Big questions don’t scare us.
They drive us.
At the University of Oklahoma, research isn’t just something we do. It’s how we serve our state, advance knowledge, and build a better future for all 77 counties and beyond.
Because discovery should do more than expand knowledge.
It should change lives.
Oklahoma's Leading Research Institution
Funding
$517M
Annual Research Expenditures
Ranking
Top 4%
Nationally in NIH Funding
Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research
Distinction
No. 1
Nationally in Atmospheric Science & Meteorology Funding
NSF HERD Survey
Innovation
No. 67 U.S. / No. 1 OK
Universities Granted Utility Patents
National Academy of Inventors
Oklahoma faces some of the most persistent health challenges in the country. As the state’s only academic health system, it is our solemn duty to push the boundaries of what’s possible in medicine to meet those challenges. We are striving to provide the research-driven, highly specialized care that only an academic health system can give to all of Oklahoma.
Oklahoma has a long-standing and deeply embedded aerospace and defense ecosystem, anchored by major federal installations, world-class sustainment and logistics capabilities, and a growing network of industry partners. This concentration creates a rare environment where innovation, workforce development, and operational readiness intersect, allowing research advances to move rapidly from concept to application.
Oklahoma sits at the center of some of the most complex weather patterns on the planet, and there’s no better place to study the weather. OU is home to the National Weather Center and a dense concentration of atmospheric science expertise, making it the perfect place to lead innovation in forecasting, risk reduction and community resilience.
As a major producer of oil and natural gas and a net energy exporter, Oklahoma serves as a real-world laboratory for advancing subsurface energy systems, carbon management, grid resilience, and next-generation energy technologies. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Oklahoma produces far more energy than it consumes, positioning the state to lead innovation critical to national energy security and reliability.
OU researcher studies how dietary fat may affect pancreatic tumors
Pancreatic cancer, one of the most difficult cancers to treat, is closely associated with obesity, which can be influenced by diet. With a five-year, $2.6 million grant from the National Cancer Institute, a University of Oklahoma researcher will investigate how a diet high in saturated fats may contribute to tumor growth by weakening the body’s anti-tumor immune response and changing how cancer cells use fats.
Clinical Trial Explores Potential Brain Health Benefits of Dietary Supplement
A dietary supplement called urolithin A increased blood flow to the brain during mental activity in middle-aged adults with obesity, according to a University of Oklahoma study published in JAMA Network Open. The findings could help researchers better understand the relationship between the supplement, blood vessel function and brain health.
OU researchers lead NASA-funded projects to improve irrigation reporting across U.S.
State agencies across the United States rely on irrigation maps for managing freshwater resources. Researchers from the University of Oklahoma are improving these critical maps by leading two projects that will support timely, reliable information.
Discovery moves fast.
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The One is the University of Oklahoma’s weekly newsletter, sharing the stories that define OU. From groundbreaking research and innovation to campus achievements and community impact, The One highlights the people, ideas, and discoveries that remind us there’s only one Oklahoma.
