Real-World Results of UC s More Than $350 Million in Research Funding

As a leading urban research university, the University of Cincinnati routinely attracts hundreds of millions annually to support its leading research efforts – and more importantly – its research results.

UC recently announced a record-setting $353 million in annual research funding, research that is focused on real-world risks to health and civil society. For instance,

• UC research has recently been used to guide policy in Canada regarding the use of baby bottles containing a chemical linked to heart disease, diabetes, stunted growth and other adverse health affects.

• UC research by the university’s law students regarding land-ownership laws from the Jim Crow era that are still on the books in four states led to a Nov. 4 ballot measure to repeal those laws in Florida.

• UC research indicating a higher risk for certain cancers by firefighters has prompted the city council of Portland, Ore., to consider an extension of work-related benefits to firefighters diagnosed with as many as 12 specific cancers.

This real-world research also attracts real-world recognition in the form of headlines and media coverage. Each month, UC research earns numerous global headlines. That’s appropriate since UC is designated a “very high research activity” university by the Carnegie Commission and is listed by the National Science Foundation as a top public institution for federal research expenditures.

Just in the past month alone, the following outlets carried news related to UC research:

• Associated Press
• Bloomberg
• Chicago Tribune
• Cleveland Plain Dealer
• CNN
• Columbus Dispatch
• Doctor’s Guide News
• Forbes.com
• MSNBC
• Philadelphia Inquirer
• TIME magazine
• United Press International
• USA Today

The UC research projects earning recognition in November 2008 include

• While various global media in Canada reported on UC research indicating that childhood lead exposure is associated with criminal behavior in adulthood, the Chicago Tribune carried an editorial-page feature mentioning the research. The UC research is making a global difference. The country of Nigeria also asked UC for assistance in determining the lead-exposure rate of children in that nation.

• A UC-led study indicated exposure to a chemical commonly found in plastic food containers may interfere with cancer treatments (and has other adverse health affects related to heart disease, diabetes and stunted growth). This and associated research prompted Canadian health officials to state that they would ban baby bottles made with the chemical. In addition, Brown University made the decision to replace plastic cups in the university’s dining facilities. A number of media have carried coverage of this research, most recently the Cleveland Plain Dealer and others throughout the United States.

• Research by UC showing that firefighters are more likely to develop four specific kinds of cancers than workers in other fields prompted the city council of Portland, Ore., to consider a new policy that would extend work-related benefits to firefighters diagnosed with any of 12 cancers.

• The Columbus Dispatch ran a story assessing the performance of pre-election polls looking at the election in Ohio. The story noted that UC research as represented by the university’s Ohio Poll was one of the four best-performing polls when measured against actual outcomes. Other media making recent use of the Ohio Poll included Bloomberg, the Boston Globe, CNN, the Chicago Tribune,  MSNBC, TIME magazine, United Press International, USA Today and the Cleveland Plain Dealer, as well as other global news media.

• Forbes.com featured UC research on investors’ attitudes towards the arbitration process.

• The Associated Press and other media featured research by UC law students that uncovered antiquated alien land laws that date back to the Jim Crow era that are still on the books in four states. The discovery of these laws led to the placement of a repeal measure on the Florida election ballot.

• A UC-led study of routine testing that typically follows brain aneurysms found a very low risk of complications associated with that form of testing. Because the risk is small, the test has emerged as a first-line option for certain aneurysms. The study was published in the journal Neurosurgery and in Doctor’s Guide News.

• Global media in Canada carried coverage regarding UC research indicating that common lab equipment – specifically plastic test tubes – may leach chemicals and so, influence test results.

• News media as far away as Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, India and Thailand (as well as throughout the U.S.), featured recent UC research that discovered a gene that helps control the secretion of acid in the stomach.

• An ongoing research project by UC is virtually rebuilding the lost architecture of the Shakers using advanced visualization tools. The research has been featured by outlets throughout the United States and Canada.

• View UC’s recently released research funding news and report.
• View research headlines from the past year.