Frances Lund, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Microbiology and director of the Heersink School of Medicine Immunology Institute, has ranked 10th nationally out of 1,000 principal investigators in the fields of microbiology, immunology, and virology, according to the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research report for 2023. Lund earned the ranking after securing more than $5.2 million in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding.

The NIH funding comprises three R01 grants and various substantial multi-disciplinary grants. The R01 grants specifically finance Lund’s laboratory, while the larger multi-disciplinary grants contribute to her group and several other campus labs.

Lund is leading a grant focused on researching individuals in Alabama grappling with the lingering effects of Long-COVID. This grant supports three distinct scientific teams, totaling 24 researchers and clinicians from the Heersink School of Medicine, the UAB School of Health Professions, the UAB School of Nursing, and the UAB School of Public Health.

“Although my research portfolio is extensive, it is important to recognize that over half of my designated research funding is because I serve as the chief cheerleader for large groups of scientists collaborating to address complex scientific questions,” Lund said. “I enjoy participating in a collaborative scientific environment. I find it exhilarating to engage with scientists who tackle similar questions but bring diverse approaches and mindsets to the table.”

J. Victor Garcia-Martinez, Ph.D., chair of the UAB Department of Microbiology, expressed his thoughts on Lund’s No. 10 ranking.

“The entire Department of Microbiology is excited about this accomplishment and acknowledges the significant amount of effort and dedication that went into achieving it,” Garcia-Martinez said. “Dr. Lund is a beacon of inspiration for all of us. We are extremely proud and honored to have her on our team.”

The Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research (BRIMR) is an independent nonprofit organization known for releasing assessments of institutions, departments, and investigators based on their funding from the NIH. The rankings provided by BRIMR are acknowledged as an indicator of scientific vigor and have been used to examine patterns in funding for individual grantees and academic specialties.

In attestation of the strength of microbiology and immunology research at UAB, the UAB Department of Microbiology received NIH funding topping $17.6 million in 2023 and is ranked by BRIMR as No. 12 in the country among 96 other microbiology, virology, and immunology departments.