UF research spending hits record 1.34 billion in fiscal year 2026

University of Florida faculty conducted a record $1.34 billion in research during fiscal year 2026, advancing discoveries in medicine, agriculture, engineering, space and other fields. According to a UF release, the research spending figures are estimates based on UF's response to the National Science Foundation's annual Higher Education Research and Development, or HERD, Survey, the national standard for comparing university research activity. The figures reflect spending during the fiscal year that ended June 30 and will be finalized early next year. The $1.34 billion total exceeds the previous record of $1.33 billion in research set during fiscal year 2025. UF spent $1.26 billion in FY2024 and $1.25 billion in FY2023 after surpassing the $1 billion mark for the first time in school history during FY2022, when it tallied $1.076 billion. Mainstreet does not have a paywall, but pavement-pounding journalism is not free. Join your neighbors who make this vital work possible. 'University of Florida researchers continue to address some of society's most important challenges while creating new opportunities for innovation and economic growth,' said UF President Stuart Bell in the release. 'This record level of research activity reflects both the quality of our people and the confidence that funding agencies, industry partners and the State of Florida place in their work.' Total research expenditures increased $6.5 million, or 0.5%, from fiscal year 2025. Federally funded research totaled $586.2 million, a 4.3% decrease from the previous year. Research supported by state and local governments increased 5.8% to $245.4 million, while industry-funded research rose 10.5% to $45.8 million. UF's institutional investment in research increased 9% to $306.4 million. Research expenditures supported by nonprofit organizations totaled $56.9 million, a 5.7% decrease from the previous year. 'UF researchers continue to receive funding to tackle challenges that matter to Florida, the nation and the world,' said David Norton, UF's vice president for research, in the press release. 'While the research funding landscape continues to evolve, growth in state support and industry partnerships helped sustain another record year of research activity.' Public and private agencies typically award universities multiyear funding based on competitive proposals submitted by researchers. UF researchers secured $1.09 billion in new federal awards during fiscal year 2026. Those awards will support salaries, construction, equipment, supplies and other expenses for the life of the projects. Among the significant new research projects funded during fiscal year 2026 were: Clinical and translational research: The National Institutes of Health awarded $43 million to UF and Florida State University to sustain and expand their collaborative Clinical and Translational Science Award hub. The funding will help accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into clinical practice, strengthen workforce development and improve health outcomes. The National Institutes of Health awarded $43 million to UF and Florida State University to sustain and expand their collaborative Clinical and Translational Science Award hub. The funding will help accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into clinical practice, strengthen workforce development and improve health outcomes. Maternal health: A $7.5 million grant from the Florida Department of Health is supporting the development and implementation of Gator MOMitor, a smartphone app developed by UF College of Medicine researchers to help new mothers monitor and report postpartum complications, including high blood pressure, depression, diabetes-related concerns and infection. A $7.5 million grant from the Florida Department of Health is supporting the development and implementation of Gator MOMitor, a smartphone app developed by UF College of Medicine researchers to help new mothers monitor and report postpartum complications, including high blood pressure, depression, diabetes-related concerns and infection. Emerging viruses: A $3.5 million award from the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium is supporting researchers from the College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Public Health and Health Professions as they develop methods to identify and monitor dengue fever, yellow fever and other emerging viruses. A $3.5 million award from the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium is supporting researchers from the College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Public Health and Health Professions as they develop methods to identify and monitor dengue fever, yellow fever and other emerging viruses. Avocado industry: A $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture is supporting UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers in developing strategies to combat laurel wilt disease and improve the resilience of Florida's $100 million avocado industry. A $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture is supporting UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers in developing strategies to combat laurel wilt disease and improve the resilience of Florida's $100 million avocado industry. Biosensors: A $3 million National Science Foundation award is supporting UF researchers who are combining living cells with solid-state materials to create next-generation biosensors capable of detecting pathogens and environmental contaminants in real time. The technology could have applications in environmental monitoring, health care and national security. Nearly half of UF's research expenditures were concentrated in the biomedical sciences. The College of Medicine in Gainesville and Jacksonville conducted $368 million in research, followed by the College of Pharmacy with $38.5 million, the College of Public Health and Health Professions with $36 million, the College of Veterinary Medicine with $35.5 million, the College of Dentistry with $22.1 million and the College of Nursing with $4.6 million. The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute accounted for another $92.8 million in research expenditures. UF/IFAS recorded $302.8 million in research expenditures during fiscal year 2026. Headquartered on UF's Gainesville campus with research and education centers throughout Florida, UF/IFAS researchers focus on agriculture, natural resources, food systems and environmental sustainability. Researchers in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering conducted $181.1 million in research on topics including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, resilience and advanced manufacturing. Faculty in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences recorded $64.1 million in expenditures, much of it in basic research areas such as physics, chemistry, biology and astronomy that underpin advances in medicine, engineering and agriculture. Research expenditures totaled $58.7 million across other UF colleges and units, including the College of Education, College of Health and Human Performance, College of Design, Construction and Planning, Florida Museum of Natural History, Warrington College of Business, College of Journalism and Communications, Levin College of Law and the College of the Arts. Research drives innovation UF Innovate reported a record 463 invention disclosures, 500 patent applications, 162 issued patents, 320 licensing agreements and 12 startup companies launched during fiscal year 2026. The results reflect UF's efforts to move discoveries from research laboratories into the marketplace and create new companies, products and economic opportunities. 'Research funding fuels discovery, and discovery fuels innovation,' Norton said. 'The strong commercialization results we saw in 2026 reflect the quality of the research being conducted across the University of Florida and our commitment to translating new knowledge into products, companies and solutions that benefit society.' Share on X (Twitter) Share on Facebook Share on Email