Record research awards reflect UK's mission to advance Kentucky
LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 15, 2025) — University of Kentucky investigators received $496.9 million in extramural grants and contracts to support their research in fiscal year (FY) 2025. This is a 1.7% increase from the $488.4 million in FY24 research awards and marks four consecutive years of growth.
UK researchers received 1,898 awards in FY25, setting new records with 865 principal investigators receiving support from 637 sponsors.
“Without question, research is vital in our mission to advance Kentucky. Research partnerships with industry help us to solve today’s problems and drive our ability to train the next generation to enter Kentucky’s workforce. Research impacts every Kentucky family — bringing new devices and new treatments that change the way we provide health care across the Commonwealth,” said UK President Eli Capilouto.
“In a year of unprecedented change in the federal funding landscape, UK’s research community was able to adapt and thrive. Our continued growth is a testament to the steadfast resilience of our research community and its dedication to answering the challenges facing Kentucky. They continued to do what they do best: work across academic boundaries and submit innovative research proposals that bring the best ideas to light. We thank them, and we will continue to support our research community in every way possible,” said Acting Vice President for Research Ilhem Messaoudi.
Federal awards accounted for 51.4% of UK’s total research funding, supporting investigators across the breadth of UK research — from projects to reduce injuries in members of the military and first responders, to projects protecting Kentucky communities from flooding events to projects to recover and purify critical minerals for advanced electronics in the U.S.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants totaled $130.2 million, 51% of UK’s total awards from federal sources. National Science Foundation (NSF) awards increased 58.9% (from $15.9 million in FY24 to $25.2 million in FY25). Department of Energy (DOE) awards increased 124.9% (from $10.4 million in FY24 to $23.4 million in FY25).
Support from state sources increased by 16.9% (from $127.2 million in FY24 to $147.9 million in FY25). Awards from industry sources also increased by 12.7% (from $22.2 million in FY24 to $25.1 million in FY25).
To learn more about innovative UK research that impacts Kentucky and beyond, visit research.uky.edu/news. To learn more about the impact of federal funding, read and watch the Research Advancing Kentucky series. For more UK Research data, visit the Stats & Rankings page.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.