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September 29, 2008
Emory garners record $411M in 2008 research funding

By Holly Korschun

Emory scientists attracted $411.2 million in funding from external sponsoring agencies in fiscal year ’08. External research funding — the most of any university in Georgia — topped $400 million for the first time, rising 7 percent over last year. Research funding increases have averaged 8 percent the past three years.

Federal funding, at $300.2 million, was responsible for approximately 73 percent of the research awards. Funding from the National Institutes of Health was $251 million.

“Emory scientists continue to excel in their ability to attract research funding and to serve society through the discoveries that result from that support,” says President Jim Wagner. “I am extremely proud of our outstanding faculty and staff and their national research leadership.”

The Woodruff Health Sciences Center received more than $387.5 million, or 94 percent of the total. School of Medicine funding grew by 10 percent over last year; funding to Yerkes National Primate Research Center grew by 13 percent; and funding to the School of Nursing grew by 8 percent.

“Emory investigators have worked extraordinarily hard to earn these competitive research grants,” says Fred Sanfilippo, executive vice president for health affairs and CEO of the Woodruff Health Sciences Center. “The quality and promise of their research and their scientific teams is reflected in this impressive funding accomplishment, which continues to transform health and healing for our patients.”

“Emory research funding has grown at a very impressive rate among national institutions, even in this era of flat NIH budgets and a difficult economy,” says David L. Wynes, vice president for research administration.

“Notably, many of our research grants this year were based on collaborative projects with other institutions including Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia Tech and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Support from the Georgia Research Alliance also was a key factor in attracting research funding.”