KINGSTON, R.I. — February 23, 2021 — The University of Rhode Island College of Nursing is now ranked 37th in the nation — and first in New England — in total federal research funding from the National Institutes of Health, after securing nearly $1.7 million for various projects in fiscal year 2020.
The URI College of Nursing jumped seven spots over last year’s ranking in the national list compiled by the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, a non-profit organization that publishes an annual analysis of National Institutes of Health funding. The College ranked just ahead of Rutgers University and Florida Atlantic University, and just behind Pennsylvania State University.
“Our dynamic faculty members continue to make significant contributions to health care with their groundbreaking research that is supported by NIH and grant funders around the country,” Dean Barbara Wolfe said. “Their work has the potential to make a beneficial impact on health care through the development of prevention and intervention strategies, as well as through understanding the long-term consequences of various conditions. Their projects provide valuable experiences for our students, enhancing their education with exposure to research solving real-world problems.”
Funded projects headed up by URI College of Nursing faculty members include Associate Dean Kathy Hutchinson’s funded study examining Intimate partner violence and sexual violence on college campuses; Professor Mary Sullivan’s funded study examining the developmental outcomes of premature infants across their lifespans; and Research Professor Kimberly Arcoleo’s study evaluating a “School-Based Asthma Therapy” program to reduce disparities in care for childhood asthma. Additional projects tackle such impactful issues as lifelong health impacts of premature birth; infant feeding and birth weight; the health of vulnerable populations in the community; sleep patterns and fatigue in older adults living with HIV; among many more projects.
NIH funding is just one part of the College’s dynamic research program, which draws funding from multiple sources.