TABLE OF CONTENTS  |  FRONT PAGE  |  NEXT ARTICLE |  PREVIOUS ARTICLE  |  UNC HOMEPAGE

Two researchers place in NIH top 10


Two researchers representing the University were among the top 10 principal investigators in their respective federal funding areas in 2000, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Richard Boucher, Kenan professor of medicine and division head of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Carolina, was seventh in the list of top-funded basic research principal investigators. Nobel laureate Stanley Prusiner at the University of California at San Francisco headed the list. Boucher received $5.1 million in NIH grant funding for cystic fibrosis research in 2000.

J. Richard Udry, Kenan professor of sociology and professor of maternal and child health at the School of Public Health, was second in the list of top-funded clinical, social science principal investigators (investigator-initiated grants and centers only). Donald Morton of the John Wayne Cancer Institute headed the list. Udry received $8.4 million in NIH grant funding for an adolescent health survey in 2000.

The June 15 issue of the journal Science recently published a complete list of scientists in the upper echelons of federal funding.

Boucher, who also directs the University's Cystic Fibrosis/Pulmonary Research and Treatment Center, has published more than 300 articles on cystic fibrosis and gene therapy. He helped develop a gene "knock-out" mouse model for studying cystic fibrosis experimentally, conducted both animal and human trials of gene therapy for cystic fibrosis lung disease, and developed novel drugs that are being tested for the treatment of cystic fibrosis lung disease.

Cystic fibrosis, or CF, is the most common lethal genetic disease in the white population, affecting one in 3,300 births.

Udry's grant is part of the Carolina-based National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), which made national news with the 1997 research findings that strong and supportive ties between parents and children help protect adolescents against a variety of risky behaviors, including substance abuse, early sexual activity, pregnancy, emotional distress, suicide and violence.

National Institutes of Health funding for research at the University jumped more than 20 percent in fiscal 2000, according to new figures released in March by the federal agency. Carolina faculty received $207 million in NIH funding - up from $171.3 million in 1999 - ranking 13th overall among private and public universities nationwide, and up from 14th last year.

Fiscal 2000 overall research funding at Carolina topped the $375 million mark for contracts and grants awarded for research, teaching and public service - an increase of 9 percent over the previous fiscal year.


TABLE OF CONTENTS  |  FRONT PAGE  |  NEXT ARTICLE |  PREVIOUS ARTICLE  |  UNC HOMEPAGE