Research and Scholarship
Research empowers discovery
Through their foundational research, UChicago scholars and students create knowledge in their fields and enable new areas for discovery.
Research improves our health
From advancing cancer immunotherapy to developing new treatments that target disease at the molecular level—our medical breakthroughs are impacting lives.
Research tackles complex social problems
Breakthrough scholarship at UChicago has not only changed the way we think and view the world, but has benefitted society in fundamental ways.
Research drives technological advances
Discovery at UChicago is actively focused on solving problems, while developing and employing new techniques and innovative technology.
From Idea to Industry
We turn groundbreaking research into new businesses. UChicago has helped entrepreneurs take big ideas—from new cancer treatments to green energy solutions—from the labs to the real world. Through the Polsky Center’s world-renowned New Venture Challenge, more than 370 startups have been launched, including Grubhub, Braintree/Venmo and Simple Mills.
Go inside our research labs
By the numbers
101
Nobel laureates affiliated with UChicago
180K
Global network of UChicago alumni
10K
Papers published in 2024-25 school year
577
Patents filed by UChicago the past five years
Research that made history
Meet the Researchers
The doctor ushering in a new era of cancer research
Prof. Kunle Odunsi leads Comprehensive Cancer Center, which is building the first-of-its-kind facility dedicated to cancer treatment and research.
A film archivist who keeps families’ memories alive
Saroop Singh preserves old home movies—and cherished stories—for residents of Chicago’s South Side
A scientist making plastics more recyclable
Graduate student Sam Marsden creates new forms of polymers spurring young people’s interest in science
A ‘doctor for batteries’ tackling climate change
Prof. Shirley Meng is building a ‘dream team’ of scientists to tackle some of the world’s most difficult energy storage problems
Our economic impact
UChicago faculty have played an influential role in shaping the U.S. economy, through their insights on financial policy or their work as economic advisors to presidents. Their breakthroughs in medicine have led to new cures, startups and industry partnerships—and their research in partnership with Argonne and Fermilab national laboratories have large-scale economic impact. Studies have shown that every $1 spent by the NIH generates $2.56 of economic activity.
Explore More UChicago Research
Big Brains podcast
Meet the minds behind the breakthrough research happening at UChicago and beyond.
A history of breakthrough research
Explore the myriad research breakthroughs since UChicago’s founding, which have transformed our world.
UChicago Explainer Series
Learn about the intellectual contributions pioneered at UChicago, and how its scholars continue to shape the world.