University of Nebraska Medical Center researchers have netted $32.2 million in research funding for the first quarter of fiscal year 2008-2009, by the far the highest total ever obtained by medical center researchers during a single quarter.
The previous highest total for a quarter was $26.4 million set in 2004. In the first quarter of this year, medical center scientists brought in $1.3 million more than they did in all four quarters of 1999.
“The most impressive thing about the first quarter total is that these are net dollars that come to UNMC after all cuts or delays by funding agencies are factored in,” said Tom Rosenquist, Ph.D., vice chancellor for research. “In these turbulent financial times and during the ongoing funding crisis at the National Institutes of Health and other federal agencies, this is an outstanding result.”
The first quarter total for 2008-2009 was not only 22 percent higher than the previous record but also was twice as high as last year’s first quarter total, which was hindered by unanticipated cuts and delays, Dr. Rosenquist said.
“This year is a different story and shows a more accurate picture of the continuing growth in UNMC research support,” Dr. Rosenquist said.
The funding future at UNMC also looks bright, he said, noting that in September, more than $15 million in new federal research grants for medical center scientists had been approved but their start dates were too late to be included in the first quarter numbers.
UNMC has seen its annual research funding raise steadily since 1999 and this year looks like it could be the best ever, Dr. Rosenquist said.
UNMC is the only public health science center in the state. Its educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution. Through their commitment to education, research, patient care and outreach, UNMC and its hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, have established themselves as one of the country’s leading centers in cancer, transplantation biology, bioterrorism preparedness, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, genetics, biomedical technology and ophthalmology. UNMC’s research funding from external sources now exceeds $82 million annually and has resulted in the creation of more than 2,400 highly skilled jobs in the state. UNMC’s physician practice group, UNMC Physicians, includes 513 physicians in 50 specialties and subspecialties who practice primarily in The Nebraska Medical Center. For more information, go to UNMC’s Web site at www.unmc.edu.