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Research Institute Annual Impact Report

The Research Institute Annual Impact Report is published annually for Saint Louis University, its alumni, friends and benefactors. 

The Impact Report shares the story of SLU's rise as a preeminent research university since the establishment of the SLU Research Institute in 2018. It contains messages from University President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., and the director of the SLU Research Institute, annual data on research growth at the University, interviews with SLU researchers, and updates on projects supported by the Research Institute.

The 2023 Issue

A copy of the 2023 Impact Report and its cover slip standing against a white background

The 2023 SLU Research Institute Impact Report

Read stories featured in this year's impact report below. Stories are organized by theme and may appear under multiple tabs. 

Regional Impact and Partnerships
A student stands on a lift with a large piece of equipment on his back in front of one of the latex dinosaurs.

Cagri Gul, a master's student in geographic information science, gets situated with the LiDAR backpack scanner before scanning the latex T. rex at the St. Louis Science Center, which a team of SLU researchers had helped repair. Also pictured are Alifu Haireti, a geospatial computing engineer with TGI, and Mustafizur Rahaman, a master's student in geographic information science.

These stories feature research that focuses on the St. Louis region and surrounding communities that is conducted with partners at regional and national levels. 

New Inventions and Novel Approaches
A prototype of a haptic device sits on the wrist of a researcher.

A researcher wears the current prototype of the haptic device designed in partnership with researchers at Gallaudet University and the DeafBlind community.

These stories spotlight new inventions developed by SLU researchers and novel applications of research done at the University.

For and With Communities
Teen participating in driving simulation training and assessments.

A teen participates in an ADHD driving simulation training and assessments.

These stories highlight research that is community-oriented and informed by the University's Jesuit mission. Our researchers do not simply use communities as "case studies" but try to understand the challenges and opportunities facing them holistically, generating solutions for and with them.

Student Research
Two students work on a small satellite at a scientific work bench.

Michael Dompke (left), senior mechanical engineering student and DARLA program manager, works with junior engineering student Adrian Acevedo to prepare a satellite for launch.

These stories involve research that is conducted by SLU students.

The Human Condition
A professor discusses a book with students in a library

Ángeles Encinar, Ph.D., professor emeritus of Spanish literature at pro’s Madrid campus, chats with students in a library at SLU-Madrid.

These stories highlight research that focuses on the human condition, covering research in the humanities and social sciences.

In addition to the digital version, physical copies are available to campus community members upon request to the Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships. 

Previous Issues

The 2022 Issue

The pro Research Institute has published its 2022 Annual Impact Report, celebrating research successes from September 2021 to September 2022.

This latest edition showcases new developments in geospatial science, the humanities, neuroscience, additive manufacturing and more. 

The 2022 edition also includes: 

  • Letters from University President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., and Research Institute Director Ken Olliff
  • Statistics on research growth across the University
  • A look at the impressive series of awards SLU humanists have received from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in just the past year
  • Areas of Focus: an update on the interdisciplinary work happening at SLU to address some of the world’s greatest challenges, including climate change and public health
  • An update from the Taylor Geospatial Institute and each of the institutes launched by SLU faculty with support from the Research Institute, including two new projects: the Center for Research on Global Catholicism (CRGC) and the Institute for Translational Neuroscience (ITN)
  • Biographies of the inaugural cohort of Research Institute Fellows
  • A list of books published by SLU authors in the past year
  • Announcements from researchers across the University 

The cover of the 2022 Impact Report depicts a map of the St. Louis region generated by researchers with the Taylor Geospatial Institute. 

The 2021 Issue

The pro Research Institute has published its 2021 Annual Impact Report, celebrating research successes from September 2020 to September 2021.

The 2021 edition illustrates the breadth of SLU’s research enterprise, highlighting significant milestones and successes from a diverse array of fields, including vaccine development, geospatial science, drug discovery, the humanities, social and health inequities, plant science and more.

This issue includes a detailed account of how SLU researchers mobilized against the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers provided critical support to regional health departments, tested multiple vaccines, and administered those same vaccines across St. Louis. 

The 2021 issue also includes:

  • Letters from University President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., and Research Institute Director Ken Olliff
  • Statistics on research growth from across the University
  • Interviews with each of SLU’s Distinguished Fellows
  • Comprehensive updates from each of the institutes launched by faculty with support from the Research Institute
  • Profiles of each Research Institute Fellow
  • Announcements from researchers across the University

The cover of the 2021 Impact Report pays tribute to the University’s Center for Vaccine Development and the hundreds of St. Louisans who volunteered to participate in one of the center’s COVID-19 trials in the past year. The graph on the cover and the corresponding inside page represents the more than 400 volunteers who enrolled in the Moderna trial at SLU. SLU was one of the most highly enrolled sites in the Moderna trial, which included sites across the country.

The 2020 Issue

The inaugural issue of the Annual Impact Report was published in 2020. It covers the first two years of the SLU Research Institute. 

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The issue introduces a number of new initiatives launched with support from the Research Institute and highlights the various mechanisms for support that the Research Institute manages, including the Big Ideas competition, the Research Growth Fund and the Research Institute Fellows program. The issue also sheds light on how SLU researchers persevered through the historic challenges of 2020, guiding their existing research programs through unprecedented challenges while making meaningful contributions in the fight against COVID-19.

Future Issues

Work on the 2024 issue of the SLU Research Institute Annual Impact Report will begin in summer 2024. The issue will cover research successes from Sept. 1, 2023, to Sept. 1, 2024. As in previous years, faculty, staff, and students engaged in research will be invited to submit content to be published in the issue. This may include one-off announcements or more comprehensive updates from larger projects.

Those with story ideas are encouraged to contact Kevin Lynch at kevin.p.lynch@slu.edu.