UTSA research expenditures are on the rise, driving innovation and economic growth

A research project led by John Quarles, Kevin Desai and Alberto Cordova aims to make virtual reality (VR) accessible for individuals with balance issues.

FEBRUARY 26, 2025 — UTSA research expenditures grew to $173.2 million, up 9.3% from the previous year, according to an annual report released this week by the university’s Office of Research. This marks the fifth consecutive year that UTSA’s annual research expenditures exceeded $100 million. Projects supported by the university’s research centers and institutes accounted for nearly $50 million.

This steady growth has been fueled by strategic initiatives and efforts by leadership. In 2018, UTSA President Taylor Eighmy announced a plan to reach three strategic destinations, including the vision to transform UTSA into a great public research university. In 2021, UTSA attained the R1 Classification ("very high research activity") from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. In 2023, UTSA announced that it had met Texas’ eligibility criteria to participate in the National Research University Fund, which provides a dedicated source of funding for research universities in the state. Last year, the university announced a new plan to hire clusters of faculty scholars to expand its core capabilities and expertise in six key areas, including artificial intelligence, brain health and space.

“We are proud to support a community that is expanding and flourishing in areas that address vital demands in our changing world.”

A student uses the enhanced visualization feature of the City of San Antonio's Digital Twin in the Secure AI and Autonomy Lab in the School of Data Science.

This growth is expected to accelerate further in 2025 when UTSA integrates with UT Health San Antonio, creating the third-largest research university in Texas.

“UTSA has a unique ecosystem where researchers and economic development practitioners collaborate with partners from national laboratories, industry, government, the military and other universities, generating novel ideas and undeniable, positive impacts,” said JoAnn Browning, UTSA interim vice president for research. “We are committed to leveraging our talent and partnerships to advance interdisciplinary research and innovation that boosts societal resilience, tackles grand challenges and positively impacts San Antonio, our state and our nation. We are proud to support a community that is expanding and flourishing in areas that address vital demands in our changing world.”

UTSA’s research centers, such as the South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (STCEID), the Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CyManII) and the Brain Health Consortium, which also includes the Child and Adolescent Policy Research Institute (CAPRI), advanced several large-scale research programs.

For example, researchers in the STCEID work in a number of critical specializations, including vaccine development, biodefense and emerging infectious diseases. Last fiscal year, STCEID director Karl Klose and research assistant Cameron Lloyd discovered a new method to inhibit cholera infection by using peptide inhibitors to prevent the bacteria from adhering to human cells, forming biofilms and colonizing the gastrointestinal tract. This breakthrough brings the world closer to more effective treatment and prevention of an infection that may be responsible for as many as 143,000 deaths per year, according to the World Health Organization.

Equally as important, CyManII drives research and development addressing evolving cybersecurity issues that threaten U.S. manufacturers. Researchers in CyManII are working closely with industry partners to deploy, test and refine new technologies. These inventions include energy sensors that can indicate potential cyber-attacks as well as cyber physical passports that ensure products move through the supply chain securely. The researchers aim to ultimately commercialize these technologies so that manufacturers across the nation can eliminate vulnerabilities.

A student works in the Wanat Lab, exploring the intersection of neurobiology and motivated behavior.

The Brain Health Consortium fosters transdisciplinary research to advance understanding of the brain and to prevent and treat debilitating brain disorders. Researchers are working with cutting-edge technologies including CRISPR, brain organoids and precision medicine. In one recently funded project, researchers are working to close the employment gap for adults who are neurodiverse in San Antonio by developing and delivering highly customized training experiences. The project is funded by the U.S. Department of Education to further the department’s aim to add youth and adults with disabilities to the 21st-century workforce.

UTSA is home to 31 research centers and institutes. The newest is the Center for Space Technology and Operations Research. UTSA launched CSTOR in December 2024 to advance the engineering, technology and operations that enable space missions between the Earth and the Moon as well as the lunar surface. The center was established to address the growing demand for research and workforce development by civil, commercial and national security space agencies and companies. David Silva, UTSA distinguished professor of physics and astronomy, was appointed director of the center.

UTSA’s economic development programs and initiatives also had a significant impact in FY 2024. The Jude Valdez Institute for Economic Development reported $1.8 billion in direct economic impact, a metric that encompasses new financing, investments, sales, contracts and exports. The institute also fueled the creation of 4,345 jobs and 536 businesses.

The Texas South-West Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network continued to build on its 40-year legacy of helping small businesses in Texas expand and thrive. The network’s clients increased sales by 23.4% and employment by 7.2%, experiencing economic growth twice as rapid as the average Texas business within the same year. The network reported that $4.61 were generated in tax revenue for every dollar invested. The network’s International Trade Center further promoted its mission around the world; it has established SBDCs in 24 countries, most recently opening three centers in Paraguay.

“We’ve made great strides toward a more prosperous and productive Texas,” said Rod McSherry, UTSA associate vice president for innovation and economic development. “Through a host of programs, including the Minority Business Development Center and the SBDC network, we are building capacities and creating opportunities that grow businesses and the economy in Texas and the world.”

— Audrey Gray