New York University Shanghai officially inaugurated the Global Institute for Longevity and Resilience on Thursday, kicking off its inaugural conference to address global aging challenges through cross-disciplinary research.

Rooted in Shanghai with a focus on China and broader Asia, the institute bridges academic research with policy application, technological innovation and on-the-ground practice via NYU's global academic network.

Its research agenda centers on four interconnected pillars: healthy longevity and life-course resilience, earth systems and urban resilience, longevity finance and silver economy, and social resilience.

"This is a campus that shows what can happen when scholars and students from different backgrounds come together around questions that transcend national and disciplinary boundaries," said NYU President Linda G Mills.

Bei Wu, provost of NYU Shanghai and the institute's founding director, said a longevity society demands more than improved healthcare — it requires resilient, interconnected support systems centered on human needs. She noted the institute will pool strengths across the NYU community and global partners to identify vulnerable populations and deliver actionable solutions.

The day-long conference featured four parallel forums aligned with the institute's research pillars, covering eldercare systems, age-friendly cities, longevity finance and digital medicine, with discussions on ethics, equity and digital inclusion.

Peking University professor Liu Guoen challenged the narrative that population aging is purely an economic burden, arguing longer healthy lives generate substantial social and economic value. Columbia University's Daniel Belsky shared latest breakthroughs in biological aging measurement and targeted interventions.

Two interdisciplinary roundtables explored international research collaboration and the translation of findings into policy and practice.

According to NYU Shanghai, the newly established institute's international advisory board is chaired by NYU Shanghai vice-chancellor Jeffrey Lehman, with members including leading experts from academia, public health and economic policy fields.