As the number one public university in Virginia and a top 10 U.S. university for innovation, George Mason is at the forefront of innovation and discovery to meet the toughest challenges and creating opportunities yet to be imagined.
George Mason has increased research expenditures by nearly 30% over the last five years, totaling $282 million in 2024.
Holding an R1 designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, George Mason’s research goes beyond the desire to know—it expands our understanding, knowledge, shares data and expertise with communities enabling local response, and builds the infrastructure to improve lab-to-market.
Latest Research News
George Mason researchers awarded NIH grant to explore chronic knee pain
Researchers at the Center for Advancing Systems Science and Bioengineering Innovation (CASSBI) are leading a new $4.65 million National Institutes of Health-funded R01 study to better understand what shapes chronic musculoskeletal pain and how to improve care. Read how PI Professor Siddhartha Sikdar hopes to demystify one of the world’s most common health conditions.
A mango a day? New study links mangos to diabetes prevention
º£½ÇÉçÇø researchers found that eating a fresh mango daily led to improvements in blood sugar control, insulin sensitivity, and body composition—underscoring the benefits of natural sugars in whole foods. Learn how mangos may help prevent diabetes.
George Mason leads NSF Arctic resilience planning effort
George Mason researchers, in partnership with Indigenous communities and institutions, have secured an NSF planning grant to launch an Alaska Innovation Incubator (AI²) — a project building resilient infrastructure, smart sensing tools, and workforce pipelines for the Arctic’s changing environments. Learn about Mason’s Arctic initiatives.
Fuse at Mason Square powers research and innovation through collaboration
º£½ÇÉçÇø celebrated Fuse at Mason Square with the same collaborative spirit that will fuel decades of innovation at the state-of-the-art facility in Arlington, Virginia. Hundreds of representatives from industry, academia, government, and the community came together for the grand celebration at Fuse on Thursday, which included Governor Glenn Youngkin speaking at the ribbon-cutting for the Energy Exploration (E2) Center.
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Eight George Mason Inventions You Need to Know About
From wearable tech to flood protection, º£½ÇÉçÇø is turning bold ideas into real-world solutions.
Explore George Mason’s Grand Challenge Initiative
Explore George Mason’s Grand Challenge Initiative addressing the greatest threats to humanity’s ability to live a peaceful, healthy, prosperous, and just existence.
Partnering for Impact
Watch and Subscribe to Momentum in Research videos on º£½ÇÉçÇø's .
Mysteries of the Brain
George Mason neuroscientist Giorgio Ascoli created an open-access database of 3D neural reconstructions with contributions from more than 1,000 labs worldwide.
"Hyperlocal"
Jim Kinter, director of George Mason’s Virginia Climate Center, is identifying Virginia’s vulnerabilities and working with community leaders and local citizens to build data-driven solutions.
Building the Infrastructure to Advance Vital Research
George Mason established three institutes to develop operational efficiencies and cross-discipline collaborations around funding, proposal design, and partnerships to advance nascent innovations and develop new ideas from experiment to enterprise, faster.
Institute for a Sustainable Earth
The (ISE) conducts integrative research that bridges disciplinary gaps to realize innovative advances in an era of rapid global change.
Institute for Biohealth Innovation
The (IBI) pioneers advancements in health care, pushing the boundaries of medical research to enhance human well-being.
Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center (MARC)
The (IDIA) is revolutionizing technology and advancing its applications, shaping the future of digital landscapes.
Expanding Portfolios in Critical Research
Artificial Intelligence
º£½ÇÉçÇø’s Vice President and inaugural Chief AI Officer and the university AI Task Force have set a in motion for a responsible approach to harnessing artificial intelligence across operations, academics and training, and research. As a model for other universities, George Mason is building a nexus of collaboration and resources on campus, throughout the region with our vast partnerships, and across the state, called AI2Nexus, preparing the future workforce and accelerating innovation.
George Mason was also the first to offer a . LAST Fall 2024, George Mason created a new Responsible Artificial Intelligence Graduate Certificate program.
New guidelines on the use of AI at George Mason are designed to encourage the creative and innovative exploration and use of AI tools while maintaining the university’s commitment to safety, security, academic integrity, and ethical conduct.
National Security and Defense
Growing threats from sophisticated cyberattacks, complex disinformation operations, and efforts to damage the economy—law and policy experts, researchers and scientists at º£½ÇÉçÇø are regularly engaged with U.S. government agencies, business and think tanks to advance next-generation capabilities and readiness to ensure the country’s safety.
George Mason is a key partner in the (CCI), Virginia’s engine for collaborative research, workforce development, and innovation at the intersection between cybersecurity, autonomous systems, and intelligence. Liza Durant, George Mason’s associate provost for strategic initiatives and associate dean at the College of Engineering and Computing, is the director of the CCI’s Northern Virginia Node.
According to the World Economic Forum, cyber insecurity remains one of the top 10 global risks over the next 10 years. Led by Founder and Executive Director Jamille Jaffer, the at Antonin Scalia Law School is the premier hub of national security thought leadership and policy solutions in the nation’s capital, educating future leaders, informing policy and dialogue, providing practical solutions, and free security support to under-resourced organizations. Jaffer shared his view on current and future global threats on President Washington’s Access to Excellence podcast: .
The university is committed to growing a strong, diverse cybersecurity workforce—from critical infrastructure to small businesses and schools. Sarah Campbell, George Mason’s new associate vice president of research for defense and security initiatives, will collaborate across the university to expand applied research and funding sources to support defense and security programs.
Making Discovery Inclusive and Possible Everywhere
Students, faculty, and partners are learning and discovering in colleges, in cutting-edge labs, and in facilities across the region.
Resources for Faculty and Student Success