School of Dentistry ranks among nation’s top dental schools in NIDCR research funding
UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry ranks 13th nationally among dental schools that received research funding from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research in 2025, according to the annual Blue Ridge rankings. Photo by Kyle Rogers.
UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry ranked 13th among U.S. dental schools and No. 2 in Texas in research funding from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research for fiscal year 2025, according to the agency’s annual rankings.
The School of Dentistry received $4,876,969 in NIDCR funding, continuing its position among the nation’s top dental research institutions.
The annual rankings evaluate institutions based on the amount of research funding received from the NIDCR, the National Institutes of Health's lead institute for dental, oral, and craniofacial research.
“Our continued success in NIDCR funding reflects the strength of our investigators, the quality of their research, and the collaborative environment we have cultivated at the School of Dentistry,” said Mary “Cindy” Farach-Carson, PhD, associate dean for research and director of clinical and translational research. “Our faculty are addressing important questions in dental, oral, and craniofacial health, and we are committed to providing the infrastructure, resources, and support needed to help innovative ideas advance into impactful research.”
The School of Dentistry has consistently ranked among the nation’s leading dental schools for NIDCR funding in recent years, placing in the top 15 nationally while continuing to build a strong and collaborative research enterprise.
Farach-Carson said the school’s research momentum is driven by collaboration across disciplines and a focus on translating discoveries into meaningful improvements in health.
“Research excellence is built over time through strategic investments, mentorship, and partnerships that bring together scientists, clinicians, and trainees,” Farach-Carson said. “Our goal is not only to advance discovery, but to ensure that our research has a pathway toward improving prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care for patients and communities.”
A division of the NIH, the NIDCR is the federal government’s leading agency for scientific research on dental, oral, and craniofacial health and disease. Its annual rankings are widely recognized as a benchmark of research excellence among dental schools across the country.