Children’s Academic Partner, Emory University Department of Pediatrics, Ranks in Top 5 for NIH Research Funding

Pediatric researchers work toward one common goal—to improve treatments and outcomes that will help kids live healthier lives. Children’s works together with Emory University School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, our primary academic partner, to facilitate research projects and trials that help answer pivotal questions for childhood diseases. 

According to the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, Emory Department of Pediatrics ranked in the top 5 in federal research dollars from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2023 for pediatrics departments. The new figures show the pediatrics department ranking No. 5. The program has maintained a top 5 ranking for eight consecutive years. During Emory’s 2023 fiscal year, the pediatrics department received the highest amount of total extramural funding in its history. The funding allows researchers to work on cures and treatments for childhood diseases such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, cancer and blood disorders, cardiovascular disease, epilepsy, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, autism and more. 

“The once tiny Department of Pediatrics had only $8 million in total extramural funding in 2005,” said Lucky Jain, MD, Pediatrician-in-Chief of Children’s and Chair of the Emory University School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics. “In the same year, Children’s started planning a path to research excellence. Through this effort and other outstanding commitments, we have now achieved the highest amount of extramural funding in our history. NIH and other extramural funding are only possible through the astounding contributions of our investigators, 30 of whom each received $1 million or more.” 

The Children’s and Emory relationship facilitates leading-edge pediatric research, training and innovation so that Children’s can deliver the best outcomes possible for patients and families. In 2023, there were more than 1,800 publications in more than 800 journals to support efforts to develop new treatments and cures in 50 specialty areas. Learn more in the Children’s and Emory 2023 Research Report: Hope and Healing Through Innovation.   

Read the full press release for more information on NIH funding the Department of Pediatrics has received on choa.org.