HeSReC Healthspan Research Center

The Healthspan Research Center (HeSReC) is committed to transforming the future of aging by closing the 10-year gap between lifespan and healthspan, enabling individuals to live with vitality and dignity. Building on Tohoku University’s distinguished achievements and expertise in aging research, the center integrates advanced AI analytics and large scale data to advance a seamless continuum of innovation—from uncovering the mechanisms of aging to developing new treatments and promoting their real world implementation. Through science driven extension of healthy lifespan, HeSReC is dedicated to shaping a future in which people can pursue an era of 100-year lifespans while maintaining their independence and well-being.

I am honored to serve as the inaugural Director of the Healthspan Research Center.

The greatest challenge facing Japan's super-aged society is the approximately 10-year gap between average lifespan and healthspan. This gap not only diminishes individual quality of life but also places significant burdens on families and society. However, conventional aging research has primarily focused on cells and animal models, creating a formidable "valley of death" in translating findings to humans—particularly in elucidating human aging mechanisms, establishing objective aging biomarkers, and conducting clinical trials.

Our Center was established as a research facility to bridge this "valley of death." Our greatest strength lies in our innovative research framework that, built upon a solid foundation of fundamental aging research cultivated over many years, connects experts across departments to create a seamless continuum from basic research to social implementation.

Specifically, we will integrate our university's unique healthy cohort data, clinical information from our Tohoku University Hospital, and cutting-edge biometric data through AI-driven analysis to create novel aging biomarkers. This will enable us to develop and implement scientifically evidence-based, innovative methods for suppressing aging and extending healthspan ahead of the global community. We will also participate in the world's leading longevity clinical competitions and disseminate our findings through networks with top-tier international research institutions. By strongly supporting startup creation and new industry formation, we will establish an ecosystem that rapidly returns research outcomes to society.

Extending healthspan and creating a society where people can live long, vibrant lives is no longer a mere dream. Guided by Tohoku University's longstanding principles of "Research First," "Practice-oriented Research and Education," and "Open Doors," we are committed to transforming aging into a conquerable challenge and pioneering a future from this Center where individuals can continue to shine in their own unique way.