The Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research (BRIMR) released its annual ranking of schools of allied health professions. Based on National Institutes of Health (NIH) 2025 funding levels, the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS) boasted an enormous increase, jumping by 96% from last year to climb seven spots to No. 6 with $9.8 million.
Beth Skidmore, SHRS associate dean for research, says that the rapid growth reflects the maturation of SHRS faculty into key roles as leaders of scientific centers of excellence and high-impact projects.
The BRIMR report ranks institutions based on the annual total dollar amount of NIH awards made to principal investigators in their respective schools and is a nationally recognized benchmark of research productivity. The rankings are considered quantitative and objective as the NIH funds are overseen by peer reviewers from institutions across the country. The numbers come from NIH year-end composite data for the federal fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2025.
“This milestone highlights the continued momentum of SHRS research and the growing recognition of our faculty nationwide. Behind every research dollar is a commitment to discoveries that advance health, performance, independence and quality of life by faculty whose curiosity, creativity and rigor shape the bright future of health and rehabilitation sciences.”
– David C. Beck, SHRS interim dean
Overall, the University of Pittsburgh received $669.7 million in NIH funding in 2025, making it the seventh highest recipient of NIH dollars. The six health sciences schools, including SHRS, were all ranked in the top 20 for their categories:
- School of Dental Medicine had a significant increase, up 30% from last year to rank No. 11, with $7.5 million in awards
- School of Medicine ranked No. 8 nationally with $555.4 million
- School of Nursing ranked No. 16
- School of Pharmacy, No. 19
- School of Public Health was No. 10
“In a year in which the landscape shifted dramatically for federal funding of scientific research, I am very proud that all six of our health sciences schools were among the top 20, which is a real testament to the excellence and productivity of our researchers,” said Anantha Shekhar, senior vice chancellor for the health sciences and John and Gertrude Petersen Dean, School of Medicine.
