Supported by competitive grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the school’s scientists are translating fundamental discoveries into more precise drugs and therapies.

These federal investments do more than fuel discovery. They sustain the scientific infrastructure, shared technologies, and collaborative networks that allow breakthroughs to move from the laboratory to hospitals.

In 2025, the School of Pharmacy received $45.7M in NIH funding to support research across its departments and affiliated institutes.

“NIH funding empowers our scientists to turn bold ideas into real-world solutions for patients,” said Dean Kathy Giacomini, PhD, BSPharm. “At the UCSF School of Pharmacy, we are proud to be saving lives with science, and we will continue to speak up for science as a public good that drives discovery, improves health, and benefits society.”

National leadership in research excellence

According to the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, the UCSF School of Pharmacy ranked No. 1 among 77 pharmacy schools nationwide in NIH funding — its 46th consecutive year leading the field.

The ranking reflects the school’s sustained leadership in drug discovery, bioengineering, pharmacokinetics, computational biology, and translational research, as well as the trust placed in its scientists to tackle some of the most urgent challenges in human health.

A catalyst for economic growth

The impact of research at the UCSF School of Pharmacy extends well beyond the laboratory. With $137 million in current public and private grants, the school fuels discovery that drives innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic activity.

That momentum is reflected in the school’s translational footprint: 44 faculty-founded startups, 192 invention disclosures submitted between 2019 and 2024, and 64 patents issued. From first-in-class molecules to novel platforms in bioengineering and computational biology, discoveries made at UCSF move into the marketplace, where they become companies, partnerships, and new therapeutic opportunities for patients.

This innovation engine is part of a broader statewide impact. The University of California supports 529,000 jobs through its activities and spending and generates $21 in economic output for every $1 invested by the State of California. In 2023 alone, UC researchers produced 179 licensed inventions, translating academic discovery into real-world products and services.

Highlighted NIH-Funded Researchers in the UCSF School of Pharmacy in 2025

Among the School of Pharmacy’s NIH-funded scientists for 2025 are:

Nevan Krogan, PhD: $10,643,872

Nevan Krogan, PhD, director of the school’s Quantitative Biosciences Institute, is mapping the complex molecular networks that drive cancer, HIV, tuberculosis, and emerging respiratory viruses to identify new, precision therapeutic targets and accelerate the development of treatments that can outpace disease progression and drug resistance.

Rada Savic, PhD: $8,449,857

Rada Savic, PhD, is leading efforts to develop predictive laboratory and computational models that identify the most promising drug combinations to shorten and simplify tuberculosis treatment, accelerating the path to safer, more effective therapies for patients worldwide.

Tanja Kortemme, PhD: $1,787,021

Tanja Kortemme, PhD, appointed as the school’s vice dean of research in October 2023, is developing bioengineered “error-correction” strategies inspired by nature to dramatically increase the precision of diagnostics, tissue engineering, and advanced cell therapies, making next-generation treatments safer and more effective for patients.

Kathryn Phillips, PhD: $852,472

Kathryn Phillips, PhD, founder and director of the UCSF Center for Translational and Policy Research on Precision Medicine (TRANSPERS), is evaluating the coverage and economic value of emerging genomic tests — including cell-free DNA and polygenic risk score technologies — to ensure precision medicine innovations reach patients efficiently, equitably, and in ways that meaningfully improve and save lives.

Brian Shoichet, PhD: $798,338

Brian Shoichet, PhD, chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, is advancing innovative drug discovery methods to uncover new molecules that both illuminate the biology of disease and serve as leads for urgently needed treatments for pain, depression, behavioral disorders, and battlefield anesthesia.