Research

Translating scientific breakthroughs from bench
to bedside

Washington University School of Medicine has an outstanding history of biomedical research in an environment that cultivates the best minds in science and medicine.

Many medical firsts and 17 Nobel Laureates are associated with Washington University School of Medicine, which is ranked among the top medical schools in the United States by U.S. News & World Report.

The School of Medicine maintains one of the most dynamic and robust research enterprises in the nation. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011, grants and contracts totaling more than $545 million supported faculty research efforts at the School of Medicine. It is one of the largest recipients of funding for research and training from the NIH, with the majority of the funds awarded for research in cancer ($51.4M), diabetes ($38.7M), cardiovascular ($56.9M), infectious disease ($47.4M) and genomics ($52.9M).

Initiatives include basic science, clinical and translational research projects aimed at accelerating the application of research innovations to individual treatment options for patients.

The School continues to invest in basic discovery research, the driving force for most medical breakthroughs, and employ sophisticated genetic and imaging tools that have pushed discovery research into our clinics, hospitals, and communities.

We are at a critical point in the history of science and medicine. Enormous opportunities exist for advancing our understanding of basic biological, chemical, and physical processes. Washington University embodies specific goals for realizing these opportunities as a means of improving human health through greater understanding of the mechanisms of disease.

View the 2010 Annual Research Report.