The latest rankings of research institutions based on National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding have been released, placing Pitt at No. 7 overall, having received $669.7 million.

Pitt’s research programs continue to demonstrate leadership across the health sciences. The six health sciences schools all were ranked in the top 20 for their categories. The School of Medicine ranked 8th nationally with more than $555 million in funding. The School of Public Health ranked 10th, and the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences ranked 6th. The university holds the No. 1 national ranking in both psychiatry and physical medicine and places in the top five in microbiology, pharmacology, otolaryngology, anesthesiology and neurosciences. Pitt’s NIH rankings reaffirm its position among elite universities including Johns Hopkins, Stanford, the University of Pennsylvania and Yale.

These funding numbers are compiled by the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research (BRIMR), reflecting data from the NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tool for Federal Fiscal Year 2025 (October 2024 through September 2025).

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AI Uncovers Parallels Between Parrots’ Warbles and Human Language

Christine Dahlin, Pitt-Johnstown, has long studied the vocalizations of Yellow-naped Amazon Parrots, recording and deciphering the warble duets of wild mated pairs. In her recent study, published in the Journal of Avian Biology, she and her team relied on AI to analyze these recordings. With Voyant, a machine learning program typically used to analyze bodies of text, they uncovered parallels between the birds’ complex signals and human language. The duets followed more than 20 syntactic rules, showing precision, not just a random cacophony of noise. Much like grammar, these rules provide structure but also allow for great flexibility in composition of “song.”

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$2.2 Million Foundation Grant to Support Blindness Research

Pitt and the Eye and Ear Foundation of Pittsburgh have received a $2.2 multiyear grant from the Gilbert Family Foundation to support its Vision Restoration Initiative (VRI). This round of funding will allow researchers to investigate optic nerve degeneration associated with the mutation of the neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) gene. NF1 is an incurable genetic condition that causes changes in skin pigment and tumors on nerve tissue, including within the eye, and can lead to premature death and complications such as blindness.

John Ash, E. Ronald Salvitti Chair in Ophthalmology Research, School of Medicine, will collaborate with colleagues Silmara de Lima and Larry Benowitz, also in the School of Medicine, to develop novel therapeutic solutions to preserve and restore vision in NF1 patients. The grant is part of a broader, multidisciplinary initiative by the Gilbert Family Foundation to advance transformative vision research and foster collaboration among 15 leading research centers.

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Paul Ohodnicki Named Director of Center for Energy

Paul Ohodnicki, Swanson School of Engineering, has been named director of Pitt’s Center for Energy. His experience spans academia, industry, entrepreneurship and national laboratories and positions him to further elevate the region’s position as a national leader in advanced energy research, deployment and workforce development.

The Center for Energy leverages the energy-related expertise of faculty across the Swanson School of Engineering, Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, School of Law, Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business and School of Public and International Affairs. Fostering collaboration among faculty, regional energy industry leaders, government agencies and the community, the center addresses the many challenges and opportunities associated with the generation, transmission and utilization of energy.

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Researchers Optimize Brain Organoids to Study Viral Effects on the Central Nervous System

Researchers from the School of Public Health and School of Medicine have developed next-generation brain organoid models to study viral effects on the central nervous system and test potential therapeutic interventions. The organoids, or miniature, three-dimensional structures, are grown from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and closely mimic the structure and function of the human brain, helping to accelerate the understanding of brain development and neurodegenerative disease.

Velpandi Ayyavoo, School of Public Health, is senior author of the study, which was recently published in Scientific Reports. Her team incorporated HIV-1-infected cells into vascularized organoids and found that viral replication persisted despite treatment with antiretroviral therapy. These findings highlighted the difficulty of eliminating HIV from the brain and showcased the utility of using organoids as a platform for studying neurotropic viruses in the central nervous system. This study was funded by an NIMH/NIH R01 award.

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Annual Disclosure Forms Due by April 15

The Annual Conflict of Interest Disclosure period is underway, and individuals who are required to disclose received email notifications from MyDisclosures earlier this week. Annual disclosures must be submitted by April 15. Supervisors must complete reviews by June 15.

Visit this page to review the disclosure requirements, MyDisclosures training videos and step-by-step instructions or guidance for supervisors. If you have questions or believe you should disclose but did not receive an email notification from MyDisclosures, contact the Office of Research Protections’ Conflict of Interest Division.

Boosting Immune Cells in Fat Tissue Could Fight Diabetes

School of Medicine scientists have discovered that boosting a specialized type of beneficial immune cell found in fat tissue can help the body fight insulin resistance and diabetes. Partha Dutta, director of the Center for Cardiovascular Inflammation, and his team at the Vascular Medicine Center recently published the study in Nature Communications. Findings establish grounds for the development of a new medication aimed at treating and potentially preventing type 2 diabetes and suggest it could one day complement GLP-1 weight maintenance drugs, which can lose effectiveness over time.

Read More in Drug Target Review >>

Study Examines How Chemical Exposure Affects the Liver

Following the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio that released up to 1.1 million pounds of vinyl chloride and other industrial chemicals, Juliane Beier, School of Medicine, began to analyze how exposure had affected the livers of local residents. Identifying that these chemicals can cause toxicant-associated steatohepatitis and liver cancer, Beier continues to follow this community longitudinally to screen for liver health effects over time.

Read More in Popular Mechanics >>

When Will Quantum Computers Be Fully Functional?

Liam Doyle, Fargol Seifollahi and Chandralekha Singh, Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, led a study to weigh in on whether fully functional quantum computers currently exist—a central question to the evolving field of quantum information science and technology. The team conducted in-depth interviews with leading experts, revealing a consensus that widespread practical application of quantum computers remains distant.

Read More in Quantum Zeitgeist >>

Grant Writing Accountability Group

Are you a faculty member planning to write a grant proposal this spring? The Pitt Research Concierge Program invites you to join the spring session of our Virtual Grant Writing Accountability Group. This program offers an online space to help faculty stay focused on proposal development through goal setting to keep grant writing on track, dedicated writing time free from distractions and feedback from a senior grant writer.

The spring sessions will be held via Zoom every Friday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. from March 20 to April 24. Dates are March 20 and 27 and April 3, 10, 17 and 24. Faculty are not required to attend every session and can register at any time during the six weeks.

To register for the spring session, email pittresearchconcierge@pitt.edu. For questions, contact Christine Barberio, senior grant writer, at ctb80@pitt.edu. Stay tuned for more information about the summer session to be held on Wednesdays from June 10 to July 15.