Research at Ohio State

Research at Ohio State

Research saves lives

New medical treatments and scientific discoveries help Ohioans live longer, healthier, happier and more productive lives. This research would not be possible without support from our government partners.

The federal government, along with the state of Ohio and local governments, provides research funding that leads to life-saving procedures, treatments and diagnoses for diseases like cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and diabetes.

Crucial government funding enables Buckeyes to connect people, ideas and resources, put knowledge into practice and create meaningful impact in people’s lives. Ohio State research benefits farmers, teachers, soldiers, law enforcement officers, schoolchildren, medical patients and many more.

In fiscal year 2024, nearly half of Ohio State’s $1.58 billion in annual research and development spending came from federal agencies like the Department of Defense, National Institutes of Health, Department of Energy and National Science Foundation. In fiscal year 2024, the state of Ohio sponsored an additional $66.9 million of leading-edge research.

Buckeyes are solution-focused and action-oriented.

No challenge is too big, too complex or too daunting. Together with our government research partners, Ohio State is developing the medical and scientific solutions that Ohioans need now. Learn more about how Ohio State’s government-backed research is saving lives today.

Cancer research

Revealing structural secrets of a key cancer protein

Study detects regions affected by dangerous mutations

Light-induced gene therapy disables cancer cells’ energy center

In study, targeted delivery shrinks brain, breast tumors in mice

Squaring off against a clever killer: breast cancer that extends to the brain

Ohio State researcher strives to improve outcomes for breast cancer patients with brain metastases.

Two NCI grants will support innovative studies of acute myeloid leukemia

Grants include research to better understand genetics and inflammation's role in regulating immune response to this disease.

Chronic diseases

A new ventilator-on-a-chip model to study lung damage

Device enables real-time detection of injury at cellular level

Gene therapy relieves back pain, repairs damaged disc in mice

Study suggests nanocarriers loaded with DNA could replace opioids

Machine learning models rank predictive risks for Alzheimer’s disease

Study suggests genetic risk outweighs age in adults over 65

Leaps in artificial blood research aim to improve product safety, efficacy

Scientists find protein size regulates cardiovascular side effects

Mental health and addiction

Co-prescribed stimulants, opioids linked to higher opioid doses

Study analyzes millions of U.S. prescriptions over 10 years

Ohio State, state of Ohio launch $20 million ‘SOAR’ Study

Study will identify risk, resiliency factors to improve behavioral health outcomes

A 37% drop in overdose deaths from drugs mixed with opioids — fentanyl included

Study campaigns expand to reach users of non-cocaine stimulants laced with fentanyl

Legacy of federal opioid intervention: Communities equipped to act

HEALing Communities Study developed guidance on evidence-based practices

Public safety

In law enforcement, a link between head injuries and depression, PTSD

Study suggests three in four officers have experienced at least 1 concussion

Dept. of Defense awards Ohio State $8.4 million to study suicide prevention for military

Ohio State researchers have developed several strategies

Using cameras on transit buses to monitor traffic conditions

Study taps into AI to improve future road planning

Up to the challenge of improving intersection safety

An Intersection Safety System (ISS) has been proposed with multi-sensor fusion, perception, AI, machine learning and active warning methodologies