The Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research (BRIMR), which is a clearinghouse of information about research funding to medical institutions from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), released their 2018 rankings of medical schools and departments. The University of Wisconsin Department of Medicine has climbed to 15th in the nation in the category "Clinical Science Department - Internal Medicine," which is the highest-yet placement for the department since BRIMR began its analyses in 2006.

The ranking is based on a total of $91.4 million in NIH funding awards to department members for the federal fiscal year (October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018).

“This is the biggest change [in annual rank] that we have seen in a long time. This leap to 15th shows that in the right environment with the right faculty, anything is possible. Our goal is to get into the top 10 next,” said Nasia Safdar, MD, PhD, professor, Infectious Disease and vice chair for research, Department of Medicine.

“Research in the department takes a community-wide effort involving the hard work of many people. Our research portfolio has increased by 10 percent this year, which is a remarkable accomplishment in a highly competitive era for federal funding,” said Elizabeth (Betsy) Trowbridge, MD, Phillip August and Sarah Neely Herrmann Professor in General Internal Medicine and interim chair, Department of Medicine.

“We are very excited about this, although of course we temper excitement with a realization that there will be some years where we have windfall and others that will be more lean. But the way that we got here is that success builds upon success, and we will continue to find our areas of strength and take them to the next level,” said Dr. Safdar.

NIH funding for medical research in the state of Wisconsin as a whole was 20th in the nation, with a total of $481.7 M in NIH funding for a state population of 5,757,564, amounting to $83.66 per capita.

Resources:

• For all BRIMR FY2018 rankings, click here.