Duke’s School of Medicine Rises to 5th in NIH Funding

By Duke Medicine News and Communications

DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke University School of Medicine ranked fifth among the nation's medical schools for National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding in fiscal year 2005, according to the federal agency's latest figures. Duke had ranked sixth in funding for fiscal year 2004.

Duke's medical school received 684 NIH awards, for a total of $349.8 million. This marks a 14.8 percent increase over the $304.7 million it received in fiscal year 2004, the largest percentage increase of the top 20 medical schools.

Research grants accounted for 590 of the awards, with the remainder going toward training grants, fellowships, research and development contracts and other awards.

"The latest funding data from the NIH shows that even during tighter times in federal funding for research, Duke faculty continue to successfully compete for these prestigious grants," said medical school Dean R. Sanders "Sandy" Williams, M.D. "Federal support of basic and clinical research is crucial to finding the causes of disease and developing their cures, so our faculty members should feel proud that their efforts are so highly regarded."

The magazine US News & World Report uses total NIH funding, as well as number of research grants per faculty member, in determining its annual list of top medical schools. In March, the magazine ranked Duke's medical school sixth, the eighth consecutive year Duke has been rated among the top six research medical schools.

In July, Duke University Hospital's rank rose from eighth to seventh in the US News & World Report annual ranking of best hospitals in the U.S.

The NIH funds 123 medicals schools in the United States. Johns Hopkins University was the top NIH recipient with $449 million in grants, followed by the University of Pennsylvania ($399 million), University of California at San Francisco ($398 million) and Washington University ($377 million).

NIH is the steward of medical and behavioral research for the nation. A complete listing of NIH awards to medical schools in fiscal year 2005 is available at NIH's website.