Grant awards top $600 million for fiscal year

The University of Washington received just over $600 million in grant and contract awards for support of research and training in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999.

This represents an increase of $43 million, or 8 percent, over the previous year. It is likely to help the UW maintain its standing among the top five U.S. educational institutions and its first-place ranking among public universities in receipt of federal awards, which represent about 75 percent of the total. The UW has been in the top five since 1974.

Grant and contract-supported programs provide salaries for more than 5,900 full-time-equivalent employees as well as opportunities for students at all levels to work with faculty in research and as a component of their education.

Grants and contracts are over and above state appropriations for instruction and basic operations, and are received in response to faculty-initiated proposals to support specific projects or programs. The level of awards received by the UW has nearly doubled in the past 10 years.

Federal awards increased 7 percent from the previous year; nonfederal awards rose by 12 percent. Within the federal sector, the largest sponsoring agency is the Department of Health and Human Services, with 48 percent of total awards. Roughly two-thirds of these awards went to the School of Medicine.

“It is a tribute to the caliber and hard work of the faculty, students and staff at the University of Washington,” said Alvin Kwiram, vice provost for research. These awards generally result from peer review of competing proposals, have a large dollar value and help the university maintain its high national ranking.” ¶