The University of Florida recorded $1.26 billion in research expenditures for fiscal year 2024, driven by an increase in federal funding.

The University of Florida (UF) reported a record $1.26 billion in research expenditures for fiscal year 2024 on Thursday, driven by a nearly 10 percent increase in federal funding compared to the previous year.

In fiscal year 2024, UF’s research awards reached $1.14 billion, including $768 million from the federal government, $123.5 million from the State of Florida, and $107 million from private foundations. The research spending data is based on UF’s response to the National Science Foundation’s annual Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey, which compares research spending among universities. The figure is a slight increase compared to the year prior, when the university reported $1.25 billion in research spending.

“At the University of Florida, we do big things and we solve big problems,” said UF President Ben Sasse. “We are proud to work with government agencies to put our expertise to work. Our discoveries are driving Florida forward.”

Key projects that received funding include a $15 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy for the UF-led Consortium for Nuclear Forensics, $6.2 million from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for optimizing nutrient use in Florida crops, and $5.8 million from the U.S. Army for research on small-molecule drugs targeting RNA in muscular dystrophy patients.

Nearly half of UF’s expenditures were concentrated within UF Health’s six colleges and the Wertheim UF Scripps Institute. The College of Medicine led with $370.5 million, followed by the Colleges of Public Health & Health Professions ($37.3 million), Pharmacy ($36.4 million), Veterinary Medicine ($29 million), Dentistry ($18.9 million), and Nursing ($5.3 million). The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute accounted for $101 million.

UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences recorded $269.6 million in research focused on crops, livestock, and environmental challenges, while its Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering contributed $150.4 million to advancements in cybersecurity, storm readiness, and robotics. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences invested $60.2 million in research areas, while the Florida Museum of Natural History dedicated $9.5 million to studies on living species and fossils. The College of Education conducted $21.1 million in research.

Research awards by college included $181.7 million for the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, $64.8 million for the Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute, and $372.6 million for the College of Medicine in Gainesville and Jacksonville.

Broadly speaking, UF’s research activities account for approximately 40 percent of the State University System of Florida’s research spending, with an estimated statewide economic impact of about $4 billion.