For the first time, the UNMC College of Dentistry is listed among the top 20 dental schools in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding.
Ranked 20th out of the 55 dental colleges around the country, the College of Dentistry received $3,440,596 in NIH research support during fiscal year 2003.
“This ranking demonstrates that we are developing a very strong research program, which is both a tribute to our faculty and a benefit for our students,” said John Reinhardt, D.D.S., dean of the UNMC College of Dentistry.
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The UNMC College of Medicine ranked 77th out of 121 medical schools across the country. Monetarily, UNMC’s College of Medicine received $31.1 million in NIH research support during fiscal year 2003. “With the move of our investigators into the Durham Research Center and the reorganization of some of our departments, we have a solid base on which to move to the next level,” said College of Medicine Dean John Gollan, M.D., Ph.D. “We’re recruiting furiously and are poised to further expand our research enterprise.” The UNMC College of Nursing ranked 22nd out of 98 nursing schools around the country and received $1.78 million in NIH research support during fiscal year 2003. “For the UNMC College of Nursing to be in the top 25 percent in the country in NIH funding is a mark of pride for Nebraska,” said College of Nursing Dean Virginia Tilden, D.N.Sc. “NIH funding is very competitive so our success rate demonstrates the quality and the dedication of the faculty to advancing the science of nursing.” During the same time, the UNMC College of Pharmacy ranked 42nd out of 64 pharmacy schools with $964,322 in NIH research support. “I am pleased by the faculty’s response to seeking more NIH funding,” said College of Pharmacy Dean Clarence Ueda, Pharm.D., Ph.D. “The College of Pharmacy’s research infrastructure is positioning itself and is poised to make a significant jump in the NIH funding rankings shortly.” |
“Being on the cutting edge of science in the laboratory or clinic translates into a stronger education for our students and ensures that UNMC and the College of Dentistry are gaining national and international attention as a top-notch academic health sciences center,” Dr. Reinhardt said.
While the recognition is nice, said Jeffrey Payne, D.D.S., associate dean for research at the College of Dentistry, more importantly the ranking will help garner more research dollars and attract world-class scientists. In addition, as a result of increased research support to the College of Dentistry, new discoveries will ensue that will improve the health of Nebraskans.
“This ranking facilitates our recruiting efforts since we have nationally-recognized leaders in their fields working at the College of Dentistry with whom other scientists want to collaborate,” Dr. Payne said.
For example, Margaret Wheelock, Ph.D., professor of oral biology, Keith Johnson, Ph.D., professor of oral biology, and James Wahl, Ph.D., assistant professor of oral biology, were recruited from the University of Toledo in 2001.
“All three have played a significant role in the research growth at the College of Dentistry,” he said.
This milestone, Dr. Payne said, would not have been possible without the support of alumni and friends who have helped by contributing financially to the research program.
“Their generosity enabled us to build the Cruzan Center for Dental Research, which helped recruit the faculty who had the training and expertise to receive significant extramural funding for their research,” he said.
The recent dramatic growth in research productivity has led to some very significant NIH grants over the past few years.
Dr. Wheelock received a five-year, $9.9 million grant 11 months ago, the largest grant ever received by a College of Dentistry faculty member.
As a result of the grant, Dr. Wheelock has established the Nebraska Center for Cellular Signaling, in which signaling pathways in cancer cells are studied to determine the role they play in tumor metastasis and tumor invasion.
Kalipada Pahan, Ph.D., associate professor of oral biology, is funded from the National Institutes of Health, the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the National Multiple Sclerosis Study. His research program is focused on the role of inflammation and cell signaling in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Dr. Payne has a $2.6 million grant from the NIH to conduct a clinical trial on the use of a low dose of doxycycline as an inexpensive, safe means to reduce loss of bone density in the mouth, hip and spine of postmenopausal women with periodontitis.
“This level of success is due to the hard work and effort of our research faculty who work long hours competing for federal grants,” Dr. Payne said.