A 12 percent increase over last year’s research funding earns the college its highest rank yet

Tampa, FL (Feb. 25, 2011) – The University of South Florida College of Nursing received a 28th place ranking in research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2010* — the college’s highest spot yet. The latest ranking represents a 12 percent jump in NIH funding – from $1.53 million in 2009 to $1.71 million in 2010.

The College of Nursing is working toward achieving a top-25 ranking in NIH research funding. Helping fuel its efforts are strategic Centers of Research Excellence where faculty members craft interdisciplinary grant proposals that have appealed strongly to NIH and allowed the college to remain competitive even in recent fiscally challenging years. These centers focus nursing research in the areas of symptom management/end-of-life care, women’s health, and psychoneuroimmunology.

Dr. Dianne Morrison-Beedy, USF nursing dean

“Developing Centers of Excellence that advance translational research – moving what is developed in science to patients and the community – has played a pivotal role in making the USF College of Nursing a national leader in transforming health care,” said Dianne Morrison-Beedy, PhD, RN, WHNP-BC, FNAP, FAANP, FAAN, dean of the College of Nursing, and senior associate vice president of USF Health. “The types of nursing research conducted at USF address some of the most pressing global healthcare issues today.”

Grants and contracts from federal sources, including NIH, are considered among the most competitive and coveted funding sources.

NIH releases data annually on projects funded, and analysis shows the USF College of Nursing not only increased its funding, but continues to surpass all nursing schools in the Florida State University System. In addition, USF has grown competitive in nursing research funding with schools in the American Association of Universities (AAU), comprised of 63 of the most prestigious and well known schools in North America.

“Nursing’s rise in NIH ranking showcases the excellence of our faculty in the college as well as the focus on research and innovation throughout USF Health.” said Stephen K. Klasko, MD, MBA, CEO of USF Health and dean of the College of Medicine. “Recruiting a dean of the caliber of Dianne Morrison-Beedy and the focus of the entire college on new scientific discoveries will allow nursing and USF Health to help lead USF’s continued ascendancy as a nationally prominent research institution.”

“This achievement is really a team effort that requires not only the expertise of our faculty and PhD students, but the specialized skills of the staff in our Nursing Research Center and the Biobehavioral Laboratory, which supports state-of-the art biological data analysis,” said Kevin Kip, PhD, interim associate dean for research and innovation and executive director of the Nursing Research Center.

The College of Nursing will continue working with colleagues across USF and at other institutions in Florida, nationwide and globally to boldly pursue discoveries that will improve health care for patients and their families, Dr. Morrison-Beedy said. “We will build on the people, purpose, passion, partnerships and quality that are the foundations of USF.”

USF Health

USF Health is dedicated to creating a model of health care based on understanding the full spectrum of health. It includes the University of South Florida’s colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Public Health and Pharmacy, the School of Biomedical Sciences and the School Physical of Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences; and the USF Physician’s Group. With more than $394.1 million in research grants and contracts in FY2009/2010, the University of South Florida is a high impact global research university.

*Note: Federal fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2009 and ending Sept. 30, 2010

Media contact:
Ashlea Hudak, USF College of Nursing Communications
(813) 396-9642, or ahudak@health.usf.edu