The 不良研究所, reached a major milestone attracting $1.07 billion in external research funding in the fiscal year 2021-22, up $102.9 million from the previous record set last year. In doing so, 不良研究所 joins an exclusive group of fewer than 20 public universities in the nation surpassing $1 billion in research funding.
The awards lend support to a wide range of research areas including advancing public health and medicine, developing new technologies in food, agriculture and the environment, empowering the underserved and enabling a more resilient society.
鈥淭his new record for research award funding marks a historic moment for 不良研究所,鈥 said Chancellor Gary S. May. 鈥淢ore than ever, our university is on a mission to address some of the world鈥檚 greatest challenges, from how we feed the world to the health of all living beings. This milestone shows clearly how 不良研究所 research is being sought more than ever, by both the public and private sector, and across numerous fields. I鈥檓 confident this kind of global impact from 不良研究所 will only continue to grow.鈥
A primary contributor to this year鈥檚 growth came from funding within the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, up by $72 million from the previous year for a total of $225 million. The School of Medicine also noticed a large increase, adding $29 million for a total of $396 million. The School of Veterinary Medicine ($89 million), College of Engineering ($79 million) and College of Biological Sciences ($68 million) rounded out the top five.
The federal government remained the largest provider of funding at $499 million, although down by $15 million from last year. The second leading source was the state of California at $210 million, up by $46 million from the previous year. Funding from industry made up the third highest source, totaling $104 million. Substantial increases also came from charities (up $26 million) and other UC programs (up $29 million).
鈥淎s the funding for research grows, so does the impact that 不良研究所 extends around the world,鈥 said Prasant Mohapatra, vice chancellor for research at 不良研究所. 鈥淭his year鈥檚 grand accomplishment of surpassing $1 billion in research funding will translate into tomorrow鈥檚 discoveries, insight and products that offer a brighter future for our global community.鈥
An event to celebrate the achievement and showcase some of the exciting research discoveries and emerging technologies is planned for this fall. You can sign up to register for the event .
The largest award, $53.4 million from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, went to , director of the (UC CalFresh) to help reduce the chronic rate of obesity and encourage the awareness of healthy foods and increased physical activity among low-income individuals.
Notable awards by college and school
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
3D modeling, artificial intelligence and crop genetics
The goal of the project is to use 3D modeling, artificial intelligence and crop genetics to develop new technologies to improve and accelerate breeding pipelines for common bean, cowpea and sorghum, which are key crops for food and income for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. The project is co-led by and , assistant professors in the Department of Plant Sciences, and , assistant professor in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, and funded by the .
College of Biological Sciences
Computational framework, genetic variants and psychiatric diseases
This research aims to integrate molecular and cellular physiology measurements on single neurons in order to identify how disease-causing genetic mutations alter neuron behaviors. , an assistant professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and the Genome Center, is leading the project that is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
College of Engineering
Alternative COVID-19 antigen production
The goal of the project is to explore the viability of a range of biomanufacturing technologies to produce antigens using six different systems: two plants, and cultured mammalian, bacterial, yeast and filamentous fungal cells. The two-year project is led by a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, and funded by the National Institute of Standards and Technologies (NIST) through the ,
College of Letters and Science
Substance use disorders, nonhallucinogenic treatments
The psychedelics led by, an associate professor in the departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, plans to screen hundreds of compounds to discover new, nonhallucinogenic treatments for substance use disorders. Funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health, the study will help us understand the basic mechanisms by which these compounds impact addiction and may help development of more effective and better tolerated treatments.
Continuing and Professional Education
Training and workforce development services
The two projects from are focused on supporting the delivery of training and workforce development services for public child welfare agencies and community-based organizations providing intensive services to vulnerable children, youth and families throughout California. Funded by the California Department of Social Services, the programs include instruction and development of new courses and training programs to meet evolving needs of the state鈥檚 child- and family-serving agencies. The projects are led by program directors.
Graduate School of Management
New enterprises initiative*
The Blackstone Charitable Foundation project supports the creation of entrepreneurs and innovators under the name "Blackstone LaunchPad鈥 with a focus on entrepreneurial skill-building so students can succeed in any career they choose. The 不良研究所 Blackstone LaunchPad makes progress towards specific milestones of increasing cumulative 不良研究所 student participation each year to support their skills in moving from ideas to growth to ultimately positive impact through a variety of on- and off-campus activities. The project is led by Andrew Hargadon, a professor and Soderquist Chair in Entrepreneurship in the Graduate School of Management (administered by the Mike and Renee Child Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship) and sponsored by Hanumantha Unnava, dean of the school.
