UNC Advances to 12th in NIH Funding

According to a report released Thursday, the University received $236.8 million in the 2001 fiscal year, up from $207 million in 2000.

All five of UNC's health affairs schools -- dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy and public health -- also ranked in the top 25 nationwide in terms of research funds received from the NIH last year.

The NIH is an organization that awards grants to colleges to pursue research.

UNC has risen one spot in the NIH's rankings each fiscal year since 1998, according to a UNC News Services press release.

NIH press officer Don Ralbovsky said the NIH awards grants based on the strength of individual research proposals.

Gene Orringer, associate dean of UNC's School of Medicine, said the school saw about a 26 percent increase in funding -- from $144 million in 2000 to $180 million in the 2001 fiscal year.

The school is ranked 14th out of 125 medical schools nationwide. "This rate of growth is really striking," Orringer said. "We're closing the gap with the schools in front of us."

The School of Dentistry received $9.2 million, ranking fourth nationwide out of 55 dentistry schools. John Stamm, dean of the dental school, said having the school in the top rankings places UNC among excellent peer dental schools like the University of Washington-Seattle and the University of California-San Francisco.

Stamm said the funds are used for different types of research, including laboratory research, field studies and stem-cell research.

"In terms of research productivity, we are very pleased with both the quality of research and the creativity and effort displayed by the faculty members, students and staff," he said.

Stamm also said UNC's location near Research Triangle Park provides a unique opportunity for dental students. "This University provides a tremendously effective environment in which to conduct multidisciplinary collaborative research," he said.

Ralbovsky said individual research proposals undergo peer review, which is a rigorous study performed by experts in the project's specific field. The experts determine the likelihood of the project's success and whether it is important enough to merit funds.

The NIH funds about 30 percent of the grant applications it receives, Ralbovsky said. "The grants that are funded are well-earned by whatever institution receives the funding."

The National Science Foundation's annual report also has placed UNC in the top 20 universities nationally in terms of the overall federal funds it receives.

Tony Waldrop, vice chancellor for research and graduate studies, said the NSF also keeps track of all agencies that provide funding, including the NIH.

"It means that the quality of research -- which was high to begin with -- continues to increase and reach higher levels," Waldrop said. "We've been moving up because of the efforts of the faculty."

The rankings not only will affect recruiting and retaining faculty but also recruiting students, he said. "We will continue to attract high-quality faculty, as well as the best graduate students."

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.