Nursing ranked No. 2 in NIH research funding for second year

The College of Nursing was ranked No. 2 in research funding to U.S. nursing schools from the National Institutes of Health. Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin/UIC Photo Services

For the second consecutive year, the College of Nursing was ranked No. 2 in research funding to U.S. nursing schools from the National Institutes of Health.

“In this challenging climate of competition for NIH research funding, we are proud to retain our second place ranking among superb peer schools,” said dean Terri E. Weaver. “It reflects the unwavering commitment of UIC nursing faculty to pursue new knowledge for improved health care.”

Nearly $7.45 million in training grants, fellowships, contracts and other awards were awarded to the college in 2014.

The college has a national reputation in research programs for health promotion and disease prevention; symptom management and quality of life; end-of-life palliative care; health information technologies; health disparities and health equity; pregnancy outcomes, infant health/prematurity and healthy families; and sexual minority health.

Two well-established research centers are housed at the college:

• Center for Narcolepsy, Sleep and Health Research, led by David Carley, professor of biobehavioral health sciences, dedicated to the idea that good sleep improves, preserves and promotes better health
• Center for End-of-Life Transition Research, which emphasizes patient-centered, family-focused respectful death with planning for end-of-life care consistent with the values and priorities of patients and familes (awareness about the ways people die and advance care planning) and expected death experiences (palliative care, approaching dying, and bereavement). The center is led by Diana Wilkie, Harriet H. Werley Endowed Chair for Nursing Research.

The University of California San Francisco ranked ahead of UIC in NIH funding. New York University, University of Washington, Johns Hopkins University, University of California Los Angeles, University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, Duke University and Emory University round out the top 10.