Research surge

A recent national survey found that Case Western Reserve is attracting research funding at a quickening pace, propelling the university higher in a key ranking.

According to the Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey of the National Science Foundation, CWRU’s research spending swelled by 38% between 2022 and 2024, reaching $643 million. That’s the fastest rate of growth among members of the American Association of Universities, which represents the nation’s 71 leading research universities.

The research surge places CWRU at No. 58 in the HERD ranking, a climb of four spots in three years.

Most research funding comes from federal grants that are awarded to faculty through a competitive process that includes peer review of research proposals, or analysis by experts. In fiscal year 2022, CWRU reported spending $467 on research and development. That expenditure rose to $554 million in fiscal year 2023 and $643 million in 2024.

University President Eric Kaler credited faculty and students for the rise, as well as hospital partners in University Circle. “We are grateful for everyone’s commitment to the power of research, and for the financial support of so many — including the American public — in advancing this work that can transform lives,” he said in a statement.

Kaler made expanding Case’s research enterprise a priority when he arrived in 2021. He soon brought aboard Michael Oakes, the executive vice president for research and economic development. Oakes sought to support faculty researchers with resources that make it easier to attract research grants. That includes well-equipped labs and access to grant-writing specialists.

Although university research now faces sharp federal funding cuts, Oakes noted CWRU is headed in the right direction.

“Our trajectory is undeniable,” he said. “The momentum we’ve built is fueling economic growth, expanding partnerships, and creating opportunities that reach far beyond our campus.”