VCU School of Medicine rises in Blue Ridge Rankings

Three departments in the VCU School of Medicine rank among the top 25 departments in the nation in National Institutes of Health (NIH) researchers and funding, according to the recently released 2023 Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research Rankings. The school also rose significantly in its ranking this year, climbing three spots to 60^th in the nation.

School of Medicine total NIH funding increased by 7.6% to almost $77M in 2023, with a net increase of 11 investigators and 11 awards, according to BRIMR. The Department of Family Medicine and Population Healthranks 14^th in its category, the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology is 20^th among pharmacology departments, and the Department of Psychiatry is ranked 24^th.

Arturo Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., dean of the VCU School of Medicine, noted that jumping three spots from one year to the next is a considerable achievement for any institution and signals School of Medicine’s trajectory as an emerging research powerhouse. The School of Medicine’s immediate Blue Ridge ranking neighbors include the University of Cincinnati (61st), Tulane University (62nd), Dartmouth College (64^th), Brown University (65^th) and Thomas Jefferson University (66th).  

“The School of Medicine’s increase in ranking is thanks to the tireless and groundbreaking work done by our researchers and departments,” Saavedra said. “Their commitment to advancing knowledge in their respective fields is inspiring and makes a difference in the communities we serve.”

The BRIMR is preeminent organization that analyzes and ranks NIH-funded researchers and institutions based on federal data from the prior fiscal year. Known as the Blue Ridge Rankings, the annual release provides medical schools with a benchmark for comparison.

VCU School of Medicine also continues to be a leader in addiction science, with funding from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) ranking eighth in the nation and from the National Institute on Drug Abuse ranking 19^th.

“The increase in NIH funding reflects a net increase in the number of funded investigators and is a reflection of both the quality of the School of Medicine faculty and our success in recruiting and retaining researchers,” said Michael Donnenberg, M.D., senior associate dean for research and research training.

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