Annual Research Funding Surpasses $1B — Again

Posted on Aug. 6, 2024

For the fifth consecutive year, UNC’s research funding has eclipsed $1 billion.

Carolina received $1.21 billion, money that’s expected to support research projects conducted statewide for federal agencies, industry partners and nonprofit organizations. Research dollars given by organizations based outside the state increase North Carolina’s gross state product and support more than 3,200 N.C. businesses, according to Media Relations.

“If you take a deep look at the big awards the University attracted this year, it’s obvious that the secret to our success lies in our interdisciplinary, collaborative approach to finding solutions that benefit society,” Penny Gordon-Larsen, vice chancellor for research, told Media Relations. “I’m pleased to see this approach pay off with federal funding for projects addressing cognitive and women’s health and others that will harness enabling technologies in data and applied science. Additionally, new private funding will allow us to expand our global reach.”

Federal research funding accounted for about 65 percent of all research awards. Top sponsors included the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the Department of Health and Human Services.

“I’m thrilled to see our continued excellence in the health sciences recognized with new funding and equally encouraged to see recognition of our burgeoning efforts in clean technology, data science and other cutting-edge research,” Interim Chancellor Lee Roberts said in a statement released by Media Relations. “The work reflected by this milestone is changing lives across our state, country and world,” and the funding is “a testament to the researchers who push the boundaries of knowledge in their fields.”

Included in the federally funded grants are nearly $50 million to UNC’s Renaissance Computing Institute for data science research from the NIH National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; nearly $20 million from the NIH Office of the Director to the School of Medicine’s genetics department; and nearly $9 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the epidemiology department at the Gillings School of Global Public Health.

Gordon-Larsen said the funding awarded for fiscal year 2024 should enable UNC researchers to “make game-changing breakthroughs that improve the health and well-being of people and our planet,” while providing an economic boom to the state.

For more information on research funding, visit the UNC Research website.