The International Longevity Center

The International Longevity Center - USA

Global Insights. Better Aging. Stronger Societies.

Founded in 1990 by Robert N. Butler, MD to advise the public on how to maximize the benefits of increasing longevity in modern society, the International Longevity Center USA (ILC-USA) is a leading academic center dedicated to advancing understanding of healthy longevity in the United States and around the world. Our mission is to uncover the biological, behavioral, and contextual drivers of longer, healthier lives—and to translate that knowledge into policies, practices, and innovations that improve well-being across the second half of life.

Through rigorous research, strategic partnerships, and actionable insights, ILC-USA aims to shape a future where longer lives are accompanied by enhanced well-being for older adults and enriched, more resilient societies. We integrate research across the life sciences, social sciences, and public policy to understand how people age, how their capacities can be supported and strengthened, and how societies can adapt in ways that benefit older adults while promoting sustainability and social cohesion.

The ILC-USA is part of a multinational consortium of ILCs known as the ILC Global Alliance which now comprises 17 organizations throughout the world. Honoring Dr. Butler’s wishes, and in keeping with his longstanding commitment and generosity to Columbia University, the ILC-USA and the secretariat of the ILC Global Alliance have been housed at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health since 2011.