The U. said it received $322.6 million in funds in the 2007 fiscal year, with about three-quarters of the money coming from the federal government.

"It is astonishing - despite the highly competitive and underfunded national support of science - that we have been able to have our research supported at record levels," said Ray Gesteland, the university's vice president for research and a distinguished professor of human genetics. "We've clearly gotten through the downturn of the previous year."

Last year, researchers said funding processes at federal agencies had become so competitive, it was rare to have a proposal funded on the first round.

Gesteland said that is still the case, but U. researchers have developed "creative, competitive activities."

"There is stiff competition, and our researchers are developing competitive proposals," he said. "We have also increased our effort in interdisciplinary areas of research, and that's something the government is interested in funding."

Of $203.8 million provided directly by federal agencies, sources included $159.4 million from the Department of Health and Human Services (including the National Institutes of Health); $21.4 million from the National Science Foundation; $8.4 million from the Department of Energy; $5.3 million from the Department of Defense; $2.2 million from the Department of Education; $1.3 million from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; $1.2 million from the Department of Interior; $1 million from the Department of Transportation; and the rest from other U.S. agencies.

In 2006, the University of Utah ranked 29th overall among the nation's public research universities, according to the Center for Measuring University Performance.

In funding, the University of Utah ranked 14th among public research universities in annual giving by private donors, 32nd in total federal research funds, 34th in endowment assets and 41st in total research funds.

"The dollars that come in to support research at the university pay for faculty salaries, buildings, goods and services; offset costs the state would otherwise pay; and help educate students," said Brent Brown, director of the Office of Sponsored Projects. "Those students contribute to society, and the inventions that come from the scientific work the faculty are doing are spun out of the university and create further jobs in high-tech industries."

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* SHEENA MCFARLAND can be contacted at smcfarland@sltrib.com or 801-257-8619.