Each fiscal year, University of Utah Health Sciences proudly announces the grant money secured by researchers across the School of Medicine’s departments and divisions. This year, the total research funding reached an impressive $492.3 million, reflecting nearly 13 years of continuous growth in funded research at U of U Health.
“Research funding signifies an investment in the remarkable expertise of our teams by federal agencies, industry partners, state government, philanthropic organizations, and more,” stated an announcement email from Associate Vice President for Research, Rachel Hess, MD, and CEO Michael Good, MD. “Our investigators are advancing knowledge, innovating novel disease treatments, improving clinical care, and ensuring that our communities have access to essential health services.”
The Department of Family and Preventive Medicine (DFPM) significantly contributed to this achievement, securing over $11 million in funds for fiscal year 2024. The Division of Public Health generated over $8 million, while the Division of Family and Community Medicine (FCM) brought in nearly $3 million. These grants supported a variety of community-focused projects, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations with departments such as Pediatrics, Epidemiology, and Population Health Sciences, as well as key institutions like Huntsman Cancer Institute and the Utah Cancer Registry.
Both divisions of DFPM can take pride in their well-funded research endeavors. Notably, Family and Community Medicine has seen a steady increase in grant funding over the past five years, with 2024 continuing this upward trend, showing an 11% increase this year. This growth underscores the robust research activity within the division.
The importance of grant funding in advancing the department’s mission cannot be overstated. “Research conducted by our faculty is a primary way we establish our identity within the School of Medicine,” said Tanis Garcia, associate director of research development for the department. “Our ongoing commitment to research quality is evident in our faculty and staff members’ dedication to development, from the Clinical Scholars program to our Research Mentoring Group. These and many other efforts are reflected in the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research (BRIMR) ranking DFPM 3rd in the United States for NIH funding. This is the highest ranking for any department in the UU School of Medicine, showcasing the ongoing quality of our research projects and the dedication of our research development, pre-, and post-award administrative team.”
Learn more about research at DFPM.