Multi-national

A global consortium co-founded by WashU Medicine and directed by neurologist Randall J. Bateman, MD, brings together members from academia, major pharmaceutical companies and philanthropic organizations. The consortium, C-BRAIN, is launching three open-source AI tools designed to accelerate Alzheimer’s research.

Lora Iannotti and Feng Jiao have been installed as the inaugural Lauren and Lee Fixel Distinguished Professors at WashU, becoming the first faculty members to hold professorships associated with the university’s Food and Agriculture Research Mission (FARM), which aims to address global challenges at the intersection of agriculture, food systems and human health.

Working with collaborators at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research in Bangladesh, WashU Medicine researchers show how a disease of the small intestine related to malnutrition can be passed from mother to offspring.

Nearly half of the world’s habitable land is used for agriculture, according to the World Economic Forum. Now, for the first time, every agricultural field on Earth has a boundary on a map, thanks to a novel model designed to infer field boundaries all over the world.

During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, reports from around the world suggested that violence against women and girls was rising during lockdowns — a pattern widely described as a “shadow pandemic,” prompting researchers to take a closer look.

In August, global robotics competition First Lego League challenged children to design a robot to help archaeologists. The task would demand skills in engineering, design and technology. But, first and foremost, teams needed a fundamental understanding of the discipline itself — what archaeologists do, where they work, what tools they use.

WashU Public Health’s Global Health Futures research network aims to re-envision the field of global health and emphasize closing health gaps, translating global knowledge to local contexts, and strengthening international partnerships.

Nearly half of young adults across eight countries report feeling lonely — and those who do face much higher likelihood of depression and anxiety, according to a new international study led by researchers at the Washington University in St. Louis School of Public Health.

In recognition of its work to address complex global challenges and support its international students, faculty and scholars, Washington University in St. Louis has received a 2026 Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization from NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

Li Zou, International Director at Center for Social Development (CSD), moderated the opening panel of the Civil Society Forum at the 64th session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development on February 6, 2026.