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Life Span Institute

We are a network of more than 400 KU scientists, students and staff who strive to improve the health of individuals and communities through research, service and outreach.

Featured News

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Reauthorization of Autism CARES Act to provide almost $2 billion for autism programs and research

Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training researchers explain how funding provided by the bill is essential to funding the new discoveries and to addressing the needs of the autism community in Kansas and across the U.S.
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Study examines how culture, family and identity shape body image challenges for Hispanic women

Better understanding of eating disorders is necessary to both identification and development of effective treatment, but the Latina demographic has historically been underrepresented in research.
A man struggles to hold a spoon steady with drawings of brains and an illustration of a DNA strand overlaid

Understudied but ‘significant public health issue’ FXTAS is focus of first-of-its-kind research at KU

Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome may be more common than people realize because it looks so much like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s diseases. Some physicians may even be unaware of the condition.
A woman holds her child outside a home marked with an eviction notice next to stacked cardboard boxes

Douglas County tenant survey explores intersections of income, housing and violence

KU project documents the experiences of 1,051 Douglas County tenants to help the community understand how the experiences of people facing housing insecurity.
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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

Research at a Glance

$41.4M
in research awards in FY23
435
investigators, staff and students
70
years of improving human health and development
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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
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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.

Explore research projects
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Research Rising

Research Rising will address the complex genetic, biological, and environmental factors that cause intellectual and developmental disabilities, and how best to develop interventions to support individuals with IDD so that they can live their best lives.

Research Rising

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.
Directory

Research 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

Research Support

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