KU research growth boosts Kansas communities, fuels economy

LAWRENCE — Research and development expenditures spanning all University of Kansas campuses climbed to $610.6 million in fiscal year 2025, surpassing the previous record of $546.1 million by 12% and marking a full decade of sustained research growth.

This surge in research activity is powering impact well beyond the university — bringing new discoveries, talent and economic activity to communities across the Sunflower State and beyond. 

“As one of America’s leading research universities, KU is tackling the toughest challenges of our time — and doing so in ways that strengthen our communities and fuel the state’s economy,” said Matthias Salathe, KU’s chief research officer. 

“Our researchers are imagining — and building — a better future,” said Shelley Hooks, vice chancellor for research. “Whether improving human health, protecting our environment, or advancing technologies that make our communities more secure and resilient, their work is driving real-world impact while cultivating tomorrow’s workforce and drawing major investment to Kansas.” 

Last year alone, research expenditures at KU supported the salaries of 5,696 people. Additionally, the university spent $87.7 million in 78 Kansas counties on research-related goods and services in fiscal year 2025, according to a report from the Institute for Research on Innovation & Science. Vendors in 22 of those counties received more than $122,000 in purchases. 

Among research funded during fiscal year 2025 was one of the largest grants ever received at KU, a $31 million National Institutes of Health grant to coordinate clinical trials for infants and children in rural and underserved areas. KU also received a $26 million National Science Foundation grant to launch EARTH, a research center focused on solving the technical, environmental and economic challenges of creating a sustainable refrigerant life cycle. Additional projects included advancing seismic imaging tools to detect underground hazards that threaten public safety in Kansas and military operations worldwide; developing therapies and improving care delivery for pediatric facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD); building teacher capacity to promote early language learning in infants and toddlers with and at risk for disabilities; and designing better support tools for rural clinics to care for cancer survivors. 

Research expenditures are dollars spent to conduct research. A majority of KU’s externally funded research — nearly 70% in 2025 — is supported by federal agencies like the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health. KU researchers win grant dollars from these agencies through competitions designed to identify the most innovative ideas for addressing societal challenges. Other sources of KU research funding include state and local governments, private businesses and nonprofit foundations.

Advancing health, economic impact

Additional IRIS reporting shows that KU contributed $601 million to the U.S. economy between FY 2020 and FY 2024, with spending from research funding flowing to more than 4,200 vendors and subcontractors over that time. 1,076 of those vendors were small businesses, according to KU spending data that could be matched with specific vendors and contractors.

The IRIS reports encompass research spending across all KU campuses. That includes the KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, where research ultimately contributes to life-changing medical advances. 

“As an academic medical center, KU Medical Center offers clinical trials to patients who might otherwise not have access to certain treatments,” Salathe said. “Clinical research at the medical center continues to grow each year, not only contributing to the economy, but also making us a destination for trial locations and study participants looking to receive investigational therapies.” 

During the last five years, the number of clinical trials conducted at KU Medical Center has grown by 27%, and clinical trial revenues nearly doubled — reaching $67.8 million — in FY 2025. These trials include investigator-initiated studies as well as partnerships with pharmaceutical and medical device companies. 

KU’s research-related economic impact extends beyond the data captured in IRIS reporting. For example, 58 active startup companies have spun out of KU or are based on KU technologies, and more than half of those companies are located in Kansas. Through the university’s relationship with KU Innovation Park, KU researchers help attract businesses to Lawrence, Kansas City and the surrounding area — companies like Merck, Icorium and Security Benefit — that want to be close to KU researchers and students. The park system includes 77 companies and accounts for 811 private sector jobs and $53.8 million in annual direct payroll. 

Influencing rankings, AAU membership

KU’s substantial research activity has helped sustain its membership in the Association of American Universities since 1909, and the university’s annual research expenditures affect its standing in the National Science Foundation’s Higher Education & Research Development Survey. KU ranked 41st among public universities for research and development expenditures and 49th among public universities for federally funded R&D in the latest HERD survey, which is based on fiscal year 2024 data. 

The university also claimed the No. 1 spot among public universities in federally financed R&D expenditures in non-science and engineering fields and ranked first among public universities for overall R&D in education.

KU ranked in the top 50 among publics in overall R&D in the following fields and subfields:

• No. 1 in Education
• No. 3 in Non-Science & Engineering Fields
• No. 3 in Social Work
• No. 16 in Geological and Earth Sciences
• No. 23 in Life Sciences, not elsewhere classified
• No. 27 in Health Sciences
• No. 27 in Sciences, not elsewhere classified
• No. 35 in Chemical Engineering
• No. 36 in Communication and Communications Technologies
• No. 36 in Psychology
• No. 37 in Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical Engineering
• No. 41 in Life Sciences
• No. 45 in Geosciences, Atmospheric Sciences, and Ocean Sciences
• No. 49 in Civil Engineering
• No. 49 in Atmospheric Science and Meteorology
• No. 49 in Chemistry.

KU ranked in the top 50 among publics in federally funded R&D in the following fields and subfields:

• No. 1 in Non-Science & Engineering Fields
• No. 2 in Education
• No. 2 in Social Work
• No. 8 in Humanities
• No. 11 in Visual and Performing Arts
• No. 15 in Communication and Communication Technologies
• No. 30 in Geological and Earth Sciences
• No. 30 in Health Sciences
• No. 34 in Anthropology
• No. 34 in Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical Engineering
• No. 36 in Psychology
• No. 43 in Civil Engineering
• No. 44 in Chemistry
• No. 46 in Astronomy and Astrophysics
• No. 47 in Economics
• No. 47 in Life Sciences
• No. 48 in Atmospheric Science and Meteorology
• No. 48 in Chemical Engineering.

KU’s fiscal year 2025 research expenditures will be used to determine the university’s 2026 ranking in the NSF HERD survey. 

IRIS is a national consortium of research universities using data to understand, explain and improve higher education and research. IRIS reports are based on administrative data that KU supplies to IRIS, which are then merged with other public and private datasets.