UNMC is living large in research this year.
Largest number of research grant dollars – $115.1 million.
Largest single grant – $24 million for the National Ebola Training and Education Center (NETEC).
Number of faculty doing research – 866.
UNMC is driving such national research agendas as:
- Ebola prevention and care;
- HIV and neuroAIDS;
- cellular signaling;
- neurosensory development;
- pancreatic and cancer biology;
- cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disease biology;
- rural health and health disparities;
- substance abuse;
- nanomedicine and drug development;
- defense against chemical and biologic weapons;
- intestinal and other types of transplantation;
- infections of the immunocompromised host;
- robotic and computer-assisted surgery.
Much of that progress is due to two concepts – ‘collaboration’ and ‘translational research.’ Collaboration, not just across a department, but across disciplines, colleges, sister universities, and universities and agencies around the country and world. Translational research, not just to move breakthroughs in the laboratory to new treatments in the clinic, but also to take clinical problems back to the bench for solutions.
n 1992, UNMC had $21.5 million in awards. Harold M. Maurer, M.D., then set a goal, first as dean then as chancellor, to grow that portfolio so UNMC could be among the nation’s research leaders. The vision has continued under the guidance of Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D.
Growing research has been the particular focus of the vice chancellor for research post – established with Thomas Rosenquist, Ph.D., and now held by Jennifer Larsen, M.D.
To achieve this goal, Dr. Larsen has focused on recruiting world class investigators and leaders, mentoring young faculty into strong scientists, including physician-scientists and entrepreneurs, expanding awareness of diverse sources of research funding, and improving research processes.
But the benefit is not just increased research funding, it is intended to improve health care outcomes and be an economic driver for the state, through new jobs, new businesses, and improved resource development. Leaders collaborate more – those collaborators visit, in some cases to set up businesses, or decide to move and live here.
"Most science today is team-based. To solve complex problems, teams also need a broader range of skills. So collaboration is the name of the game," Dr. Larsen said.