Florida State University has named a prolific researcher in health informatics as the director of the Institute for Successful Longevity (ISL).
Zhe He, associate professor in the School of Information, succeeds Professor of Psychology Neil Charness who retired last year. Since joining FSU in 2015, He has been deeply engaged with ISL, collaborating with faculty affiliates across disciplines to advance research on aging and technology.
“I am honored to step into the role of Director of the Institute for Successful Longevity and to continue building upon ISL’s strong foundation of research and collaboration,” He said. “Aging research is at a pivotal moment, with advancements in data science, artificial intelligence and digital health offering transformative opportunities to enhance the lives of older adults. My vision for ISL is to foster an innovative, interdisciplinary environment where researchers, students, and community partners come together to develop impactful solutions that promote longevity, health and well-being.”
ISL is a multidisciplinary research institute dedicated to exploring the complexities of life as an older individual, with researchers tackling health, cognition, recreation, mobility, financial security and other concerns. The institute includes more than 100 faculty affiliates across 11 colleges and works closely with other research groups across campus, including the Pepper Institute for Aging and Public Policy, the Pepper Center and the Center for Brain Repair.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, a master’s degree from Columbia University and a doctorate from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Following his doctoral studies, he conducted his postdoctoral research at Columbia University’s Department of Biomedical Informatics before joining FSU in 2015.
He has a distinguished research record at the intersection of biomedical informatics, AI in medicine, and aging research that improves health outcomes and enhances the quality of life for older adults. His work in data science has leveraged electronic health records, natural language processing, and machine learning to study key aging-related issues, including the generalizability of clinical trials on cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, seasonality of lab results, and the prevalence of multiple chronic conditions among older adults.
His research has been supported by the National Institute on Aging, National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Mental Health, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Institute for Successful Longevity, and industry partners such as Eli Lilly and Company.
“These projects reflect Dr. He’s commitment to translating data-driven research into real-world solutions,” said FSU Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Clark. “Dr. He is a tenacious researcher who is constantly examining how we can utilize technology and faculty expertise from across campus to deliver health care solutions to older adults and help them live happier, healthier lives. We are excited for him to take the reins at ISL and advance the university’s important work on aging.”
He served as ISL interim director for seven months before being named the permanent director. During his tenure as interim, he created three working groups — Advanced Technology, Basic Science, and Clinical Research — to enhance ISL’s research synergy and foster faculty and student engagement. He also enhanced the institute’s public engagement efforts.
ISL faculty also work closely with community organizations dedicated to aging, such as the Alzheimer’s Project, Big Bend Hospice and others.
“Our research can really drive care and policy at the center of aging,” He said. “It is pivotal that we work with our community partners to disseminate this knowledge and move it beyond the lab into the world. I’m looking forward to working with more groups and individuals moving forward so we can share the impact of our work more broadly and help people who are facing the challenges and opportunities that accompany aging.”