KU News Release

KU research awards grow 13 percent during Fiscal Year 2006

LAWRENCE — Research awards at the University of Kansas soared 13 percent to a record $218 million in the past fiscal year, a nearly 50 percent increase in just the past five years.

KU was propelled to the new record by a 15 percent hike in research awards from the National Institutes of Health, to a record $86 million. The NIH is KU’s largest single source of research funding, and KU accounts for 85 percent of all NIH funding in the state of Kansas.

“Research is discovery,” said Chancellor Robert Hemenway, “and research is education. That’s why we do it, to keep expanding what we know so we can share it with others and improve the quality of life in Kansas and elsewhere.

“Research is also economic development,” he said. “Grants enable KU to employ researchers, purchase equipment and even build buildings. Research awards have a major impact on the economy of our state, radiating outward in the form of jobs, tax revenue, Main Street business and a better-educated workforce.”

Jim Roberts, vice provost for research, noted that “Nationally, the budget for NIH research has been flat the past three years. It’s a tough, rough environment going forward. So the growth in NIH awards to KU last year is impressive. We’ll do all we can to ensure KU stays ahead.”

NIH awards grew by more than 21 percent at the KU Medical Center last year, said Paul Terranova, senior associate dean for research and graduate education at the medical center. “At both campuses,” he said, “KU researchers are very competitive and very successful when it comes to seeking and winning these kinds of high-profile, federally funded, science and engineering grants”

Roberts noted that the NIH success rate at the Lawrence campus — grants awarded vs. proposals submitted — was 23 percent in 2005, the most recent year available. “The national rate was 18 percent,” he added, “another indicator that KU researchers can compete with anyone in the country.”

Roberts and Terranova attributed KU’s awards growth to three factors: more proposals being submitted, larger proposals being submitted and a strong success rate.

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.