Focus

The Supporting Transformative Autism Research (STAR) initiative aims to improve the lives of individuals with autism through groundbreaking research and innovative models for intervention and training. Among multiple focus areas, the initiative will create a research-to-practice system to bring the latest evidence-based research into the community.

Researchers at UVA are bringing industry partners to the table to create cutting-edge technologies that produce tangible value for society. At the Multifunctional Integrated System Technology Center (MIST) site in Charlottesville, researchers are helping indsutry solve practical problems and enhancing professional development opportunities for students.

Faculty at UVA apply knowledge, assets, and resources to real-world problems through research and innovation. School of Medicine neuroscientist Jonathan Kipnis is transforming our understanding of the brain's relationship to the immune system, and has been awarded a prestigious NIH award for his work's potential to have a transformative effect on human health.

ITHRIV includes the University of Virginia, Inova Health System, Virginia Tech and Carilion Clinic as partners, with the Center for Open Science and UVA’s Licensing & Ventures Group as affiliates. The focus of iTHRIV is “using data to improve health” and leverages the data science expertise across the state.

University of Virginia School of Medicine professor Lee Ritterband created SHUTi (Sleep Healthy Using the Internet) – a digital therapeutic that uses cutting-edge technology to administer cognitive behavioral therapy for people suffering from insomnia. Ritterband's goal is to increase access to effective and affordable behavioral health care

Local biotechnology industry leader Nikki Hastings, PhD, has been named the first Executive Director of the CvilleBioHub, a non-profit that connects and supports the Charlottesville-area biotechnology sector.  CvilleBioHub will receive strategic planning assistance from Denise Hubbard, program director for UVA’s Office of Economic Development, and Grant Tate, of the Bridge Ltd. consulting firm.

The UVA Licensing & Ventures Group helps discoveries reach their full potential in the marketplace. In 2018 there were 213 invention disclosures filed, 59 U.S. patents issued and 77 transactions with commercial partners. 

UVA joined the Rolls-Royce University Technology Center network in 2014, elevating UVA Engineering's research and education programs so that researchers can create new knowledge in sectors that are critical to our society and economy, and students can become the next generation of leaders to advance breakthroughs in these fields.

UVA professors and administrators secured a nearly $7.6 million contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to detect broad-spectrum cyber threats almost immediately after they are launched. The project is related to the University's Cyber Innovation and Society Initiative and has the potential to protect organizations from cyber threats in Virginia and beyond.

PsiKick is utilizing revolutionary ultra-low-power technologies from the Universities of Virginia and Michigan to build completely self-powered sensing systems that do not require batteries, can be deployed nearly anywhere, and unlock new data streams that generate significant value in Virginia and beyond. The company also creates jobs in the Charlottesville region.

UVA Professor Shawn Russell helps those with disabilities take on skiing, proving that biomechanics research has real-life applications that can change lives for the better in Virginia and beyond.

UVA leaders celebrated the announcement of Amazon's decision to locate a major headquarters function in Virginia as a significant opportunity to increase our contributions to the state and to collaborate with additional Virginia universities to create economic opportunity for all Virginians.