The Power of Research

Discovery is in Utah’s DNA. We’re problem-solvers and trailblazers by nature—a spirit that has defined our state’s approach to innovation for generations. At the U, this innovative mindset drives our research mission. With research funding under increased scrutiny, I want to emphasize that the University of Utah remains committed to this mission. Research universities like the U play a crucial role in society, turning bold ideas into breakthroughs that improve lives and fuel economies.

In 1969, for example, a small team in the John and Marcia Price College of Engineering helped lay the foundation for the Internet by establishing the U as the fourth node on the ARPANET. That same department produced innovators including Ed Catmull BS’69 PhD’74, Alan Ashton BA’66 PhD’70, and John Warnock BS’61 MS’64 PhD’69, who went on to develop game-changing technologies and found billion-dollar companies Pixar, WordPerfect, and Adobe, respectively.

Driven by $700 million in research funding in FY2024 and 8,300 employees, the U’s research enterprise is a powerful economic engine. Every dollar spent on education generates more than $2 in economic activity, outpacing industries like air transportation and real estate. The U excels at turning discoveries into real-world impact, ranking among the top 10 public universities nationally for patents and innovation revenue. With 330+ companies born from U technologies, we’ve helped Utah earn the Innovation Intelligence Index’s No. 1 ranking among states for innovation capacity nationwide.

Innovation continues to thrive across our campus. At the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, our scientists are unlocking the mysteries of inherited disease by discovering genes behind types of blindness, cancer, and heart disease. Nobel Prize winner Mario Capecchi’s gene targeting techniques opened new doors for treating previously incurable conditions and helped cement Utah as a life sciences hub. This issue explores research’s remarkable ripple effects throughout Utah and beyond.

The impact of university research is all around us—in the technologies we rely on, treatments that heal, and companies that harness our graduates’ skills. With our groundbreaking discoveries and innovative solutions, the U is moving the world forward and turning big ideas into lasting impact.