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.
In February 2025, SLU was designated a Carnegie Research 1 (R1) institution, placing the University among the most productive research institutions in the country.
Of the 187 R1 universities in this country, SLU is:
- One of two R1 universities in St. Louis;
- One of five R1 universities in the state of Missouri
- One of seven Catholic R1 universities.
SLU has research strengths spanning the academic spectrum, from new treatments 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 society. The work of SLU 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 SLU to recruit and retain researchers of the highest caliber. Those investments have paid off: research has increased at the University every year since the Research Institute was established.
Innovative Solutions
SLU researchers are not only generating new knowledge in their labs and classrooms; they’re taking it into the real world with inventions and novel approaches that have the potential to improve the quality of life for all. These include new technologies that serve humanity, such as touch-based communication technologies designed in collaboration with the DeafBlind community, and engineering breakthroughs in health care, such as muscle regeneration for patients who have suffered traumatic muscle injuries.
SLU is proud to support the St. Louis region, leveraging its assets as a Catholic, Jesuit, Carnegie R1 university to address social and environmental challenges, develop a regional talent pipeline, and forge partnerships that are shaping the future of the city.
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.
The SLU Research Innovation Group 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 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.
Research in Focus
SLU is a comprehensive research university, and our research interests span the academic spectrum. Below is just a sample of this work. For more information, learn more about the latest from SLU Research.
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.