September 18, 1998
Another record year for UW research awards
The University of Washington received $557 million in grant and contract awards for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1998–an increase of nine percent over the previous year and the highest level of awards ever received at the university.
The awards, about 76 percent of which come from federal agencies, support a variety of research and training programs. The awards are over and above state appropriations for instruction and the basic operation of the university.
Since 1969, the university has ranked among the top five educational institutions in the U.S. in receipt of total federal awards; it ranked second overall and first among public universities in 1996, the most recent year for which government figures are available.
“Grants and contract support programs provide salaries for more than 5,700 full time equivalent employees,” said Alvin Kwiram, vice provost for research. “These programs create opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students to work with faculty in research as a vital component of the university’s overall educational mission.”
The single largest sponsoring agency for the UW continues to be the Department of Health and Human Services, with 47 percent of the total awards. Roughly two-thirds of HHS awards support programs in the School of Medicine. HHS funding increased by 12 over the previous year, while awards from all other federal agencies in aggregate were down by two percent.
Non-federal awards increased in aggregate by 19 percent. Awards from industry increased by 31 percent and awards from the state of Washington rose by 53 percent. These large percentages represent a few major grants which have a large impact on the moderate base funding for these categories.
Grant and contract support has doubled over the past decade. The awards are received in response to faculty-initiated, university approved proposals for funds to support specific projects or programs consistent with the university’s goals.
“The continuing large volume of research, and the UW’s national ranking based on awards, is a tribute to the high caliber of University of Washington faculty members,” Kwiram said. “Students at the UW receive instruction from scholars who have been judged by their peers as among the most outstanding in their fields.”
