VP message
I'm incredibly proud and thrilled to share the achievements of VCU's research enterprise for the 2025 fiscal year. Our collective commitment to discovery and innovative spirit hasn't just continued, it has accelerated, further cementing our status as a preeminent research institution both nationally and globally. This report outlines the impactful stories and comprehensive metrics that demonstrate how our dedication to research ranging from Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Engineering and Health Sciences fields being conducted on Monroe Park, Health Science as well as VCUArts Qatar is pushing the boundaries of knowledge creation and transforming lives.
The VCU research and innovation enterprise has crossed $500 million in both sponsored funding and research expenditures for the first time.
Each year since 2018, VCU has broken its previous record for sponsored funding, with this year an all time high at $568 million. This milestone is proof that when we strategically invest in our people, the most innovative ideas that lead to new knowledge creation and inventions, and our infrastructure, we build a future of sustained growth and capability. Even more significantly, we have now doubled our sponsored funding over the past seven years, achieving an astonishing 109% increase over seven years. This trajectory in a large part led by the School of Medicine and other schools and colleges underscores our unwavering commitment to groundbreaking, solutions-focused research that addresses the world's most pressing challenges.
VCU has been ranked in the top 50 nationally among public research universities for the last three years in a row by the National Science Foundation, solidifying our standing among the highest achieving universities in the country. In addition, our excellence in health sciences has broadened with 22 VCU health sciences schools and departments ranking in the top 50 for National Institutes of Health research funding among public institutions.
Innovation remains central to our mission. With over $4.3 million in licensing revenue and 171 patents filed, the unique ability of VCU researchers to translate fundamental discoveries into tangible, real-world results is allowing them to make and discover tomorrow’s solutions to today’s problems. VCU led the commonwealth with the most licenses to startups as well as licensing and royalty revenue as detailed in the most recent AUTM report. And that talent driving VCU’s innovation is world-class: we are proud that 167 of our faculty are ranked in the top 2% of most-cited researchers globally, validating the high impact of their scholarly output.
I'm immensely proud of the hard work and dedication of our entire research community, our faculty, staff and students. Your passion for discovery, your expertise and your commitment to making a tangible difference are the true engines of VCU’s continued success. Together, we will continue to push the boundaries of knowledge, elevate our reputation and shape a brighter future through transformative research and innovation.
Sincerely,
P. Srirama Rao, Ph.D.
Vice president for research and innovation