<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Kemper
Research Fund Annual Report for the fiscal year ended 08/31/2000 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001072010
<NAME> KEMPER FUNDS TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 021
<NAME> KEMPER RESEARCH FUND
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-2001
<PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 3,324,569
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 4,202,922
<RECEIVABLES> 56,285
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 64,858
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,324,065
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 8,662
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 8,662
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 3,082,104
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 105,269
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 105,269
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 354,946
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 878,353
<NET-ASSETS> 4,315,403
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 35,010
<INTEREST-INCOME> 296
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 76,609
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (41,303)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 369,497
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 666,447
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 994,641
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 1,114,654
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (14,503)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (14,366)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 26,528
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 162,611
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1,241,642
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.06
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.16)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 3.22
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 13.12
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.30
</TABLE>
