Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), NHG Health and the Geriatric Education and Research Institute (GERI) have launched the Healthy Longevity Institute (HELI) at a ceremony officiated by Heng Swee Keat, Chairman of the National Research Foundation (NRF).
Set up with an initial S$25 million investment, HELI will be an integrated platform bringing together clinical medicine, translational science, engineering and computational systems development, and the social sciences to extend the healthy, active years of Singapore’s ageing population.
It is set up to contribute to Singapore’s broader efforts in healthy longevity, alongside the Grand Challenge on Maximising Healthy and Successful Longevity, one of the national priorities under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2030 plan coordinated by NRF.
HELI will focus on three interconnected pillars: cognitive and mental health; physical health; and clinical and policy research. HELI will combine NTU’s research and technology strengths; NHG Health’s clinical expertise, population cohorts, and care network; and GERI’s national role in clinical and translational research on ageing. Together, they will work to translate scientific discoveries into improvements in our healthcare system, in support of RIE 2030.
Through NTU’s new partnership with IABH, the University will establish a Singapore Brain Health Programme, connecting local researchers with IABH members for joint international projects and access to global datasets. IABH, which is led by renowned neurologist Professor Claudio Bassetti, links over 20 national brain health initiatives across five continents.
