Indianapolis, Indiana – The Indiana University School of Medicine secured more than $230 million in research funding from the National Institutes of Health during the 2025 federal fiscal year, placing it 15th among all public medical schools nationwide. The ranking, compiled by the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, underscores the school’s continued prominence in federally supported biomedical research.
The NIH investment supports investigations aimed at improving treatments and advancing understanding of diseases such as diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Federal fiscal year 2025 ran from Oct. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2025, and the funding reflects competitive grant awards earned by faculty researchers across multiple specialties.
Beyond laboratories and clinics, the impact stretches into Indiana’s broader economy. Data from United for Medical Research show that every $1 million in NIH funding awarded in 2024 supported nearly 10 jobs and generated $2.69 million in economic activity statewide.
Applying those figures to 2025 totals, IU School of Medicine’s NIH funding is estimated to support about 2,287 jobs and roughly $627 million in annual economic output. That accounts for more than half of the projected $1.09 billion generated in Indiana from all NIH funding combined.
Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA, dean of the medical school and executive vice president for university clinical affairs, said the results reflect a sustained commitment to scientific discovery.
“These NIH funding results reflect the deep commitment of our faculty, staff and trainees to discovery and innovation,” said Jay L. Hess.
“We will continue our work to advance knowledge, improve health and serve our communities through research excellence, funded by the NIH, other federal agencies, private foundations and industry.”
The school’s strength was also evident within individual departments. Seven units ranked among the top 25 nationally in NIH funding within their specialties. The Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics placed fourth, followed by Pediatrics at sixth. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery ranked 12th, while Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation came in 18th. Dermatology secured the 22nd position, Obstetrics and Gynecology ranked 24th, and Urology placed 25th.
Tatiana Foroud, PhD, executive associate dean for research affairs, pointed to collaboration as a defining factor behind the funding success. She emphasized a culture built on team science and interdisciplinary partnerships, where investigators work across departments and research centers to address complex health challenges and move discoveries toward patient care.
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The NIH remains the world’s largest public funder of biomedical research, and competition for its grants is intense. For Indiana University School of Medicine, the largest medical school in the United States, the 2025 ranking signals both national recognition and tangible benefits at home, from laboratory breakthroughs to jobs and economic growth across the state.
