University of Michigan Research

Research Overview

The scale and disciplinary reach of research programs at the University of Michigan are exceptional. Research is at the core of the University’s mission and is conducted in every one of the 19 academic schools and colleges, by more than 4,800 faculty and a significant portion of more than 40,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Total research expenditures exceed $750 million per year, making the University’s research program one of the largest in the nation, consistently among the top five. The Federal government is the largest source of sponsored project funding, currently providing about 71% of the total research expenditures at the UM. The second largest source is internal funds, at about 15%. Industry funds just under 5% of the total, with Foundations, State and Local Governments, gifts, and other non-profit institutions providing the remainder.

The breakdown by School or College shows that nearly two-fifths of UM sponsored research expenditures occur in the Medical School. The College of Engineering spends about 18% of the total, the Institute for Social Research (ISR) is responsible for 12%, and the College of Literature, Science and the Arts (LSA) accounts for just under 9% of UM research spending

More than 5,000 externally sponsored research projects are underway at the University at any time. Each year, there are about 7,000 research protocols involving human subjects and more than 400,000 animals in research. U-M holds the highest standards for compliance with regulatory requirements and ethical guidelines in its research.

(Information excerpted from annual reports of the Office of the Vice President for Research. See Annual Reports for details.)
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The main campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor includes professional schools in Business, Dentistry, Engineering, Law, Medicine, and Pharmacy. Two branch campuses, UM-Dearborn (about 8,725 students, four schools and colleges) and UM-Flint (with four schools, 6,500 students), also conduct research and provide undergraduate education. U-M awards nearly 10,000 degrees each year.

In addition to the academic units, there are several large-scale research institutes focused on long-term interdisciplinary problems, several research museums, and a 7-million volume library system which is among the world’s leaders in digitizing collections.

The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) and the Division of Research Development and Administration (DRDA) have central responsibility for administration and support of research activity by the faculty.

National surveys consistently rank the University’s professional schools among the top 10, reflecting a research record of important publications and other contributions to the advancement of the disciplines involved. The University is also among the top 10 in patenting, licensing and other technology transfer activities, signifying its force as an engine of economic growth for Michigan and the nation.