University Times

Pitt was one of the nation's leading recipients of support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1995, according to a report compiled by the NIH's Division of Research Grants.

NIH awarded Pitt $140.1 million last year, placing the University 10th nationally among all institutions receiving NIH money.

Among public universities, Pitt ranked fifth nationally when it came to receiving NIH funds.

Johns Hopkins University was the leading recipient of NIH grants last year, taking in $251.8 million. The leading public institution was the University of Washington, which received $202.2 million.

"The University's consistent ranking among the top recipients of competitively awarded NIH funds is clear evidence of the research excellence of our faculty and the importance of their biomedical contributions," Interim Chancellor Mark Nordenberg said.

NIH grants received by Pitt faculty support research in cancer treatment, Alzheimer's disease, molecular biology, arthritis, organ transplantation and gene therapies.

Other western Pennsylvania universities that received NIH funds in 1995 were Penn State, which received $48.5 million and ranked 53rd, and Carnegie Mellon, which received $9.7 million and ranked 158th.