CU Anschutz School of Medicine rises in national NIH funding rankings

The University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine continues to boost its standing in the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research (BRIMR) rankings, moving to No. 8 among public medical schools in the nation and to No. 21 among all medical schools, with half of its 18 clinical Departments landing in the top 15.

Annual Blue Ridge rankings are determined by total funding granted from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to researchers at U.S. medical schools and their departments.

This year, BRIMR ranked the Department of Pediatrics No. 1 with more than $63 million in funding from the NIH, the Department of Pharmacology No. 4 with more than $22.5 million, the Department of Orthopedics No. 5 with $6.7 million, and the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation No. 6 with more than $3.5 million.

Additionally, the Departments of Otolaryngology, Emergency Medicine, and Anesthesiology were ranked 11th respectively and the Departments of Family Medicine and Dermatology both ranked 12th. Internal Medicine ranked 14th.

"This is a great honor for the School of Medicine, and shows our faculty's dedication to innovative research, clinical care, and world class education," says CU Anschutz Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and Dean of the School of Medicine John H. Sampson, MD, PhD, MBA. "We are extremely proud of these rankings and the momentum we have for the future. We are on the road to becoming a top 10 medical school in 10 years. In fact, I'm confident that we can get there even sooner as many of our departments are just one major grant away from being in the top 10."

Overall, the School of Medicine has nine clinical departments ranked in the top 15, up from six in 2024, and the school improved its overall ranking to 21st - from 22nd in 2024 - with an additional $9.7 million in funding from the NIH bringing the total to nearly $314 million.

This year's ranking is the best in 20 years, when the school ranked No. 20 in 2006.

"This is a historical achievement for our departments and school," Sampson says. "Our school's NIH funding growth provides a solid foundation so that we can continue meaningful research and enhance the opportunities that ultimately make a difference in the lives of the patients we treat."