The Department of Neurology is a major part of WashU Medicine’s world-renowned neuroscience research community. Through groundbreaking basic science and clinical studies, our researchers are on a quest to improve the lives of individuals with neurological disorders.

170+ faculty
40 labs

Our department conducts research in every area of neurology. Our work spans the research continuum — from basic science seeking to understand the underlying processes of health and disease through translational and clinical studies to develop and evaluate possible clinical diagnostics and treatments. As we face some of medicine’s toughest challenges, we are determined to find solutions.

Comprehensive areas of study

alzheimer disease • developmental and genetic disorders • neurodegenerative disease • neuroimmunology • neuroinfectious disease • epilepsy • sleep disorders • neuromuscular disorders • brain tumors • headache • stroke • traumatic brain & spinal cord injury

Chihiro Sato, PhD, and Kanta Horie, PhD, work in the mass spectrometer lab in the BJC Institute of Health on October 19, 2022

Centers

National experts provide care and conduct research to advance diagnosis and treatment.

Laboratories

Roughly 40 labs cover the full spectrum of neurological investigations from basic science through clinical application.

Taylor Hutton and Rachel Habiger (in yellow) meet with Randall Bateman, MD, as part of DIAN-TU on October 10, 2018

Clinical trials

Groundbreaking clinical trials provide opportunities for participants to shape the future of care.

“We do what I like to call team science.’ Rather than working in silos, faculty can gather colleagues, mentors and expertise from across the university, and they have access to amazing facilities and technologies. That’s especially great for junior faculty, and it makes our research move forward much more quickly and easily.”

Joel Permutter, MD, Elliot Stein Family Professor of Neurology;
Chief, Section of Movement Disorders

Explore in depth

Visit the Profiles.wustl.edu website for an interactive exploration of our research.

The Neuroscience Research Building
Washington University School of Medicine’s extensive community of neuroscience researchers all under one roof, working together to solve some of medicine’s most intractable problems.

Highlights

Community engagement

The department is expanding efforts to engage with members of our St. Louis community. With community partners, we aim to improve diversity in clinical trial recruitment and to guide the direction of our research to address community priorities. As a model, we look to the years-long successes of our Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center.

Neuroscience at WashU

Across disciplines and departments, we’re leading advances in discovery, education and care.

30 training programs | 100+ research teams | 1 DEDICATED BUILDING