UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry climbs to No. 8 nationally in NIDCR funding

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry ranked No. 8 among U.S. dental schools in research funding from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research for fiscal year 2024, according to the agency’s annual rankings released in July.

The ranking marks the second consecutive year the School of Dentistry placed in the top 10 for National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research funding, improving from No. 10 in fiscal year 2023. The dental school also maintained its top position among Texas dental schools.

According to the agency, the dental school received more than $7.4 million in research funding in fiscal year 2024 — up from $5.7 million in 2023 and $4.4 million in 2022, when the school ranked No. 13.

“Our top 10 national ranking speaks to the growing research culture at the School of Dentistry and to the excellence of ongoing work in our research centers that focus on dental, oral, and craniofacial research,” said Mary “Cindy” Farach-Carson, PhD, associate dean for research and director of clinical and translational research at the dental school. “The investment in our infrastructure and the energy our dedicated researchers bring to their cutting-edge work have elevated us from tenth to eighth nationally.

“Our culture prioritizes well-equipped, managed core facilities and grant support services that foster interdisciplinary work that spans clinical, basic, and translational research.”

The emphasis on collaboration and support, Farach-Carson added, is yielding results beyond rankings.

“That approach is paying off, not just in funding, but in meaningful scientific contributions towards improving dental, oral, and craniofacial health.”

The annual National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research rankings evaluate institutions, departments, and investigators based on the amount of funding they receive from the agency during the federal fiscal year.

The School of Dentistry also ranked No. 10 nationally among dental schools in total research funding from the National Institutes of Health for the same fiscal year.

A division of the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research is the federal government’s leading agency for scientific research on dental, oral, and craniofacial health and disease.