Pitt research rankings in 2022
- #3 in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding ($675M)
- #3 in neuroscience funding from NIH ($37.9M)
- #6 in School of Medicine funding from NIH ($424M)
- #15 in overall research expenditures ($1.07B)
Grant highlights
- $32.5M NIH award to develop research model for Alzheimer's disease
- $6.8M BRAIN Initiative project to revolutionize treatment of fatal brain diseases
- $9M NIH multicenter effort to identify the molecular and genetic mechanisms that cause ALS
- $12M placebo-inspired project to help Parkinson’s patients
- $40M to compare tau tracers for detecting Alzheimer's disease
High-impact brain research
- Pioneers in revealing the neural connections between brain and body, including a project on how intense emotion can temporarily restore movement in Parkinson’s disease and exploring the neural basis of human speech and hand movement
- Multidisciplinary approaches to uncover the mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease
- Renowned investigations of the neurobiological basis for chronic pain syndromes; home of the podcast “The Pain Beat”
- High-resolution imaging combined with novel disease models to study neurodegeneration and stroke
- A unique bank of patient-derived stem cells that serves ALS scientists at Pitt and around the country
World-class expertise in neural engineering & neuroprosthetics
- Demonstration of the world’s most advanced brain-controlled arm and hand prosthesis, featured twice on 60 Minutes (here and here)
- Trials have given quadriplegic volunteers intuitive, natural control of a robotic arm and a sense of touch
- Advanced neural probes lead to longer-lasting brain-computer interfaces
- Test site for paralyzed ALS patients to operate computers under brain control with Synchron's Stentrode device
- Spinal stimulation restores arm and hand movement years after stroke
Brain Bank and neuropathology expertise
- More than 1,000 highly characterized brains
- Extensive national and international collaborations
- Nationally recognized brain donation program to accelerate research in Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, chronic traumatic encephalopathy and more
Landmark achievements
- Developed and introduced the Salk polio vaccine
- Developed Pittsburgh Compound B to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease
- Introduced the Gamma Knife in the U.S. to treat intractable brain tumors
- Developed and demonstrated artificial retina