Research that improves lives

The KU Life Span Institute is a network of more than 450 KU scientists, staff and students. Our discoveries help improve the health and development of people in Kansas, across the nation, and around the world.

Featured News

A group of KUCD employees pose for a photo with filmmakers of "The Ride Ahead" during a screening of the show

KU disability research center nationally recognized for community partnership

The Kansas University Center on Disabilities (KUCD) is among five national recipients of the 2026 Excellence in Community-Engaged Partnerships Award. The distinction from Campus Compact honors higher education programs and initiatives that make a meaningful impact by partnering with communities to address complex social issues.

A young child wanders a crowded outdoor space alone

Safety on the spectrum: From playground elopement to police encounters

Autism and law enforcement share 5 key ways families can help improve safety, communication, and support for autistic individuals during the Kansas Family Education Series from Kansas LEND.

A man and a woman are thinking while looking at a scale with a clock on one side and a drink on the other side

Visualizing a 'future self': KU research on how creative tools fight addiction and anxiety

Cofrin Logan Center Director Richard Yi is studying why we often choose a small reward today over a bigger one later, with implications for addiction, eating disorders, youth well-being, and more.

Photo of children at Juniper Gardens Children's Center

Long-running research center in Kansas City celebrated in scholarly journal

Juniper Gardens Children’s Project, part of the Life Span Institute at the University of Kansas, is the focus of a special issue of the peer-reviewed journal Education and Treatment of Children.

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Our Commitment

Explore how our researchers, staff and students come together to solve problems affecting the health of children, families and communities.

Helping People Thrive

Our Work

Learn about the research of more than 130 investigators working on dozens of projects spanning education, self-determination, disability policy, neuroscience, behavior, language, child development and more.

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Research at a Glance

$46M

external funding in FY25

489

investigators, staff and students

70+

years of improving human health and development

Ranked #1 Worldwide

Life Span Institute science and scholarship fuels the university's new #1 ranking worldwide in developmental disability research.

Scholar GPS Ranks KU No. 1

Our Economic Impact

An economic analysis indicates the KU Life Span Institute had an estimated $30 million impact on the Kansas economy

A look at the numbers

Stories of Our Impact

Read about the impact of Life Span Institute research on individuals and communities in Kansas and beyond.

Explore the Life Span Institute

People

More than 400 investigators, staff and students are part of the KU Life Span Institute. Find individual staff and connect with our research centers.

Impact

View stories about the impact of our research, grant news, and discoveries from the fields of education, addiction, autism spectrum disorder, community health and more.

News

Support

Connect with services that support researchers including study design, grant development, award support, and video and web production.

Services

Research Opportunities

Our investigators pursue science that has the potential to change people’s lives. They often depend on volunteers to partner as participants in research. We are thankful to the many infants, children, and adults who support our commitment to impact the lives of people in Kansas and beyond.

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Support the Life Span Institute

We invite you to help drive our mission to discover, develop and deliver approaches to improve the health and development of people in Kansas, throughout the region and beyond.

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