UT Dallas School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences Ranks #1 in Texas, #3 Nationally for NIH Funding

The University of Texas at Dallas School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences (BBS) has achieved a historic milestone, earning the #1 ranking in Texas and #3 in the United States in the 2024 Blue Ridge Rankings for National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding among schools of allied health professions.

The Blue Ridge Rankings, widely regarded as one of the most respected indicators of research competitiveness, are based on the amount of NIH research funding awarded to U.S. institutions. The 2024 results place UT Dallas BBS ahead of many long-established peers, highlighting the school’s growing national reputation for excellence in neuroscience, psychology, speech-language pathology, audiology, and health science research.

“This achievement reflects the extraordinary dedication of our faculty, researchers, and students,” said Dr. Adam J. Woods, Dean of the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. “Our success in securing competitive NIH funding enables us to push the boundaries of scientific discovery and deliver transformative advances in brain health, communication sciences, and human development.”

In 2024, UT Dallas BBS researchers secured NIH funding for projects spanning topics such as aging and dementia, traumatic brain injury, autism spectrum disorders, hearing loss, and language recovery after stroke. The school’s seven multidisciplinary research centers, including the Center for Advanced Pain Studies, Center for Vital Longevity, Texas Biomedical Device Center, and the Center for BrainHealth, have played pivotal roles in attracting large-scale federal investments.

Dr. Joseph J. Pancrazio, Vice President for Research at UT Dallas, highlighted the recent NIH funding ranking as a significant milestone for the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. “Being recognized as the top-ranked program in Texas and among the top three nationally in NIH funding is more than a mark of distinction; it is a clear indication that our faculty are leading transformative research that improves lives,” he said.

The ranking underscores UT Dallas’s continued rise as a research powerhouse and reaffirms the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences’ leadership in addressing some of society’s most pressing health challenges.