KU News Release

KU rises in research rankings despite federal funding decline

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas climbed in the latest ranking of science and engineering research spending compiled by the National Science Foundation — despite an unprecedented two-year slide in federal funding for science and engineering nationwide.

KU faculty vied effectively for sought-after research dollars and boosted the university to the 44th place overall for the 2007 fiscal year, one spot higher than the university placed in 2006.

“Our researchers are competing well nationally, and it shows,” said Steve Warren, vice provost for research and graduate studies. “The rigor and importance of their research is high, and that leads to success.”

In the new survey, KU’s federal research spending for science and engineering totaled $115.7 million. Promising investigations into cancer, biomaterials, climate change and drug discovery accounted for KU’s resilience during a tough time for all researchers who depend upon federal support.

“There’s a tremendous level of productive scholarship taking place at the Lawrence and medical center campuses,” said Warren.

Total KU research spending from all grants and contracts exceeded $193 million in fiscal year 2007. KU’s leading sources of federal research funding were the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Heath and the U.S. departments of education; health and human services; and energy.

According to Paul Terranova, vice chancellor for research at the KU Medical Center, the university is well positioned for more growth.

“A high priority for the National Institutes of Health is to translate laboratory discoveries into real-world cures,” Terranova said. “KU has the researchers, the infrastructure and the mandate to achieve that goal. The bi-campus KU Cancer Center is just one example. KU has a great opportunity to benefit society as we increase our level of research.”

Among the top 100 universities on the list, KU was one of 55 whose federally funded science and engineering research increased in the last fiscal year — a remarkable feat given the shrinking federal budget for such grants.

According to the National Science Foundation, after adjusting for inflation, fiscal year 2007 saw a 1.6 percent decline in federal science and engineering funding from fiscal year 2006. That follows a 0.2 percent decline from fiscal year 2005. A two-year drop in federal support has no precedent since the foundation began tracking science and engineering funding in 1972.

During the 2007 fiscal year, state appropriations funded 24 percent of KU’s total budget, and grants and contracts provided 20 percent. Each dollar of state funding leveraged three dollars of other university revenue, including grants and contracts in support of KU research.

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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.