Research
Launching Diverse Careers in Clinical and Translational Research
Supporting Clinical Research with Precise Sample Handling and Advanced Laboratory Services
Bridging Research and Community Health with Expert Clinical Trial Support
How We Advance Our Research
Medical research is at the core of Tulane University School of Medicine. We attract top faculty, researchers and students from across the globe, driving medical innovation through groundbreaking research and surgical advancements. From pioneering the binocular microscope to performing cutting-edge robotic surgeries, Tulane has led medical breakthroughs while training future healthcare leaders.
NIH grants play a vital role in this work. For instance, in 2022, we received an $11.4 million NIH grant to establish the Tulane University Translational Sciences Institute, dedicated to advancing clinical research on high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and related conditions. As part of the NIH’s Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence program, which supports research capacity in under-resourced states, the institute focuses on transforming scientific discoveries into real-world applications to improve public health.
Since 2002, we have secured over $58 million in funding for NIH centers of excellence in hypertension, cancer genetics, regenerative medicine and translational research.
Read More from Dr. L. Lee Hamm, MD.
The NIH also awarded us a five-year, $42 million grant to the Tulane National Primate Research Center (TNPRC) to support its mission of advancing biomedical research to combat infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, Lyme disease, malaria and tuberculosis. As one of only three NIH-selected sites for testing promising AIDS vaccines in nonhuman primates, TNPRC also conducts research in regenerative medicine and plans to expand into aging-related diseases, neurodegenerative conditions, cardiovascular disease and substance abuse. The grant, TNPRC’s largest-ever renewal, funds the center’s operations, infrastructure and research programs, ensuring continued collaboration with Tulane’s medical and public health schools. Part of a national network of seven federally funded primate research centers, TNPRC has secured NIH support for over 50 years, contributing to groundbreaking medical discoveries that improve human health worldwide.
Our leadership has been closely monitoring potential federal funding cuts from the NIH. The proposed reduction in indirect research cost coverage to 15%—down from our current 53%—could create a significant funding gap. As the top NIH-funded institution in Louisiana, we receive about $130 million in NIH support, with almost $60 million allocated to the School of Medicine. Cuts of this magnitude would slow or halt critical research that cannot simply be put on pause and resuscitated later.
The impact of reduced funding would directly affect medical research and patient care. With over 1,600 active clinical trials at Tulane, funding cuts would hinder the development of critical treatments, slow scientific discovery, deter leading medical professionals and limit patient access to innovative therapies. Additionally, reduced research support would weaken the university’s role as a leader in biomedical advancements, diminishing opportunities for groundbreaking discoveries that drive medical progress and improve public health. Research is a fundamental pillar of our mission, alongside education and clinical care, as it drives medical advancements that improve public health and save lives.
Without sustained investment, progress slows, limiting the potential for new treatments and breakthroughs. This is particularly concerning for medical schools where NIH funding is the primary support for critical research initiatives. The university alone cannot sustain the level of research needed to make a meaningful impact on health outcomes, making continued federal funding essential for the betterment of society
Tulane State of the University 2024
Tulane University has emerged as a leading research institution, with federal research funding increasing by over 75% in the past seven years and faculty gaining global recognition for work on topics like ancient societies, aging, coastal erosion, and disease.
A notable achievement is the $23 million ARPA-H grant for the MAGIC-SCAN project, an interdisciplinary initiative in biomedical engineering and computer science aimed at improving cancer surgery outcomes. The university has revitalized its downtown campus with new research labs at Hutchinson Memorial Building and expanded infrastructure at the Tulane National Primate Research Center.
The renaming of the Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, supported by a record $160 million donation, will further enhance research capabilities through scholarships, new centers, and discovery-driven spaces.
Tulane has also fortified its campuses with 16 megawatts of backup power to safeguard research during weather disruptions, reflecting its dedication to transformative, collaborative, and innovative advancements in the research sphere.
Tulane Awarded $8.5 Million Contract to Develop Next Generation Whooping Cough Vaccine
Tulane researchers James McLachlan and Lisa Morici explain how nanoparticles shed from bacteria can be used in future vaccines to illicit a more potent immune response than existing technologies. Video by Carolyn Scofield and Keith Brannon.
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