R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy climbs to No. 4 in Blue Ridge Rankings of NIH funding
The University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy increased its funding by nearly $5 million in 2022-23, leading to a rise to No. 4 in the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research rankings. The College broke into the top five with $19 million in National Institutes of Health funding.
The NIH is the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world. The Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research is a nonprofit organization that annually ranks U.S. institutions, investigators, medical and health sciences schools based on the funding they receive from the NIH.
“I am excited to break into the top 5 with a ranking of No. 4. Our faculty are outstanding and work hard to advance their science and health care,” said Rick Schnellman, PhD, dean of the Coit College of Pharmacy.
Among the new grants that contributed to the Coit College of Pharmacy rise was a $3.8 million National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases grant awarded to Hongmin Li, PhD, professor and R. Ken and Donna Coit Endowed Chair in Drug Discovery. Li’s research seeks to identify compounds that may lead to the development of more specific and effective immune therapies to treat multiple sclerosis.
“The improved ranking of the Coit College of Pharmacy is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our faculty, staff, and students,” said Li, who is also a member of the BIO5 Institute. “I am immensely proud of the contributions made by our research. This innovative research not only addresses the urgent need for novel therapies for multiple sclerosis but also holds promise for broader applications in immune regulation and the treatment of other diseases such as breast cancer.”
Li, who joined the Coit College of Pharmacy faculty in 2020, added: “I am grateful for the unwavering support provided by the College of Pharmacy and UArizona Health Sciences throughout my career and research endeavors. Their commitment to fostering a collaborative and conducive research environment has been instrumental in our success.”
A version of this article that included the other UArizona Health Sciences college rankings originally appeared on the UArizona Health Sciences website.