From lab to real life: The impact of WashU research

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 groundbreaking 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.  

Public Health

Heart disease hits poor harder as wealth gap expands

The top 20% of high-income, college-educated Americans have far lower rates of cardiovascular disease than the rest of the population, WashU public health researchers find.

Cancer Research

Analyzing multiple mammograms improves breast cancer risk prediction

A new, artificial intelligence-based method of analyzing mammograms, developed by researchers at WashU Medicine, identified individuals at high risk of developing breast cancer more accurately than the standard, questionnaire-based method did.

Alzheimer’s

International Alzheimer’s prevention trial in young adults begins

The first participants have been enrolled in an international clinical trial, led by WashU Medicine, aimed at preventing Alzheimer’s disease in young adults at high risk of the disease.

Cancer Research

Vaccine shows promise against aggressive breast cancer

A small clinical trial conducted at WashU Medicine shows promising results for patients with triple-negative breast cancer who received an investigational vaccine designed to prevent recurrence of tumors.

Medicine

Harnessing the immune system to heal spinal cord injuries

WashU Medicine researchers have designed, in mice, an approach to minimizing the damage from a spinal cord injury through the use of engineered immune cells.

Chemistry

Decades-long quest leads to new antibiotic compounds

A multidisciplinary team led by WashU chemists repurposed an antimalarial drug in the fight against antibiotic resistance.

Entrepreneurship & Innovation

WashU rises in global patent ranking

WashU rises in the National Academy of Inventors’ annual global ranking of patent awards.

Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Cooking up a better breakfast

Two WashU students discover a healthier way to start the day.

Engineering

New biosensor can detect airborne bird flu in under five minutes

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.

Medicine

Effort to solve medical mysteries extends to underserved communities

The Undiagnosed Diseases Network at WashU Medicine plans to increase outreach to medically underserved communities and boost the number of patients seen.

Nutrition & Wellness

Evaluating role of produce prescriptions in promoting healthy diets

A new project called NutriConnect will compare the effectiveness of two produce prescription approaches for encouraging healthy eating and addressing food insecurity.

Medicine

St. Louis-based center launches collaborative effort to end HIV epidemic in Midwest

A team from WashU Medicine and Saint Louis University have established the Midwest Developmental Center for AIDS Research to help end the HIV epidemic in the region.