OHIO earns increase in external funding for research and sponsored programs in FY19

Ohio University saw a significant increase in external investment in its research and sponsored programs in fiscal year 2019, including funding from state and federal agencies, industry, and private sources.

The total amount of external funding Ohio University received for research and sponsored programs rose from $54.9 million in fiscal year 2018 to $62 million in fiscal year 2019. The University was granted 550 awards in FY19.

“Ohio University is committed to producing research that drives national and global solutions, and the funding we receive from our government and private partners is crucial to enhancing those efforts,” Ohio University President M. Duane Nellis said. “We greatly appreciate the support and look forward to the results of our faculty and student research efforts.”

In the area of research, Ohio University’s awards from the National Institutes of Health increased from $3.9 million in fiscal year 2018 to $6.5 million in fiscal year 2019. Award examples include:

• Researchers at the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine received nearly $3 million in funding to investigate why Hispanics are more prone to develop non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
• A five-year grant for more than $2.23 million supports a research project at the Edison Biotechnology Institute and Heritage College that could lead to treatments that extend human lifespan and allow people to enjoy better health in their old age.

In addition, Ohio University researchers received several other major new federal awards in the areas of health and wellness, as well as energy and the environment:

• A $1.38 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education is funding a collaboration between researchers in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Scripps College of Communication to develop a new video game designed to help children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) learn academic skills and better succeed in school.
• A Russ College of Engineering and Technology researcher received $1 million to develop a novel laboratory-scale process to simultaneously convert two of the energy industry’s most problematic substances to manage — carbon dioxide and ethane — into valuable products for the chemical and energy sectors.
• A College of Health Sciences and Professions study proposed to better help military personnel fully recovery from knee injuries has been awarded a grant of $750,000 from the United States Department of Defense.

Ohio University also received an increase in support for sponsored programs that support initiatives such as opioid interventions, regional economic development and educational technology:

• The College of Health Sciences and Professions and partners received a $1.1 million POWER grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to create a recovery ecosystem that will connect approximately 300 justice-involved women in Southeast Ohio struggling with substance abuse disorders to a coordinated regional network of treatment, recovery and workforce training programs.
• The Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs received a $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration to fund and operate a new program, the Building Opportunities Beyond Coal Acceleration Transition (BOBCAT) Network, to assist Southeast Ohio communities affected by the decline of the coal industry.
• The Henry Luce Foundation awarded Ohio University Libraries $1.2 million for the Southeast Asia Digital Library’s new digital initiatives to enhance international collections worldwide.

“Each of these grants helps our researchers to advance solutions to problems that challenge individuals and communities,” Vice President for Research and Creative Activity Joseph Shields said. “Our faculty have the talent and ability to tackle these issues, and the financial backing provides them with additional opportunity to achieve results.”

In addition, industry funding rose from $3.15 million in fiscal year 2018 to $3.75 million in fiscal year 2019. Ohio University has been focused on increasing its partnerships with industry over the last several years and has made this effort part of its new Fearlessly First strategic framework and initiatives. On Oct. 1, the university announced the creation of the new Corporate Engagement Office, which will serve as a central location for personalized and accelerated matchmaking and navigation services for corporate partners.