March 17, 2025
Contact: Janese Heavin, heavinj@missouri.edu
The University of Missouri conducted more than $500 million in research in 2024, setting a new record and marking 11 years of consecutive growth – a 115% increase since 2013.
Through research, Mizzou advances solutions to some of society’s most pressing challenges. From developing new cancer treatments and driving technological advancements to improving power systems and strengthening infrastructure, Mizzou faculty are delivering discoveries that make a difference.
Research is a vital part of the university’s Association of American Universities (AAU) and land-grant mission. Alongside excellence in teaching, faculty are advancing discoveries that have led to hundreds of new inventions and patents and a growing network of programs and business accelerators designed to bring innovation to the market.
This past year, Mizzou’s annual research expenditures totaled $509 million — a milestone that places the university among the fastest-growing research institutions in the AAU.
Secured through competitive grants and awards from government agencies, foundations and private corporations, these resources are used to purchase state-of-the-art instrumentation, such as electron microscopy equipment and high-performing computing systems, and fund teams of postdoctoral fellows and graduate students who work alongside faculty to advance discoveries.
These efforts are shaping the future of medicine, agriculture, veterinary care and manufacturing — all while contributing more than $1 billion annually in economic impact to the state of Missouri.
“Mizzou remains deeply committed to finding solutions that address society’s grand challenges,” University of Missouri President Mun Choi said. “These record numbers reflect our dedication to innovation and impact. As Missouri’s flagship, land-grant university, this work is central to our mission.”
Achieving Excellence
Mizzou’s momentum in research is the result of deliberate, long-term investments, including MizzouForward, a $1.5 billion initiative launched in 2021 to strengthen student success, research and engagement.
Through this effort, Mizzou has recruited world-class faculty who have brought research awards totaling more than $83 million to the university. Since arriving on campus, MizzouForward researchers have secured an additional 120 competitive awards, generating another $82 million in funding.
“At Mizzou we set our researchers up for success,” Thomas Spencer, vice chancellor for research, said. “We’ve intentionally created environments where cross-disciplinary collaborations can thrive by investing in researcher professional development and world-class equipment and facilities. These collaborations are crucial to securing larger, more dynamic awards that benefit Missourians and beyond.”
Research that makes an impact
The impact of Mizzou research is evident in fields that touch lives around the world.
Randall Prather, Curators’ Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, contributed to one of the most significant advances in organ transplantation through his pioneering work in animal genetics. Building on decades of research, Prather’s innovations in modifying and cloning pig cells laid the foundation for the first successful pig-to-human organ transplants in 2022, offering a new path to address a critical shortage of donor organs.
That’s the power of research. While it takes years — sometimes decades — to realize the full potential of a breakthrough, one discovery builds on another, pushing the limits of what’s possible.
Jianlin “Jack” Cheng, Curators’ Distinguished Professor in the College of Engineering, has also made significant contributions to health care through his pioneering work in artificial intelligence. In 2012, Cheng led the development of the first deep learning method for protein structure prediction, demonstrating that deep learning was the most effective approach to addressing a challenge that had perplexed scientists for over half a century. His breakthrough helped lay the foundation for a series of revolutionary advancements, including Google’s AlphaFold, which ultimately solved the problem and is now accelerating drug discoveries worldwide.
Carolyn Anderson — the Simón-Ellebracht Professor in Medicinal Chemistry in the College of Arts and Science, professor of radiology in the School of Medicine and director of the Mizzou Molecular Imaging and Theranostics Center — has helped bring radiopharmaceutical research into clinical practice. Her early work in the 1990s contributed to the development of Lutathera, an FDA-approved cancer treatment saving lives around the world that contains lutetium-177 (Lu-177) produced at the MU Research Reactor.
And sometimes, research leads to unexpected breakthroughs. While studying immune responses to influenza, Emma Teixeiro, associate professor in the School of Medicine, identified mechanisms that may unlock new approaches to cancer treatment. Her work is part of a growing portfolio of projects underway at the University of Missouri System’s Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health building, a hub for interdisciplinary research focused on improving health outcomes.
“Groundbreaking research takes time,” Matthew Martens, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs, said. “It requires years of dedication, collaboration and investment. But when you see the discoveries happening at Mizzou — innovations that save lives, strengthen communities and drive economic growth — it becomes clear why this work is so essential. Research is not just an investment. It is a promise to keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible and improving the lives of the citizens of our state and beyond.”
