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Northwestern University

On May 31, 1850, nine men gathered to begin planning a university that would serve the Northwest Territory.

Given that they had little money, no land and limited higher education experience, their vision was ambitious. But through a combination of creative financing, shrewd politicking, religious inspiration and an abundance of hard work, the founders of Northwestern University were able to make that dream a reality.

In 1853, the founders purchased a 379-acre tract of land on the shore of Lake Michigan 12 miles north of Chicago. They established a campus and developed the land near it, naming the surrounding town Evanston in honor of one of the University's founders, John Evans. After completing its first building in 1855, Northwestern began classes that fall with two faculty members and 10 students.

Twenty-one presidents have presided over Northwestern in the years since. The University has grown to include 12 schools and colleges, with additional campuses in Chicago and Doha, Qatar.

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First Transient Electronic Bandage Speeds Healing by 30%

Northwestern University researchers have developed a first-of-its-kind small, flexible, stretchable bandage that accelerates healing by delivering electrotherapy directly to the wound site. 
Northwestern University

Survey: Half of Americans Uncertain About Ability to Identify False Political Claims

A national survey found those who believe vaccine misinformation are more likely to believe political falsehoods.
Northwestern University

A Surprising Way to Trap a Microparticle

A new study found that obstacles like a ring can effectively trap microparticles in fluid in an effort to advance microfluidics and drug delivery systems.
Northwestern University

Powerful Chemotherapy Drug Reaches Brain Tumors Using Novel Ultrasound Technology

Scientists report the first in-human clinical trial using a skull-implantable ultrasound device to open the blood-brain barrier and deliver chemotherapy.
Northwestern University

Removing Race from Admissions Decisions Would Do Lasting Damage to American Universities

Northwestern University President Michael Schill explains what holistic admissions are and argues that removing the use of race as a factor in admissions decisions would “cause lasting damage to American universities and to our nation.”
Northwestern University | Articles & Op-Eds

Biological Age, Not Birthdate May Reveal Healthy Longevity

A study from UC San Diego, UCLA, UNC, UW, Columbia, and Northwestern finds that the accelerated biological aging of the body — epigenetic age acceleration specifically — is associated with less longevity, poorer mobility and mental function.
Columbia University | Northwestern University | The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of California San Diego | University of California, Los Angeles | University of Washington

Decoy particles trick coronavirus as it evolves

In a new study, Northwestern University synthetic biologists set out to elucidate the design rules needed to make decoy nanoparticles effective and resistant to viral escape.
Northwestern University

COVID-19 vaccine not associated with birth defects detectable on ultrasound

The exclusion of pregnant patients in initial COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials left many patients and doctors wondering how the vaccine might affect pregnant patients and their unborn babies. But a new Northwestern Medicine study finds the vaccine is not associated with birth defects that are detectable on ultrasound. 
Northwestern University

Mussels’ underwater glue inspires synthetic cement

Using a novel method to arrange molecules, researchers at Northwestern University have created a kind of synthetic cement that performs even better than the gluey substance mussels secrete to attach to surfaces. Their findings expand on how these protein-like polymers can be used as a platform to create new materials and therapeutics.
Northwestern University

Cleaning up lakes and oceans

With a sponge that looks like one you might find in your kitchen, Northwestern University researchers have discovered how to effectively clean up oil, microplastics and phosphate pollution.
Northwestern University