University of Iowa scholars secured support for more than 2,300 projects in fiscal year 2025, pursuing research aimed at developing cancer treatments and patient care, advancing brain science and mental health, and building healthier and more resilient Iowa communities.

External funding to the UI was $705.6 million in fiscal year 2025, which ended on June 30. This funding includes $533.7 million to support research, scholarship, and creative activities. The federal government remained the strongest supporter of the institution, totaling $300 million, or 43% of external funding.

“This support reflects the value of research at the University of Iowa,” says Lois Geist, who served as interim vice president for research during FY2025. “Our faculty, staff, and students are addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing Iowa and the world.”

Tackling cancer with innovation

Iowa continues to experience the second-highest rate of new cancers in the nation and is the only state with a consistently rising rate of new cancers over the past several years. With support from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Mary Charlton, professor in the Department of Epidemiology in the College of Public Health and principal investigator of the Iowa Cancer Registry, is leading a statewide analysis of cancer incidence. The goal is to identify which types of cancers and geographic areas contribute to Iowa’s cancer rate being above the national average. Charlton and her team, including colleagues in the Department of Biostatistics, also will identify behavioral risk factors that contribute to the increased cancer rates at the county level. 

At some point in the course of their disease, many cancer patients will undergo radiation therapy. James Byrne, assistant professor of radiation oncology in the Carver College of Medicine (CCOM), is developing substances to protect healthy tissue during radiation therapy. The research is inspired by extremophiles—organisms that thrive in extreme environments. The project, funded by a prestigious National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director’s New Innovator Award, aims to reduce complications and improve outcomes for cancer patients.

Jill Kolesar, dean and professor in the College of Pharmacy, is leading a a bold effort to combat ovarian cancer. Kolesar and her team are working to refine the production of personalized nanoparticles, derived from immune cells, to target and eliminate ovarian cancer cells, potentially transforming treatment for one of the deadliest gynecologic cancers. The project received support from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Ovarian cancer is projected to kill more than 12,700 women in the U.S. this year, according to the American Cancer Society. There is currently no early detection for the disease. Moreover, two of three women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and undergo chemotherapy experience a recurrence. 

Advancing brain science and mental health

Stroke remains a leading cause of death in Iowa, affecting more than 795,000 Americans each year. Santiago Ortega-Gutiérrez, clinical professor of neurology, neurosurgery, and radiology in CCOM, is leading a large clinical trial comparing imaging strategies to quickly identify and treat patients who have had a severe stroke caused by blocked blood flow in a major artery. The study will determine which approach gets patients to life-saving treatment faster, improving recovery and reducing long-term disability. Supported by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, the trial will enroll more than 2,000 patients at more than 20 major stroke centers across the U.S., generating evidence that could reshape stroke care nationwide.

In another project, Dorit Kliemann, assistant professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, is investigating how a region of the brain called the medial prefrontal cortex helps people interact and understand one another. Her research, funded by the NIH, will help create new ways to treat conditions that affect how people interact with others.

More than 66,000 Iowans older than age 65 have Alzheimer’s disease. Clarissa Shaw, assistant professor in the College of Nursing, is reducing resistance to care by patients with dementia, thanks to support from the Alzheimer’s Foundation. Shaw and her team have found that “elderspeak,” a form of communication that sounds like baby talk, often triggers negative behaviors toward caregivers, which can include aggression and refusal to cooperate. Efforts to reduce elderspeak have shown promising results in improving both nursing home and hospital dementia patient care.

Building healthier, more resilient communities

Several projects have focused on improving life in rural Iowa.

• A National Science Foundation grant is supporting a multi-state collaboration led by Jun Wang, Lichtenberger Family Chair professor and departmental executive officer in the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering in the College of Engineering. The Data-Advanced Research and Education initiative will help Midwest agricultural communities grappling with effects of severe weather, such as floods, droughts, and heat waves.
• Leonardo Marchini, professor and departmental executive officer of preventive and community dentistry in the College of Dentistry, is leading an initiative to expand oral health access for adults with disabilities, especially those in rural Iowa communities. This group is particularly vulnerable and often face difficulty finding providers because of geographic and financial barriers. The Delta Dental Foundation has funded the planning phase of the project.
• Emily Thomas, clinical associate professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, is piloting an online behavioral health tool for rural Veterans with cardiovascular disease (e.g., conditions that affect the heart or blood vessels). The program aims to improve physical and mental health and is funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Office of Rural Health.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continued its backing for the Prevention Research Center for Rural Health (PRC-RH) at the UI. The PRC-RH was established in 2002 and is one of 20 Prevention Research Centers in the U.S. Directed by Rima Afifi, professor in the Department of Community and Behavioral Health in the College of Public Health, the center supports public health in communities across Iowa through research and other programming.