As the number one public university in Virginia and a top 10 U.S. university for innovation, George Mason is at the forefront of innovation and discovery to meet the toughest challenges and creating opportunities yet to be imagined.
George Mason has increased research expenditures by nearly 30% over the last five years, totaling $282 million in 2024.
Holding an R1 designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, George Mason’s research goes beyond the desire to know—it expands our understanding, knowledge, shares data and expertise with communities enabling local response, and builds the infrastructure to improve lab-to-market.
According to multiple EduRank rankings, George Mason's research is best in Virginia.
Latest Research News
George Mason researcher develops an affordable helping hand for stroke recovery
George Mason researcher Quentin Sanders is developing a new generation of hand exoskeletons that may help people regain independence after a stroke. His lab is testing wearable devices that amplify a user's remaining muscle activity, allowing them to open and close their hand more effectively while remaining affordable enough for broader use. Learn more.
George Mason University authorized to host State Climate Office
George Mason is authorized to host the Virginia State Climate Office, thanks to a provision in the new state budget effective July 1, 2026. The office will deliver expertise on Virginia’s weather- and climate-related impacts and strengthen federal partnerships and interstate collaboration to address real-time weather and environmental challenges. Read more.
The new art of herding robots
George Mason researchers are building a "Smart Swarm" system to let military operators coordinate drone swarms without a pilot for every unit — and testing their ideas through Astroswarm, a video game built by an undergrad researcher. Read how a spaceship video game is helping shape the research.
Fuse at Mason Square powers research and innovation through collaboration
George Mason University celebrated Fuse at Mason Square with the same collaborative spirit that will fuel decades of innovation at the state-of-the-art facility in Arlington, Virginia. Hundreds of representatives from industry, academia, government, and the community came together for the grand celebration at Fuse, which included a ribbon-cutting for the Energy Exploration (E2) Center.
Read more and watch video highlights
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Eight George Mason Inventions You Need to Know About
From wearable tech to flood protection, George Mason University is turning bold ideas into real-world solutions.
Explore George Mason’s Grand Challenge Initiative
Explore George Mason’s Grand Challenge Initiative, addressing the greatest threats to humanity’s ability to live a peaceful, healthy, prosperous, and just existence.
Listen to Access to Excellence Podcast: AI is a clinician’s newest diagnostic partner
Entrepreneurship
Transforming research into start-ups, jobs, and economic growth
George Mason University accelerates innovation by converting breakthrough discoveries into startups, job opportunities, and economic impact across Northern Virginia’s dynamic tech corridor.
In 2024, Mason Enterprise helped form 409 companies and supported the creation and retention of over 6,300 jobs.
Nexus234 Innovation District debuts in Manassas and George Mason is in the heart of it
Centered around Innovation Park alongside the Science and Technology Campus, Nexus234 provides an environment where research, workforce training, and industry collaboration intersect to support economic growth and commercialization in a new partnership with George Mason University, Prince William County, and the City of Manassas. Learn more.
Innovation takes center stage at this year’s Patriot Pitch Competition
At the 2026 Patriot Pitch Competition, organized by the Costello College of Business, eight student and alumni teams pitched business models to panels of entrepreneurs. Read more about the initiative.
Partnering for Impact
Watch and Subscribe to Momentum in Research videos on George Mason University's YouTube Channel.
Mysteries of the Brain
George Mason neuroscientist Giorgio Ascoli created an open-access database of 3D neural reconstructions with contributions from more than 1,000 labs worldwide.
"Hyperlocal"
Jim Kinter, director of George Mason’s Virginia Climate Center, is identifying Virginia’s vulnerabilities and working with community leaders and local citizens to build data-driven solutions.
Building the Infrastructure to Advance Vital Research
George Mason established three institutes to develop operational efficiencies and cross-discipline collaborations around funding, proposal design, and partnerships to advance nascent innovations and develop new ideas from experiment to enterprise, faster.
The Institute for a Sustainable Earth (ISE) conducts integrative research that bridges disciplinary gaps to realize innovative advances in an era of rapid global change.
The Institute for Biohealth Innovation (IBI) pioneers advancements in health care, pushing the boundaries of medical research to enhance human well-being.
The Institute for Digital Innovation (IDIA) is revolutionizing technology and advancing its applications, shaping the future of digital landscapes.
Expanding Portfolios in Critical Research
Artificial Intelligence
George Mason University researchers are using all areas of artificial intelligence (AI) to create new and better solutions. They are using machine learning to predict social isolation among caregivers, detect bruising across a variety of skin tones, and improve the diagnosis and treatment of vision problems. Researchers are using natural language processing to develop a technology that can automatically translate lesser-known languages. They are working with augmented reality to improve workplace safety. And that’s just a glimpse of the work, powered by AI, being conducted by George Mason faculty and students.
Led by Amarda Shehu, the university’s inaugural vice president and chief artificial intelligence officer (CAIO), and an AI Visioning Task Force, George Mason is working with partners throughout the region and across the state to build a nexus of collaboration and resources called AI2Nexus.
As a model for universities, AI2Nexus is based on four key principles: integrate AI to transform education, research, and operations; inspire AI to advance higher education and learning for the future work force; innovate AI to lead in responsible AI enabled discovery and advancements across disciplines; and impact AI to drive partnerships and community engagement for societal adoption and change.
This work builds on a strong foundation. George Mason established the first bachelor's degree in cybersecurity engineering in the United States, and it continues to expand its AI offerings: in fall 2024, it introduced the Responsible Artificial Intelligence Graduate Certificate, and in 2025, it launched Virginia's first public master's degree in AI. George Mason's guidelines on the use of AI are designed to encourage creative, innovative use of AI tools while upholding the university's commitment to safety, security, academic integrity, and ethical conduct. Learn more.
National Security and Defense
George Mason University faculty are leading groundbreaking work in defense and security research, bringing deep expertise from across the university’s colleges, schools, and specialized centers to address some of the nation’s most pressing security challenges. They are advancing capabilities in integrated sensing, advanced communications, cybersecurity, space, and artificial intelligence.
George Mason is a key partner in the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI), Virginia's engine for collaborative research, workforce development, and innovation at the intersection of cybersecurity, autonomous systems, and intelligence. Liza Durant, George Mason's associate provost for strategic initiatives and associate dean at the College of Engineering and Computing, directs the CCI's Northern Virginia Node.
According to the World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report 2026, cyber insecurity ranks among the top 10 global risks over the next two years. Led by Founder and Executive Director Jamil N. Jaffer, the National Security Institute at Antonin Scalia Law School is the premier hub of national security thought leadership and policy solutions in the nation's capital. Jaffer shared his view on current and future global threats on President Washington's Access to Excellence podcast: Cybersecurity and the global threats of tomorrow.
Making Discovery Inclusive and Possible Everywhere
Students, faculty, and partners are learning and discovering in colleges, in cutting-edge labs, and in facilities across the region.
Resources for Faculty and Student Success