No. 1 in NIH Pediatric Research Funding
May 20, 2026
The Department of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, in partnership with Children’s Hospital Colorado, earned the No. 1 national ranking for NIH research funding in 2025. This achievement is supported by both federal investment and essential philanthropic contributions.
The Department of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, the academic partner of Children’s Hospital Colorado, ranked No. 1 in National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding in 2025, earning $63 million in NIH awards.*
This achievement underscores a deep commitment to advancing discoveries that improve the health of children. The Colorado Child Health Research Institute, a partnership between the University of Colorado Anschutz and Children’s Colorado, strengthens this work by integrating scientific discovery with clinical expertise, allowing new ideas to move from laboratories to patient care settings.
Federal and Philanthropic Support Fuels Breakthroughs
While child health research has historically been underfunded, NIH-funded research has been instrumental in improving pediatric health outcomes, decreasing child and infant mortality and advancing child health research at Children’s Colorado.
That’s why ongoing investment remains essential. Breakthroughs in child health rely on stable funding that allows scientists to pursue bold ideas, develop new therapies and bring discoveries into clinical practice. Philanthropic support helps fill gaps in federal funding and accelerates promising research by both seasoned and early-career investigators.
Donors’ gifts have helped make this incredible ranking possible, and for that, we are grateful. To learn more about investing in child health research, contact Sharon McMeel.
*According to data compiled by the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research
20
years the CU Dept. of Pediatrics, whose experts practice at Children’s Colorado, has ranked among the Top 3 in NIH funding.
101
pediatric investigators received NIH awards in 2025.
Philanthropic Award Allows Researcher to Secure NIH Funding
Stephanie Gilley, MD, PhD, a pediatric nutrition physician, used the Bruce and Bev Wagner Family Research Innovation Scholar Award, which is funded by philanthropy, to study how prenatal nutrition and early childhood feeding shape long-term health. This support helped her secure a prestigious NIH K08 Career Development Award. The early philanthropic investment laid the groundwork for her competitive federal grant and advanced her independent research program.