KU climbs to No. 2 nationally in pharmacy research funding

LAWRENCE – For the second time in three years, the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy is ranked No. 2 in the nation in National Institutes of Health funding.

The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy reported that KU received more than $22 million in NIH research funding in fiscal year 2011. The NIH is the primary source of federal funding for schools of pharmacy.

The KU School of Pharmacy improved two spots from last year's No. 4 ranking. This marks the 11th consecutive year the school has been ranked in the top five. It has been in the top 10 every year since 1995.

KU is the only Big 12 institution in the top 10 this year.

"The fact that we remain among the top five programs year after year is a great testament to the quality of faculty researchers we have at the KU School of Pharmacy," said Ken Audus, dean of the School of Pharmacy. "They are doing important, world-changing research and bringing millions of dollars of outside funding into Kansas every year."

Additionally, the School of Pharmacy ranks No. 1 nationally in the value of awards per funded faculty members. The school's 20 NIH-funded faculty members bring in nearly $1 million each. Additional funding is awarded to researchers who collaborate with colleagues from other schools.

"The fact that our researchers receive the most funding on a per capita basis tells me that we are second to none when it comes to the quality of our faculty and the quality of the research they perform," Audus said.

KU Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little said the NIH rankings affirm the KU School of Pharmacy's status as a national leader.

"These rankings reflect the fact that our faculty are aggressive and competitive in securing outside funding for research," Gray-Little said. "More important, it demonstrates their commitment to making discoveries that improve our health and our overall quality of life."