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Columns::August 19, 2002
Leaving a lasting legacy: Ecology institute founder Eugene Odum dies at 88
UNC-Greensboro administrator is appointed grad school dean
‘Benefit Extras’: New Web-based program provides information on insurance products, finanical services
Three new faculty mentors appointed
Diagnostic labs will receive $2 million to take part in homeland defense network
UGA joins partnership to increase productivity
Campus News
Research funding at UGA hits a record-setting $204 million
By Judy Purdy
jbp@ovpr.uga.edu
External grants for research, instruction, public service and outreach set a new record at UGA in fiscal year 2002, surpassing the
$200 million mark for the first time in the university’s history.
Total external funding during the fiscal year jumped to $204.5 million, a 17 percent increase over the previous year’s $174.4 million figure. External funding for research climbed 13 percent, closing the year at $139.4 million. External funds include contracts, grants and agreements from federal, state, private and corporate sources.
“UGA’s external funding has steadily increased in recent years,” says Regina Smith, the associate vice president for research who directs the Office of Sponsored Programs. “For example, last year’s overall external funding rose 9.5 percent and research funding was up 20 percent over the previous year.”
“This year’s increases following last year’s record numbers show that significant changes have taken place at UGA; faculty are indeed moving UGA to a different level,” says Karen Holbrook, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost.
During fiscal year 2002, which ended June 30, total awards from the National Institutes of Health increased to $35.6 million, a 35 percent jump over the $26.4 million awarded in fiscal year 2001. Awards from the U.S. Department of Agriculture also increased, ending the year at $26.5 million, a 33 percent increase over the $20 million received in the previous year. U.S. Department of Energy funding for the fiscal year was $12.7 million, and National Science Foundation funding was $17.6 million. Awards from other federal agencies accounted for an additional $24.2 million.
“Faculty deserve the lion’s share of the credit for the rising numbers,” says Gordhan Patel, vice president for research. “The arena of external contracts and grants is very competitive. Major research universities coast to coast are competing for the same limited resources. Proposals that receive funding are judged to be the best by reviewers who evaluate the merits of each proposal.”
Several UGA faculty received new awards in excess of $1 million this past year. They include Leonard Poon, director of
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UGA’s Gerontology Center, who received a $7.5 million grant over the next five years from the National Institute on Aging to continue studies of the physical and mental functioning of people 100 and older. Paul Roman, Distinguished Research Professor of Sociology, was awarded a five-year, $7.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health for ongoing research on substance abuse treatment facilities.
UGA was one of only four research universities nationwide selected by the NIH for a 900 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance facility. NIH awarded James Prestegard $4.3 million to establish the Southeast Collaboratory for High-Field Biomolecular NMR.
The National Science Foundation awarded grants to three UGA scientists for research aimed at identifying useful genes for crop improvement: Andrew Paterson received a four-year, $3.97 million award to study the sorghum genome; Lee Pratt received $3.6 million to identify genes that improve plant growth in adverse environments; and Peggy Ozias-Akins received $1.1 million to study seed production in a wild relative of pearl millet.
Drama professor David Saltz received a three-year, $900,000 NSF grant to develop a live-performance simulation system that blends live and historical performances in a virtual-reality environment.
During the fiscal year, UGA’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System, with facilities in Athens and Tifton, was named one of five core labs in a nationwide network to help the USDA respond in the event of a widespread outbreak of an exotic animal disease.
Other large USDA research grants included $2.1 million to Rebecca Mullis, head of the department of foods and nutrition, and $1.9 million to Daniel Phillips.
Mike Padilla, associate dean of the College of Education, received a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education for the Georgia Systemic Teacher Education Program; the grant is being directed by Frances Hensley. |
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