From lab to real life: The impact of WashU research
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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
Catch it early: Blood test ‘clocks’ give early warning for Alzheimer’s symptoms
Researchers at WashU Medicine have developed a method to predict when someone is likely to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease using a single blood test.
New tool maps flu risk across all 50 states
Researchers at WashU have developed vulnerability maps highlighting regions across the US with varying levels of socioeconomic vulnerability to influenza-like illness.
GLP-1 drugs show promise in fighting addiction
WashU Medicine researchers find in a new study that GLP-1 use is tied to reductions in substance use disorders and serious outcomes across all types of addictive substances.
Innovation
Biomanufacturing brings ‘muscle’ to material design
Researchers at WashU have created protein fibers inspired by various animal muscle proteins that are stronger than many synthetic fibers, making them ideal for active wear and biomedical implants.
Brown School to fund social work practicums, offer stipends
Brown School Dean Dorian Traube said that both tuition coverage and stipend support are essential to addressing the financial strain students face, helping them to complete their master’s degrees in social work.
WashU researchers push for real-world impact
Implementation scientists at WashU argue that impact must be at the center of how research is designed, evaluated and rewarded, by scholars and institutions alike.
Industry
WashU’s ‘Lego professor’ makes civic education a snap
Political scientist Dan Butler brings civics to life, one Lego brick at a time, with a stop-motion series that makes learning about the U.S. government fun and accessible.
WashU to launch school of pharmacy
Built on decades of collaboration, transitioning the St. Louis College of Pharmacy to WashU reflects the evolution of a partnership that positions pharmacy education at the center of interdisciplinary discovery and impact.
WashU joins Bay Area venture hub for Midwest universities
Third Coast Foundry, a new initiative designed to strengthen the combined presence of Midwestern universities in the San Francisco Bay Area, launched March 10 with WashU as an inaugural member.
See the impact firsthand.
Promising clinical trials in Alzheimer’s prevention
CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook visits WashU Medicine, where Dr. Randy Bateman and his team are leading groundbreaking research to treat Alzheimer’s before symptoms appear.
Seeing our future: Water reuse
How can we create fertile soil in our agricultural areas by safely reusing water? Seth Denizen of the Sam Fox School explores this question through the lens of wastewater agriculture in Mexico City and the Mezquital Valley.
Training and critiquing AI through art
How can art help us think critically about technology, AI, and our own perception of images? A team from the Sam Fox School and McKelvey School of Engineering is building and training AI models — the tools of which may someday transfer to medical imaging.