School of Pharmacy second in nation in NIH funding

LAWRENCE — For the fourth time in six years, the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy is ranked No. 2 in the nation in National Institutes of Health funding.

The School of Pharmacy earned more than $17.8 million in NIH research funding in fiscal year 2014 — an increase of $3 million from the previous year’s total. The NIH is a primary source of federal funding for pharmacy schools, and NIH funding is considered a key indicator of the productivity and quality of a school’s faculty.

This marks the 14th 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.

The school’s average funding amount per faculty member also increased in 2014. The 25 NIH-funded faculty members brought in an average of more than $700,000 each, compared with about $600,000 the year before. Additional funding is awarded to researchers who collaborate with colleagues from other schools.

“Year after year, faculty researchers at the KU School of Pharmacy compete for and earn significant outside funding," said Ken Audus, dean of the School of Pharmacy. "They bring millions of dollars to the university and the state, and more important, they make discoveries that improve the lives of people throughout the world."

The rankings are based on data collected and posted by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.