Thanks to the efforts of regional leaders, St. Louis is growing its neuroscience capacity into a national hub for research and innovation. Leading these efforts is Neuro360, a coalition of 20 partners from academia, industry, community organizers, and venture capitalists led by Washington University in St. Louis and BioSTL.
St. Louis is poised to become a national leader in neuroscience and neurotechnology, with substantial potential for commercialization and job creation. NEURO360 will accelerate the developing neuroscience innovation ecosystem across the St. Louis region, which includes the City of St. Louis and 14 surrounding counties.
Sector Strengths
For more than two decades, BioSTL, a nonprofit coalition, has driven the region’s innovation economy through the creation of critical infrastructure like the Cortex Innovation District, over $1 billion in venture capital funds, and the BioGenerator commercialization center.
The region boasts significant research strength, including a new $616 million neuroscience research building at Washington University, one of the largest in the world. St. Louis University and the University of Missouri-St. Louis also contribute critical research and support through their respective neuroscience and mental health institutes. Washington University in St. Louis is a national powerhouse in biomedical research with $683 million of National Institutes of Health grants, the 2nd highest in the U.S.
Industry support is strong, with major firms like MilliporeSigma and Pfizer, biotech companies such as C2N, and startups like Avadel Pharmaceuticals driving innovation. The planned $1 billion expansion of the John Cochran VA Medical Center, including a specialized neuroscience unit, further underscores the region’s capacity for advancements in neuroscience applications and commercialization.
