UK Research Funding Hits An All-Time High

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FUNDING HITS ALL-TIME HIGH

“The research celebration is a time to draw attention to UK’s tremendous research enterprise and recognize the achievements of our research faculty and staff. One measure of our success as a top research institution is the magnitude of grant and contract money coming from federal sources.”

Fitzgerald Bramwell, VP for Research and Graduate Studies

October 4, 1999 – (Lexington, Ky.) – Whether they’re developing new carbon materials such as nanotubes for use in pharmaceuticals and the aerospace industry, working to understand drug and alcohol abuse, or building a national reputation for supercomputing, researchers at the University of Kentucky continue to further knowledge in a wide range of areas with the ultimate goal of improving lives.

This process of discovery takes money, most of which comes from sources outside the university. UK experienced a banner year in fiscal year 1998-99. During that time, faculty and staff attracted a record $132.2 million in research contracts, grants and gifts. The amount represents a 10.4 percent increase over the previous fiscal year.

This is the sixth consecutive year that the university has exceeded $100 million in research funding, said Fitzgerald Bramwell, vice president for Research and Graduate Studies.

These research achievements will be recognized by a celebration honoring UK research faculty and staff from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Embassy Suites on the Coldstream Research Campus.

“The research celebration is a time to draw attention to UK’s tremendous research enterprise and recognize the achievements of our research faculty and staff,” said Bramwell.

“One measure of our success as a top research institution is the magnitude of grant and contract money coming from federal sources,” Bramwell said.

UK received $72 million from federal sources last fiscal year. Major federal funding agencies include the U.S. departments of health and human services, energy, education, agriculture and defense, the National Science Foundation and NASA.

“The composition of research awards reflects UK’s dual mission as a land-grant university and a research university,” Bramwell said.

More than 71 percent was for research, and the balance was for public service, instruction and training projects. Research carried out at UK also leads to inventions and products that are patented.

During fiscal 1998-99, 21 patents were issued to the university. UK holds approximately 170 patents, primarily in the areas of pharmaceuticals, plant biotechnology and biomedical engineering, Bramwell said.

UK-originated technologies that are licensed for use by companies generated $2.6 million in royalties in fiscal year 1998-99. Top royalty-producing inventions include a nasal delivery method for pharmaceuticals, three vaccines for horses and an implant device for treating eye diseases. UK held 50 license agreements with various businesses during the fiscal year, including 11 to Kentucky businesses in pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and devices, materials engineering, agricultural engineering, plant and animal biotechnology and consumer products.