Researchers at UNMC brought in more than $115 million during the 2009-10 fiscal year, a nearly 15 percent increase from last year’s total of $100 million.
“Even in these difficult economic times, our researchers are able to attract significant funding from national agencies,” said UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D. “Our research is innovative and repeatedly demonstrates value.”
The steady growth of the UNMC research enterprise demonstrates the success of the Research Strategic Plan that has been in operation for more than 10 years, said Tom Rosenquist, Ph.D., vice chancellor for research.
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These “mega” grants represent almost 25 percent of the total research funding — 10 years ago it represented about three percent of the total, Dr. Rosenquist said.
The average size of a UNMC grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has increased from $262,000 in 2000 to $428,420 in 2010.
“We analyzed the average sized grant among the 104 members of the Association of Academic Health Centers (AAHC), using data from fiscal year 2008, and UNMC was in the top 25 percent of the members,” he said.
In the category, NIH research dollars per full-time faculty member:
- UNMC’s College of Medicine ranked 29th out of 87 AAHC institutions for which reliable faculty data was available;
- The College of Pharmacy ranked fourth nationally among 110 pharmacy schools; and
- For total NIH research dollars, in 2008 UNMC with $56.5 million ranked 48th out of 104 AAHC institutions.
In 2009 and 2010, a significant boost in NIH funding came from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Scientists at UNMC have received nearly $22 million in ARRA funds.
“Even when the ARRA money is subtracted, the total research dollars for 2009 and 2010 still beat the total for the previous two-year interval by about 20 percent,” Dr. Rosenquist said.
For UNMC to reach the next goal of $200 million, there will be a new emphasis on clinical and translational research, Dr. Rosenquist said.