In the News

St. Francis — a ministry of Catholic Charities of St. Louis — was an early stop on a path that led Joy Garcia-Pintor to admission at Washington University in St. Louis. She plans to major in both architecture and marketing. Garcia-Pintor is staying close to home — and still volunteering where she grew up, at St. Francis, helping generations to come.

As chancellor of Washington University in St. Louis, I have the privilege of witnessing firsthand how our institution’s research enterprise transforms lives, not just through scientific breakthroughs, but through tangible economic and social benefits that strengthen our entire region and state. For the first time in our history, WashU surpassed $1 billion in annual research funding in fiscal year 2024. This milestone is a testament to the extraordinary talent and dedication of our researchers, and a powerful economic catalyst for St. Louis and Missouri.

When Washington University Olin Business School Dean Mike Mazzeo led the creation of a new strategic plan for the school, one new North Star emerged as a strategic imperative: developing true distinction in the business of health. It wasn’t merely a takeaway from the strategy sessions. It became a guiding mandate for moving forward.

A $160 million grant proposal submitted last week could establish St. Louis as a nationally-prominent location for neuroscience research, and officials involved in the bid believe there’s reason for optimism that the region could win the award. The region’s bid proposal was unveiled Tuesday during a summit hosted by Neuro360, a regional neuroscience coalition, at Washington University. The region’s bid for the grant is being led by regional innovation hub BioSTL and Neuro360, along with WashU.

Martin Mwita, a 20-year-old from the Omaha area, is the first commercial sickle cell patient at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and in the region to receive a new gene therapy treatment approved by the FDA at the end of 2023. Mwita is under the care of Dr. Shelani Shenoy, a pediatric hematologist/oncologist with the Washington University School of Medicine.

Plenty of WashU alumni launch companies—though they commonly leave St. Louis to do it. Starting this week, there will be a potential perk to staying here. On Thursday, WashU’s Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship will announce the inaugural winner(s) of “Venture Network Follow-on Investments.” Up to $150,000 will go each year to companies of WashU alumni who’ve already received money from Arch Grants and plan to stay in St. Louis. 

For nearly two decades, cinematic art that counters negative stereotypes, combats false narratives and offers first-hand insight about the continent of Africa have been showcased at Washington University in St. Louis. On Friday (March 28) the 19th Annual African Film Festival returns to campus. 

Some great classical music is coming to St. Louis next year. After several years of planning, Washington University in St. Louis has announced its schedule for the 2026 Great Artist Series.

The St. Louis nonprofit BioSTL is taking a leading role to turbocharge neuroscience in St. Louis. BioSTL is partnering with Washington University in St. Louis to lead a new program for the St. Louis region, called the NEURO360 initiative.

Juan Williams Chávez is founder and director of Northside Workshop, an indoor workspace surrounded by a teaching garden divided into a variety of habitats. Visitors learn about bees and ecosystems and make art projects. He’s also one of 10 artists in an exhibition at the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum that showcases people who use their artwork to call for a better balance between humans and the natural world.