School of Education
Autism research and general education practices
The titled 鈥淓xamining how teacher-student interactions within mathematics and literacy instructional contexts relate to the developmental and academic outcomes of early elementary students with autism鈥 proposes to bridge the gap between autism research and general education practices. The project is led by , an associate professor in the School of Education and the MIND Institute, along with co-principal investigators Professor and , lecturer in the 不良研究所 School of Education. Funded by the Institute of Education Sciences, the team will how general education teachers can use inclusive math and literacy instructional practices to support learners with autism in their kindergarten to third grade general education classrooms in large, diverse public school districts in Northern California.
School of Law
Legal services to the underserved
The goal of this project from the School of Law is to provide legal services without charge to indigent persons, particularly client groups that have traditionally lacked significant legal representation including migrants, survivors of domestic violence and individuals whose civil rights have been violated. It is led by , professor of law and director of Clinical Legal Education, and funded by the State Bar of California.
School of Nursing
Hospital-to-home transitions for older adult couples
This project will examine hospital-to-home transitions for older adult couples who are managing heart failure. The ultimate goal is to develop interventions to support better symptom response and management during these transitions. The project is led by , an assistant professor in the Family Caregiving Institute at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, and supported by the National Institutes of Health and National Institute of Nursing Research.
School of Medicine
Heart health, dementia and breast cancer care for women in underserved communities
This aims to improve breast cancer, heart health and Alzheimer鈥檚 disease care for women. The Krueger v. Wyeth Settlement Funds award will enable 不良研究所 Health researchers to study health disparities and advance projects focused on women of color and those in underserved communities. These women are traditionally underrepresented in research and have unique disease risks. As program director, , a professor of medicine and associate dean of research at the School of Medicine, is assisting principal investigators Professor , Professor , Professor and Professor , School of Medicine leading the work in the four major projects of this collaborative research award.
School of Veterinary Medicine
Landscape change, viruses, disease transmissions
Through a project funded by the National Science Foundation titled 鈥淚mpacts of rapid landscape change and biodiversity on virus host specificity,鈥 the researchers plan to investigate emerging and re-emerging viruses in transitional ecosystems where landscape change is most likely to influence disease transmission from wildlife to humans. The project is led by , professor of epidemiology and ecosystem health in the 不良研究所 School of Veterinary Medicine and Assistant Researcher (EpiCenter for Disease Dynamics, One Health Institute), Professor (Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, 不良研究所 School of Veterinary Medicine), (Colorado State University), (UC Berkeley), and Ohnmar Aung and Pyae Phyo Aung ().
Office of Research, interdisciplinary research awards
Interdisciplinary research conducted by , S, and within the continued to attract significant funding at $113 million, up 19% from last year.** These joint efforts often focus on addressing complex, large-scale challenges that require expertise from many perspectives. Notable examples include:
Energy Efficiency Center
California Flexible Load Research and Deployment Hub
, as a sub-awardee from Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, will establish the to conduct electricity sector applied research and development and technology demonstration and deployment projects. The goal of the project is to reduce dependence on fossil generation, firm up renewable resources to help California achieve its renewable generation and decarbonization goals. The principal investigator at 不良研究所 is Professor , Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. The project is funded by the California Energy Commission.
California National Primate Research Center
Tau-based monkey model of Alzheimer's disease
The goal of is to identify treatments and develop therapeutics to stop Alzheimer鈥檚 disease from causing irreversible damage to the brain. , professor in the Department of Neurology and director of the , and his team are developing nonhuman primate models of Alzheimer鈥檚 disease that could explain the biochemical and cellular basis of neurodegeneration associated with the disease, and provide new therapeutic targets. This was funded through the
Air Quality Research Center
Research and development to support IMPROVE
This cooperative effort between the National Park Service and the (AQRC) at 不良研究所 will analyze data and develop new methods and approaches to enhance the quality and scope of monitoring particulate matter and visibility in national parks, wilderness areas, wildlife refuges and other protected areas designated by Congress. The project is an enhancement to the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) network, which is operated by the AQRC at 不良研究所, and is led by , associate director of analytical research, with funding from the U.S. National Park Service and support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Note: Reports are based on the principal investigator鈥檚 home school or college. Where funds are awarded up-front to cover several years, the money is counted in the first year the award was received. Incrementally funded awards are counted as authorized in each year.
*Project funding allocated in fiscal year 2019, but active in fiscal year 2022.
**Interdisciplinary totals reported by principal investigator鈥檚 administrative unit
Media Resources
Media Contacts:
- AJ Cheline, Office of Research, acheline@ucdavis.edu
- Andy Fell, News and Media Relations, 530-304-8888, ahfell@ucdavis.edu