Research Impact
Research at Saint Louis University is steeped in more than 200 years of history that guides our future. From the discovery of the life-saving properties of vitamin K to the development of groundbreaking vaccines, SLU researchers explore new frontiers and tackle the toughest questions of our time.
Igniting Discovery, Transforming Lives
The work of SLU research is compassionate, transformative and innovative.
SLU is one of only 16 Catholic universities with a "high" or "very high" research activity designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, with research strengths spanning the academic spectrum, from drug discovery to geospatial technology, from health care law to the digital humanities. SLU is home to one of only 10 federally funded Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Units (VTEU) in the United States, placing the University on the frontline of the global fight against infectious diseases.
All of this research reflects our University's Jesuit values and our desire to care for the most vulnerable members of our society. The work of our researchers addresses the greatest issues facing our world today, while striving to help our local community in St. Louis grow into a more equitable and innovative one.
The SLU Research Institute was established in fall 2018 to support this transformative work, following the largest philanthropic gift in the University’s 200-year history: $50 million from Dr. Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield. Over 10 years, the Research Institute will place SLU on the path to becoming the world’s leading Jesuit research university. Since its establishment, the Research Institute has put millions of dollars into the hands of our researchers and enabled the university to recruit and retain researchers of the highest caliber.
Innovative Solutions
In 2002, Saint Louis University joined visionaries who predicted St. Louis could become a hub of bioscience and technology innovation, founding Cortex, an innovation community fueling scientific discovery, entrepreneurism and economic growth in the region. Our Research Innovation Group is located in the heart of the Cortex and turns SLU discoveries into startups that aim to cure deadly pulmonary fibrosis, alleviate pain without addiction, treat cancer, diagnose hepatitis C and fuel airplanes more efficiently.
In May 2019, we joined our partners at Washington University in St. Louis in establishing COLLAB, a shared space in the heart of Cortex to harness our research and talent generation capabilities to accelerate innovation and growth.
In March 2022, St. Louis Regional Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center (AMICSTL), an organization created to establish a robust advanced manufacturing sector in the region, tapped SLU and the University of Missouri–St. Louis to co-lead research and development for the venture. SLU brings a number of strengths and assets to this endeavor.
Areas of Research Distinction
SLU is a comprehensive research university, and our research interests span the academic spectrum. Below is just a sample of our unique areas of distinction. For more information, learn more about the latest news out of SLU Research and follow us on Twitter.
The ongoing opioid crisis is one of the most devastating public health crises of the 21st century, with the number of opioid-related deaths quadrupling in the last 20 years. At Saint Louis University, an interdisciplinary group of researchers is working toward compassionate and innovative solutions.
Saint Louis University is best equipped to tackle the food-related challenges facing our city and our world today. Food research at SLU unites leading experts from a variety of fields, from the national and social sciences to the humanities, to answer this question: How can we continue to feed a growing population in an equitable and sustainable manner?
Geospatial science is a multibillion-dollar industry, and researchers at Saint Louis University are leading the charge to turn St. Louis into a national hub for geospatial research and innovation.
Who are we? Why are we here? What do we value as a society? These are just a few of the big questions that researchers and scholars in the humanities are tackling at Saint Louis University to help us better understand ourselves and our place in the world.
Saint Louis University is a national leader in vaccine research and development. SLU researchers in this area are on the frontlines of the fight against several deadly diseases, including COVID-19.