Our Research
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is a top 20 medical school where nationally renowned researchers collaborate with skilled clinicians to improve human health. Feinberg provides 60 percent of all research across Northwestern University. The collaborative medical school faculty conducts basic science, clinical, and translational research on campuses in Chicago and Evanston.
As part of an academic medical center, Feinberg strives to quickly apply our breakthroughs in laboratory research into clinical practice. Researchers at Feinberg are supported by the Northwestern University Office for Research, the Feinberg Research Office and a network of more than 30 research core facilities. Research is conducted in all Feinberg departments, institutes, and centers.
Funding and Awards
For the 2011-2012 academic year, Feinberg awards totaled $314.4 million.
Researchers at the medical school received 1,495 awards in academic year 2011-2012.
NIH Funding
Feinberg received 744 National Institute of Health (NIH) awards totaling $207,235,218.
Awards for individual training grants numbered 51 F awards and 45 K awards, and institutional training grants totaled 26.
NIH Rankings
In 2012, Feinberg rose to an all-time high for National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding rankings, jumping to 21st among all American medical schools, up from 39 in 2001.
In addition to rankings based on overall funding, NIH ranks individual departments of medical schools. In 2012, eight of Feinberg’s departments ranked in the top 10 of their research areas, and 11 ranked in the top 20:
- Departments ranked in NIH top 10 in 2012: Physiology (3); Urology (3); Obstetrics and Gynecology (4); Preventive Medicine (4); Dermatology (7); Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (8); Cell and Molecular Biology (9); Neurology (10)
- Affiliated specialty hospitals ranked in the NIH top 10 for 2012: Rehabilitation Institute (1); Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago (8)
- Departments ranked 10 through 20 by NIH in 2012: Medicine (17); Otolaryngology (20); Surgery (20)
Investigators
516 principal investigators (PIs)
311 PIs on NIH grants
Research Space
Feinberg’s research space totaled 650,000 sq. ft. in academic year 2011-2012, comprised of approximately 500,000 sq. ft. of wet lab space and 150,000 sq. ft. of dry lab space.
During 2012-2014, the school is renovating approximately 100,000 sq. ft. of existing lab space. In 2013, the school is adding an additional 110,000 sq. ft. of new lab space.
Technology Transfer
For academic year 2011-2012:
- 62 invention disclosures
- 24 provisional patent applications
- 24 formal patent applications
- 13 non-provisional patent applications
Clinical Trials
Nearly 1,000 clinical trials take place at Feinberg and its affiliates every year.
This page last updated Feb 7, 2013