In an interview with Dr. Eric Verdin, President and CEO of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, and Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of Longevity Center Europe, during his recent visit to Poland, we discuss what is to be expected in the field in 2026.

Our discussion focused on the maturation of aging research into an emerging clinical discipline. Public interest in longevity is increasing rapidly in both the US and Europe, driven by improved understanding of aging biology, preventive medicine, and the expansion of specialized longevity clinics.

We discussed the rise of longevity clinics and the urgent need to connect cutting-edge research with real human applications, without compromising scientific rigor. Dr. Verdin emphasized that the future of longevity depends on strong clinical trials, shared data, and collaboration between researchers and practitioners.

Dr. Verdin emphasized the importance of translational rigor, connecting mechanistic insights from aging research with human clinical trials. Recent non-human primate studies demonstrating partial biological rejuvenation through stem-cell-based approaches underscore the therapeutic potential, while also highlighting the necessity of reproducibility, safety, and long-term follow-up.
A key theme was the need for structured collaboration between research institutes and longevity clinics, including shared physiological and biomarker data, to better understand human aging trajectories.

As the field becomes increasingly commercialized, maintaining scientific integrity and evidence-based standards will be critical to ensuring that longevity medicine delivers measurable clinical value.
The next phase of aging research will be defined not by promises, but by data, trials, and outcomes.