The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing, an internationally recognized leader in nursing research and scholarship, continues to reach new heights and expand its research portfolio. The UAB School of Nursing now ranks No. 11 overall and No. 5 among public schools of nursing in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding rankings for fiscal year 2020, as published by the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research.
This marks a four-spot climb from its FY2019 rank of No. 15, reflecting the School’s dedication to an ever-growing research portfolio, with more than a $1 million increase in NIH funding to $5.9 million in NIH research funding for fiscal year 2020, and an annual total of $12.7 million. The latter figure recognizes the funding contributions from all missions—research, teaching, practice and scholarship.
“In recent years, we have been able to continually grow and diversify our research portfolio through strategic recruitment, faculty development, and a dedication to mentorship,” said Dean and Fay B. Ireland Endowed Chair in Nursing Doreen C. Harper, PhD, RN, FAAN. “This recognition is a reflection of the hard work and commitment of all of the UABSON faculty, staff and students, the significant work, focus and output of our Office of Research and Scholarship, and of being at UAB and in the great company of interprofessional research colleagues and scientists.”
The UAB School of Nursing has remained in the Top 15 for NIH funding among Schools of Nursing since 2017, and Associate Dean for Research and Scholarship Marie Bakitas, DNSc, CRNP, NP-C, AOCN, ACHPN, FAAN, aims to continue this upward progress.
“When the UAB School of Nursing reached the Top 20 for NIH funding among U.S. Schools of Nursing in 2017, we hit a significant milestone as a School and accomplished a strategic goal,” said Bakitas. “Now that we have reached No. 11, we can continue to work toward our next strategic goal—reaching the Top 10.”