Vision
To make sauna and heat therapy a recognized and integrated part of holistic health, embraced by individuals, communities, and healthcare systems alike.
Origins & an evolving mandate
The Sauna Research Foundation was founded in 2020 on the bold idea that the health benefits long associated with sauna bathing — cardiovascular resilience, mental well-being, the sense of vitality reported by sauna users across cultures and centuries — could be traced to measurable physiological change at the molecular level, including epigenetic regulation.
The Foundation took shape through a conversation between Glenn Auerbach, founder of SaunaTimes and Jon Sabes, then CEO and founder of FOXO Technologies, a pioneer in epigenetic measures of health and aging. Its founding board comprised Auerbach; Dr. Jari A. Laukkanen — the Finnish cardiologist whose Kuopio cohort studies established the modern evidence base for sauna and cardiovascular health; Harvey Martin, former MLB pitcher now working at the intersection of breath, somatic awareness, and human performance; and Sabes.
In 2024, SRF reconstituted its board with expertise specifically suited to a coordinating role. Hans Hägglund, MD, PhD gave SRF direct standing within the international sauna community. Earric Lee, PhD, was recruited to steward a structured Delphi consensus process to help unify the scientific research in sauna bathing. SRF's board was, for the first time, composed to convene the field rather than to study it directly.
Board of Directors
Board Member, Lead Scientist
Earric Lee, PhD
Exercise medicine researcher at the Montreal Heart Institute. Formerly with the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, Earric has spent over a decade in scientific research with the last eight years focused on the applied physiological aspects of sauna bathing. He holds a PhD in Exercise Medicine majoring in heat therapy and sauna bathing, and has delivered keynotes at international sauna congresses in Helsinki, Stuttgart, Jyväskylä, and London.
Board Member
Hans Hägglund, MD, PhD
Medical doctor and professor at Uppsala University. Former director of the Cancer Center at Uppsala University Hospital and national cancer coordinator for Sweden. Senior consultant at Karolinska University Hospital and affiliated researcher at the Center for Resilient Health, Stockholm School of Economics. Co-founder of Vision Zero Cancer, member of the International Sauna Association board, and author of The Sauna Book — Hot Facts on Sauna and Health.
Board Member
Glenn Auerbach
Sauna evangelist for over 40 years. Founder of SaunaTimes.com (2008) and the Sauna Talk podcast (2016, 130+ episodes). Author of Sauna Build, From Start to Finish and co-author of Sauna Life. Board Treasurer for Sauna-Aid. Glenn brings an unmatched network within the North American and international sauna community.
Board Member
Jon Sabes, JD
Founder and CEO of LongevityFP (Longevity Financial Partners), Jon brings expertise in organizational strategy, philanthropy, and healthspan optimization. He previously founded FOXO Technologies (NYSE-AMEX) and GWG Holdings (NASDAQ). He is the author of Healthy, Wealthy, Longevity.
Scientific Advisors
Scientific Advisor, Co-Chair of Delphi Study
Ashley Mason, PhD
Dr. Mason is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco, and core research faculty at the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health. Dr. Mason directs the Sleep, Eating, and Affect Laboratory and co-directs the Center for Obesity Assessment, Study, and Treatment. A clinical psychologist by training, Dr. Mason's research centers on non-pharmacologic interventions for depression, insomnia, loneliness, and firefighter health, with a particular focus on whole-body hyperthermia and thermal therapies. Her thermal therapy work examines how controlled heat exposure affects mood and sleep and is supported by the National Institutes of Health, Foundations, and science-minded philanthropists. She brings both scientific rigor and clinical perspective to SRF's research efforts.
What 501(c)(3) means
A 501(c)(3) is a nonprofit organization recognized as tax-exempt under United States federal law. This status supports charitable work and may allow eligible U.S. donors to claim tax deductions. Learn more from 501c3.org and Nonprofit Lists.