George Washington University is a private research university that was established in 1821.  Earlier, the university was known as the Columbian University and in 1904, its name was changed to the current name, George Washington University.

The university comprises of some of the notable research centers and institutes, namely the Centre for Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, GW Cancer institute, Biostatistics Centre, Regulatory Studies Centre, Centre for Aging, and the Institute for MEMS & VLSI Technology.