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College of Nursing recognized among nation’s leading research institutions

Feb. 23, 2026
By Ann Hess, U of A Nursing, Office of Marketing & Communications
Head and shoulds shots of the seven faculty who had NIH grants in 2025.

(L toR) Top row: Brian Ahn, Terry Badger, Chen Chen, Rina Fox; Bottom row: Judith Gordon, Ashley Lowe, Tad Pace.

In the 2025 rankings by the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research (BRIMR), the University of Arizona College of Nursing ranked No. 15 among public nursing schools and No. 24 nationally, based on National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding. College researchers secured $3,458,437 in NIH awards, underscoring the strength and national competitiveness of the college’s research enterprise.

The annual Blue Ridge rankings are widely regarded as the authoritative measure of NIH funding among major health-related colleges, ranking U.S. nursing schools by total federal research support.

“This national recognition reflects the extraordinary dedication, expertise, and creativity of our faculty, staff, and students,” said Brian Ahn, dean of the College of Nursing. “While rankings are one measure of success, our true impact is evident in the advances we make in nursing science and the improvements we drive in care delivery for individuals, families, and communities.”

The achievement underscores the college’s growing research momentum and its commitment to advancing evidence-based practice and innovation in health care.

The NIH research conducted at the College of Nursing in 2025 is listed below.

Grant #TitleResearcher
R01NR019051Combination Therapy of Home-based Trans-cranial Direct Current Stimulation and Mindfulness-based Meditation for Self-management of Clinical Pain and Symptoms in Older Adults with Knee OsteoarthritisHyochol Brian Ahn
R01CA263714Adaptive Symptom Self-Management to Reduce Psychological Distress and Improve Symptom Management for Survivors on Immune Checkpoint InhibitorsTerry Badger
R01HD110994Vaginal Microbiome, Inflammatory Mediators, Metabolome, and Dysmenorrhea Symptom-based PhenotypesChen Chen
K08CA247973Improving sleep in gynecologic cancer survivorsRina Fox
R01AT011500Testing the Efficacy of A Scalable, Telephone-Delivered, Guided Imagery Tobacco Cessation InterventionJudith Gordon
R01HL174599Breathing Easier in Schools: Enhancing Adoption, Fidelity, and Effectiveness of the SAFE School Program through Innovation Implementation StrategiesAshley Lowe
R01CA264047Leveraging social connection by including informal caregivers in an internet video conference-based compassion meditation intervention to reduce psychological distress in breast cancer survivorsThaddeus Pace