The annual National Institutes of Health's (NIH) rankings have been released, and we are proud to share that Duke Anesthesiology is ranked the #3 anesthesiology clinical science department in the nation for NIH funding, up one spot from last year. This accomplishment solidifies our reputation as one of the premier research institutions in our field, attaining more than $18 million in NIH funding.
What makes this milestone particularly unique is that we have not only elevated our national standing but also increased our total funding awarded in just one year (as seen below)—a rare "double win" that demonstrates our department's exceptional growth and resilience in a highly competitive climate.
Top 5 Anesthesiology Departments
2024-2025
| 2024 RANKING | NIH FUNDING AWARDED |
|---|---|
| #1 Washington University, St. Louis | $31,628,629 |
| #2 Stanford University | $23,088,142 |
| #3 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor | $17,282,806 |
| #4 Duke University | $12,905,331 |
| #5 Vanderbilt University | $11,894,653 |
| 2025 RANKING | NIH FUNDING AWARDED |
|---|---|
| #1 Washington University, St. Louis | $30,583,287 |
| #2 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor | $20,814,360 |
| #3 Duke University | $18,060,254 |
| #4 University of Pittsburgh | $17,234,079 |
| #5 Stanford University | $16,968,595 |
Securing a spot among the top three in research funding is more than a statistic—it is a powerful validation of our collective tenacity. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of what is possible in anesthesiology and have reached this height despite the significant shifts in the research landscape over the past year. Our sustained excellence in NIH funding reflects our commitment to hard work and is a testament to our culture of collaboration that remains unshakable, for which we are profoundly grateful.
Furthermore, the Duke University School of Medicine was awarded more than $514 million in federal funding from the NIH, ranking #9 nationally among academic medical centers, up from #13 and an increase of nearly $60 million in funding from last year.
Top 10 Medical Schools, 2025
| 1 | 5 | 8 |
|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO $724,156,263 |
STANFORD UNIVERSITY $573,897,714 |
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH $555,351,237 |
| 2 | 6 | 9 |
| WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ST LOUIS $675,188,873 |
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY $565,329,366 |
DUKE UNIVERSITY $514,509,019 |
| 3 | 7 | 10 |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA $622,537,289 |
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY $564,267,623 |
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ANN ARBOR $507,840,724 |
| 4 | ||
| YALE UNIVERSITY $580,818,286 |
These 2025 rankings are tabulated by the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research. All data is derived from NIH year-end composite data for the federal fiscal year ending September 30, 2025.
Please join us in extending congratulations to all members of our department’s research team for their exceptional contributions. We are deeply grateful for the passion they bring to our mission every day; they are the heart of this success. As we look toward the next peak, let us take a moment to be inspired by how far we have come and the lives our research will ultimately transform.