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Research, a cornerstone of the university's mission, advances
knowledge and
understanding, underpins instruction, improves the quality
of life and
enhances economic development.
In total research expenditures, UGA is 22nd among public universities
and
34th among private and public universities based on National
Science
Foundation rankings. In federal research and development expenditures,
UGA
ranks 89th among public and private universities.
Research, instruction and outreach programs span 14 colleges
and schools and
attract more than $230 million a year in external grants and
contracts.
Faculty and students explore many areas: health and medicine;
ecology and
the environment; food production and safety; natural and physical
sciences;
humanities and fine arts; education and social sciences; and
business, law
and international affairs, to name a few.
UGA is home to several internationally recognized interdisciplinary
research
centers and institutes that promote inquiry, foster innovation
and yield
greater productivity.
UGA-developed products, technology and innovation run the
gamut - from
genetics, molecular biology and physics to agriculture and
food safety to
social and public policy, humanities and fine arts. For example,
faculty
developed the state's number one peanut, a host of internationally
marketed
turf grasses, antiviral drugs and the only FDA-approved prescription
drug
for dry eye. Patents include healthier cooking oils, efficient
livestock
cloning methods, novel cancer detection tests and a drug now
in clinical
trials to treat hepatitis B. Faculty pioneer deeper knowledge
of life
processes at molecular, cellular, organismal and population
levels. Their
findings also bring new perspectives and solutions to social
and political
science, education, the arts and the humanities. Innovations
have led to
programs aimed at social issues such as school violence and
date rape,
educational concerns such as math and literacy education,
health problems
such as obesity, and work place issues such as genetic discrimination.
The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) supports
and promotes
UGA research and scholarly activity by administering sponsored
programs;
ensuring compliance with regulations; overseeing research
funding and
accounting; communicating research findings to lay audiences;
enhancing the
research infrastructure through laboratories and services;
providing
start-up funds to hire outstanding faculty; and fostering
new start-up
companies based on UGA discoveries. In cooperation with the
University of
Georgia Research Foundation, Inc., OVPR protects UGA intellectual
property
through such means as patents, trademarks, and seed and plant
protections
and works with industry to license intellectual property.
Licensing and
royalties generate more than $4 million each year.
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