Chenkai Wu

Dr. Chenkai Wu is an Assistant Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in Global Health at DKU. Before joining DKU, he was a faculty in the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health at New York Medical College. His research interests include (1) measurement, epidemiology, and clinical implications of frailty, (2) the interplay of genetic predisposition with the social and natural environment in shaping healthy aging, and (3) implications of machine learning for improving clinical practice. Since 2016, he has published over 80 peer-reviewed papers in epidemiology and gerontology/geriatrics.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Associate Professor of Global Health at Duke Kunshan University · 2025 - Present DKU Faculty

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Global Health in the Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI) · 2022 - Present Duke Global Health Institute, University Institutes and Centers

In the News

Published July 1, 2017

Elevated blood pressure may not predict early death in those with weak grip strength

Published June 1, 2016

You’re Likely to Live Longer If You Retire After 65

Published May 9, 2016

Working Past Retirement Benefits Your Health, Study Says

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Recent Publications

Community-based health-focused longitudinal aging studies in East and Southeast Asia: landscape and future directions.

Journal Article The Lancet regional health. Western Pacific · May 2026 East and Southeast Asia's (ESEA) rapidly aging population creates an urgent need for comprehensive health data to inform policies promoting healthy aging. However, a synthesis of the region's community-based longitudinal aging studies is lacking. We conduc ... Full text Cite

Ambient Air Pollution and Non-Communicable Diseases Among Older Adults in China: The Mediating Role of Social Participation

Journal Article Sustainability Switzerland · May 1, 2026 Amid rapid industrialization and urbanization, air pollution has emerged as a major public health concern linked to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with older adults particularly vulnerable. Beyond its direct physiological effects, social participation c ... Full text Cite

Reply to: Comment on "Physical Resilience After Hip Fracture: Unpacking the Roles of Resistance and Recovery".

Journal Article Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · April 2026 Full text Cite

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Education

Oregon State University · 2017 Ph.D.