As a top-tier research university, the University of Utah is an important part of a national research engine. U. research prevents deadly breast and colon cancers from developing, makes it possible to test and diagnose dozens of diseases, generates sophisticated robotic limbs that empower people with limited mobility and much more. Incredible advances like these have improved countless lives in Utah and beyond and are a vital driver of our state’s economy.
These Utah innovations — part of the reason that I decided to join U of U Health last month as its Senior Vice President and CEO — stem from a longstanding partnership between the federal government and universities that was established to advance areas of national interest. The powerful collaboration has catapulted the U.S. as a global leader in developing new technologies and accelerating biomedical research. But recent changes are putting that international status at risk.
The National Institutes of Health is the largest supporter of biomedical research in the U.S. and the biggest contributor to the U’s $691 million research portfolio. In FY23, U research generated an additional $328 million in indirect labor. More broadly, NIH grants and contracts awarded to 10 universities and corporations across Utah directly supported over 4,450 jobs and spurred $786 million in economic activity, according to a study from United for Medical Research. This means real jobs for Utahns, jobs that have real impact on our economy.
Recently NIH announced a cut to the payments, known as Facilities & Administration (F&A) cost reimbursements, that support the buildings our researchers work in and the staff members who support our research programs. At our university, F&A costs help pay for buildings, equipment and technology needed for research. They also cover things like data storage, safety programs and other jobs that support research. Universities spend money upfront to create and maintain these resources and then get some of that money back from federal agencies like the NIH. These investments are crucial for continuing scientific research.
Imagine trying to build a new apartment building without the right tools, materials or workers. Just like construction needs these essential resources to create housing, research needs strong support systems to succeed.
Utah can be proud of U-based breakthroughs that are directly benefitting people in our state today. Research is enabling us to rapidly diagnose disease in newborns, enabling fragile infants to receive the care they need more quickly. It is bringing better care for people with chronic pain who live in remote and rural communities with less access to treatment. It is providing better drug treatments for infectious diseases that have impacted people for decades.
In addition to improving health, U. research is fuel for our economy. In 2023, these efforts helped to create jobs for 8,340 employees with an annual payroll of $248 million and generated $32 million in state and local taxes. As our largest funding source, the NIH contributes the most to these statistics.
Successes from the past give a glimpse into the future of such investments. Federally backed U. accomplishments from years ago have since matured into profitable Utah-based companies like Recursion Pharmaceuticals, Myriad Genetics and BioFire, which has gone global as BioMériux. And the innovations keep coming. U researchers have spun off more than 300 companies and, last year alone, earned 23 U.S. patents that will generate new products and startups in the years to come. This enduring “can do” attitude was present when the software engineers at the U. performed the research that developed companies like Adobe and Pixar Entertainment. It is a pioneering spirit that positions our state at the forefront of technological advancement.
All of this creates a rich environment crackling with innovation and ingenuity, providing our undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to continue advancing tests, therapies, devices and treatments. Top minds come to the U. to learn alongside leading faculty who provide mentoring, hands-on experience and critical thinking skills that can be applied beyond the sciences. As a result, our students are well prepared to be the next generation of innovators and economic stimulators. And many of these students will live and work right here in Utah and help prosper our state by working in these critical industries.
Shared investments between research institutions and the government are essential for the health, prosperity and future of our state and nation. It is imperative to uphold the research partnership that has achieved truly great things and has the potential to accomplish so much more.
(Bob S. Carter) Bob S. Carter, MD, Ph.D., serves as Senior Vice President for Health Sciences and CEO for University of Utah Health.
Bob S. Carter, MD, Ph.D., serves as Senior Vice President for Health Sciences and CEO for University of Utah Health. In his roles leading the health system, Carter works to assure the professional and educational success of more than 27,000 talented faculty, staff, and students who make U of U Health one of the nation’s premier academic health centers.
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