KU School of Pharmacy 4th in nation in NIH funding
LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas School of Pharmacy is ranked No. 4 in the nation in National Institutes of Health funding, marking the 22nd consecutive year the school has been in the top 10.
The School of Pharmacy earned more than $16 million in NIH research funding in fiscal year 2016 — an increase of $4.5 million from the previous year’s total. The NIH is a primary source of federal funding for pharmacy schools, and NIH funding is looked at as a key indicator of the productivity and quality of a school’s faculty.
KU is the only Big 12 institution in the top 10.
The school’s average funding amount per faculty member also increased in 2016. The 25 NIH-funded faculty members brought in an average of more than $640,000 each, an increase from last year of about $100,000 per member. Additional funding is awarded to researchers who collaborate with colleagues from other schools.
Decreased federal funding has increased competition for the dollars that remain.
“Elite pharmacy researchers from across the country compete for this money year after year,” said Ken Audus, dean of the School of Pharmacy. “The fact that we are consistently among the nation’s most successful speaks to the talent and expertise of our faculty. It’s something that they and the state of Kansas should be very proud of.”
The rankings are based on data collected and posted by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.