With $17.9 million in awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Penn Nursing re-takes the lead for research funding for the 2025 government fiscal year among U.S.  schools of nursing.

“Being ranked first in NIH funding among all schools of nursing underscores the vital role our faculty have in improving health,” said Antonia M. Villarruel, the Margaret Bond Simon Dean of Penn Nursing. “From exploring the complexities of opioid behavior to leveraging telehealth, our faculty and students are turning rigorous discovery into practical, clinical applications. This achievement belongs to our entire community, whose dedication ensures that Penn Nursing remains at the forefront of clinical excellence and transformative research.”

Penn Nursing’s research portfolio covers a broad range of topics, including:

• Examining the role of central amylin receptor in opioid mediated behaviors
• Using telehealth for PrEP deployment through community partnerships
• Examining photo biomodulation therapy in head and neck cancer survivors with chronic lymphedema
• Studying differences in hospital nursing resources as drivers of patient outcome disparities 
• Examining an AI enabled fall prevention intervention
• The study of digital HIV interventions for at-risk youth

“This recognition is a testament to the creativity and dedication of our faculty, trainees, and staff,” said George Demiris, associate dean for research and innovation. “Penn Nursing leads with a people-centered research enterprise that transforms discovery into real-world solutions for today’s most pressing health challenges.”