VCU news

By David Oglethorpe

Throughout the month of April, the Virginia Commonwealth University community will come together to celebrate VCU Research Weeks 2025 and highlight the groundbreaking discoveries, lifesaving innovations and impactful research conducted at the university.

Research Weeks continues to serve as the university’s annual spotlight on VCU’s quest to improve the human condition. This year’s schedule is highlighted by distinguished speakers; the State of the Research address delivered by P. Srirama Rao, Ph.D., vice president for research and innovation; graduate and undergraduate research symposia; and unit and division research days.

“On the heels of the most successful year in the history of the VCU research and innovation enterprise, I am thrilled to join our university community to recognize the efforts that helped us cross $500 million in sponsored funding and rank as a top 50 public research university for the third consecutive year,” Rao said. “VCU's research is not only finding answers to questions that many either cannot or will not answer, but it is saving lives and acting as a catalyst for economic and social impacts at home in Richmond and across Virginia and the nation. Perhaps now more than ever, it is crucial that we take the time to celebrate the incredible research accomplishments and discoveries of our faculty, staff, students and postdocs.”

In addition to the sponsored funding milestone and public ranking, VCU’s research continues to serve as a driver of innovation, with the enterprise ranking in the top 100 for utility patents for the second consecutive year. The university has also increased its positioning in the health sciences, landing 22 schools and units in the Blue Ridge rankings top 50 for NIH funding among public institutions.

For a full schedule of events, visit the VCU Research Weeks website.

Highlighted events include:

Annual Gordon Ginder Innovations in Cancer Symposium

Thursday, April 3

This in-person event will focus on “AI and Data Science: A New Frontier for Oncology” and will feature several nationally recognized experts in this field. This event will provide learning and networking opportunities to Massey members, students and trainees. Registration is free and available here.

VCU State of the Research address

Tuesday, April 15

Join P. Srirama Rao, Ph.D., vice president for research and innovation, as he delivers the annual VCU State of Research address. In his presentation, Rao will highlight the impactful work VCU's researchers are conducting, VCU's research growth over the past year and offer insights into the strategic direction of future research initiatives. The event also features a resources expo prior to the address and a reception in celebration of research to follow. Registration is free and available here.

Featured speaker: Grayson N. Holmbeck, Ph.D.

Thursday, April 17

Join us for a crucial discussion on self-management in youth with spina bifida. Grayson N. Holmbeck, Ph.D., a professor of clinical psychology at Loyola University Chicago, will present his groundbreaking research on the challenges and strategies involved in transferring medical responsibility from parents to children, a critical step in the transition to adult health care. Drawing from longitudinal studies and camp-based intervention programs, this presentation will shed light on the complex interplay of family dynamics, psychosocial factors and neuropsychological functioning in this vulnerable population. Discover practical implications for improving adolescent health outcomes and fostering independence. Registration is free and available here.

Featured speaker: Margaret Hu, J.D.

Wednesday, April 23

The joint public-private deployment of AI systems is unfolding almost invisibly, according to Margaret Hu, J.D., the Taylor Reveley Research Professor and Professor of Law, and director of the Digital Democracy Lab, at William & Mary Law School. In her address, Hu will discuss the opaque philosophies and ambitions that guide these black box systems, and the emerging frictionless alignment between technology and AI corporations, operating almost as separate sovereigns, and the government that is developing. She believes this phenomenon demands a separation of the “AI State” that governs the corporate interests and the “State” that governs the public interests of the people. This event is presented in partnership with the Humanities Research Center. Registration is free and available here.

Graduate Student Research Symposium

Wednesday, April 23

The 28th Annual Graduate Research Symposium will bring together graduate students from across the university to share their research with the VCU and local community. Learn more here.

Featured speaker: Michael E. McCullough, Ph.D.

Thursday, April 24

Michael E. McCullough, Ph.D., a psychology professor at the University of California San Diego, will discuss his research on the evolutionary and cognitive roots of human social behavior. From groundbreaking work on forgiveness and gratitude to exploring the complex interplay of empathy, morality and religion, McCullough's research explores what makes us human. Discover how his multicultural studies on gratitude and large-scale projects on religion and cooperation are shaping our understanding of sociality. Registration is free and available here.

Poster Symposium for Undergraduate Research

Thursday, April 24

Organized by the VCU Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry, the annual VCU Poster Symposium for Undergraduate Research and Creativity is an opportunity for students to present their research endeavors and creative scholarship to their academic peers, members of the VCU faculty, community members, and friends and family. Learn more here.