GALVESTON, Texas -A survey of National Institutes of Health grant funding received by medical school departments in 2008 ranked seven University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston departments in the top 20 in their respective fields, and placed UTMB's microbiology and immunology department second in the nation.
The report, produced by the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, found that UTMB's obstetrics and gynecology and pathology departments both came in sixth nationally in NIH awards in their respective categories. Other UTMB departments ranked in the top 20 were anesthesiology, 11th; surgery, 13th; neuroscience and cell biology, 16th; and biochemistry and molecular biology departments,17th.
Overall, the study shows that UTMB ranks 41st in NIH grant funding to medical schools, which totaled $11 billion last year. Because data were not yet available, the report did not examine NIH research and development contracts, estimated at about $2 billion last year.
"It's a real affirmation of the strength of our research program, and yet another reason to be confident of the future of research at UTMB," said Dr. Garland Anderson, UTMB's executive vice president and provost.
The Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research is a nonprofit organization that investigates basic biological science, clinical science and clinical care.