At WashU, groundbreaking research is at the heart of our mission. It shapes the future of medicine and improves lives both locally and globally. Federal support for research enables advances in the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of illnesses and propels our relentless pursuit of improvements in medical care.
This spirit of innovation extends beyond the laboratory. We are proud of our global reputation for excellence in teaching, research and patient care. At WashU, we empower our community through initiatives that inspire change and ignite new ideas. Collaboration is key; faculty, researchers and students blend diverse perspectives to push boundaries and redefine possibilities. Together, we are not just imagining a brighter future — we are actively creating it.
Better health
Preparing for future pandemics
Two new grants support efforts at WashU Medicine to design vaccines, drugs for understudied virus families.
Eating disorder help, one chat away
Researchers at Washington University have received a $3.7 million grant to optimize a self-guided intervention for individuals with eating disorders.
Truth about fluoride
Amid growing misinformation, WashU health experts provided Rolla leaders with clear data to support smart health policy. City leaders voted to preserve fluoride in the water supply.
Innovation
Health meets hustle at Olin
WashU Olin Business School recently launched a new health initiative that envisions Olin as the premier institution for the business of health and an engine for innovation at WashU.
Making water safer
Environmental engineers at WashU have developed critical methods to remove toxic selenium from water.
Dormant seeds offer climate resilient crops
Archaeologist Natalie Mueller in Arts & Sciences explains how ancient agricultural systems could become a source of alternative crops and methods in an era of rapid climate change.
Industry
WashU rises in global patent ranking
WashU rises in the National Academy of Inventors’ annual global ranking of patent awards.
Cooking up a better breakfast
Two WashU students discover a healthier way to start the day.
Bird flu? Just breathe and detect
Researchers at the McKelvey School of Engineering have developed a sensor that detects airborne H5N1 avian flu and can be used on poultry and dairy farms.
See the impact firsthand.
Surviving a complex brain tumor
When a life-threatening diagnosis halted Scott’s world, he found hope at WashU Medicine’s Taylor Family Department of Neurosurgery.
Researchers for a day
Local St. Louis students became Researchers for a Day at WashU, exploring STEM careers and meeting scientists like the McKelvey School’s Marcus Foston.