The College garnered more than $21 million in fiscal 2023, placing it among the top 10 percent of pharmacy colleges
The University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy is now ranked among the top 10 percent in the nation in total research grant funding after securing more than $21 million in funds in fiscal 2023, the latest year for which numbers are available.
The total research funding beats the college’s three-year average of $19.1 million and places URI atop the list of all pharmacy schools in the northeast, according to the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, which compiles the list. The College has consistently ranked among the best pharmacy schools in research funding, reaching as high as number 8 in the nation in 2020.
The funding fuels critical research in such areas as drug development, cancer treatment and prevention, health outcomes, neurological health and the use of natural ingredients like maple syrup in maintaining health. The College’s dynamic researchers will work to improve the influenza vaccine, find new treatments for cerebral palsy, investigate the damaging effects of microplastics on the body, and reduce incidences of HIV, among many other impactful projects.
“I am immensely proud of our faculty, staff, and students whose hard work and dedication have propelled us into the top 10 percent nationally for research funding,” said Dean Kerry LaPlante. “Securing more than $21 million in fiscal 2023 is a testament to our unwavering commitment to advancing pharmaceutical sciences and improving health. This achievement not only highlights the excellence of our research but also underscores the significant impact we are making in addressing critical health challenges. We are excited to continue our journey of innovation and discovery, driving forward the boundaries of what is possible.”
The research ranking is just the latest accolade for the College. The Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) program is now ranked number 31 among the 141 pharmacy colleges in the country in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings, the college’s highest rank to date. The program has been rising steadily through the ranks in recent years, improving from number 40 in the last survey in 2020, and number 46 in 2016. This year, the College has the highest first-year postgraduate residency placement rate in New England at 85 percent, placing it in the top 10 in the country, and a second-year placement rate of 100 percent; a first-time pass rate of 86 percent on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination; and a graduate employment rate of 99 percent.
In addition to the 0-6 PharmD program, allowing students to complete the degree just six years after graduating high school, the URI College of Pharmacy also offers Master’s and Ph.D. programs, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Visit the URI College of Pharmacy website for more information and to apply.