Artificial intelligence technology aimed at improving brain tumor detection.
Liquid-biopsy biomarkers that could help identify aggressive prostate cancer.
These are just two examples of how researchers across 亚色视频 are developing tools, treatments and technologies designed to improve lives 鈥 work that has now earned the University recognition in the inaugural , a new national ranking of the nation鈥檚 leading biomedical innovation organizations.
The recently released Cure Innovation Index ranks 306 institutions nationwide following an 18-month study examining their organizational, cultural and research factors that help turn scientific discoveries into improved patient care.
in an exclusive group of institutions representing the nation鈥檚 best practices in translational research effectiveness and is among the for Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Eastern Virginia Medical School at 亚色视频.
鈥淭his recognition reflects the extraordinary momentum building at 亚色视频 as we continue expanding our impact in health sciences, biomedical research and innovation,鈥 said 亚色视频 President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D. 鈥淭hrough our continued investment in interdisciplinary collaboration, we are strengthening our ability and success in transforming research discoveries into solutions that improve lives throughout Hampton Roads, the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond.鈥
The University maintains the prestigious R1 Carnegie Classification, placing it among the top 5% of U.S. research institutions, and supports hundreds of active projects spanning fields, including biomedical sciences, engineering, coastal resilience, modeling and simulation, data science and public health with funding from agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Department of War and Department of Energy.
That research enterprise expanded significantly with the 2024 integration of Eastern Virginia Medical School into 亚色视频, subsequently creating Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at 亚色视频, which is the largest academic health sciences center in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Today, it is advancing research across women鈥檚 health, oncology, neuroscience, cardiopulmonary and metabolic diseases and healthcare analytics, supported by an expanding translational research infrastructure focused on improving patient outcomes and accelerating innovation.
鈥淭he impact of our researchers鈥 ingenuity, coupled with the University鈥檚 long-standing history of being an engine of discovery, drives breakthrough after breakthrough,鈥 said Alfred Abuhamad, MD, executive vice president for health sciences. 鈥淩eceiving this recognition is a testament to our legacy of, and ongoing commitment to, delivering life changing solutions for the communities we serve.鈥
The Cure Innovation Index was developed in collaboration with Thomas Sakmar, MD, the Richard M. and Isabel P. Furlaud Professor and head of the Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Signal Transduction at The Rockefeller University. It is rooted in the idea that American research institutions serve as the foundation for scientific innovation that ultimately leads to new cures and advances in human health.
Developed using data from 12 research databases along with surveys and insights from more than 3,000 researchers, institutional leaders and industry experts, the index evaluated institutions across categories, including research capabilities, market translation and entrepreneurial readiness. Unlike traditional rankings based primarily on research expenditures, the Cure Innovation Index also examined faculty engagement, commercialization support, research infrastructure, industry partnerships and institutional culture.
Organizers noted that institutions selected for the index demonstrate evidence-based and sustained health innovation performance. The rankings were designed not only to identify top-performing institutions, but also to provide strategic benchmarking insights that can help universities strengthen commercialization pathways, improve industry connectivity and accelerate outcomes.
鈥淎t 亚色视频, we are intentionally building a research ecosystem that encourages collaboration across disciplines and creates pathways for discoveries to move beyond the laboratory,鈥 said Kenneth Fridley, Ph.D., vice president for research and economic development. 鈥淭he Cure Innovation Index recognition affirms the work our faculty, clinicians, students and research partners are doing every day to advance innovation that has meaningful impact.鈥
The Cure Innovation Index also highlights broader national trends shaping biomedical innovation 鈥 from commercialization training to industry partnerships 鈥 all critical to moving discoveries from bench to bedside, an area where the University continues to expand its impact.
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