The University of �鶹��ý accounted for more than $61.2 million—92% of all federal biomedical research funding awarded in the state from the (NIH)—in fiscal year 2025.

�鶹��ý received $66.7 million overall in NIH funding, according to a new report from . The investment supported 902 jobs and generated $188.7 million in economic activity statewide.

NIH funding supports a wide range of research across UH, from improving disease detection and treatment to addressing health disparities and strengthening public health systems that serve island communities, reinforcing the university’s role in advancing health research and innovation in �鶹��ý.

had the largest share, with 72 awards totaling $60.7 million, while the received two awards totaling $468,391. While overall funding remained strong, NIH’s shift to multi-year funding—which obligates the full grant value upfront—resulted in 5,564 fewer grants being funded in FY2025 compared to FY2024.

“Even in a highly competitive and uncertain federal funding environment, University of �鶹��ý researchers continue to deliver work that improves lives here at home and beyond,” said Chad Walton, UH interim vice president for research and innovation. “These investments fuel discoveries, support high-quality jobs and strengthen our local economy. Every dollar makes a difference for our communities.”

Research highlights

Recent awards reflect the diversity of NIH-funded research at UH:

• $322,891 from the National Cancer Institute supports Shugeng Zhao Cao, professor at the at UH Hilo. The project, Discovery of novel natural TEAD inhibitors for the chemoprevention of liver tumors, explores natural compounds from Hawaiian microorganisms to develop the first preventive therapy for liver cancer.



• $2,039,744 from the National Human Genome Research Institute supports Lang Wu, associate professor at the at the UH Cancer Center. The research advances genomic tools and approaches to better understand complex diseases and support precision health applications. (Related UH News story)
• $459,287 from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases supports Youping Deng, professor at the . The project, Hawaii Advanced Training in Artificial Intelligence for Precision Nutrition Science Research, strengthens training in the use of artificial intelligence for nutrition and metabolic health research. (Related UH News story)

Ten graduate programs at the are in the nation’s top 50, and an additional 17 programs are in the top 100, according to the 2026 , released on April 7.

UH Mānoa’s (JABSOM) also placed in the nation’s top tier (tier 1) for best medical schools for primary care, and UH �ᾱ����’s ranked in a in the nation.

The highest ranked UH Mānoa programs were in the , ranking No. 18 (tied) for best environmental law programs and law schools with most grads in federal clerkships, No. 24 for best part-time law programs, No. 41 (tied) for best international law programs, No. 47 (tied) for best dispute resolution programs and No. 48 (tied) for best legal writing programs.

The ranked No. 22 (tied) for best international programs, and the (SOEST) placed No. 40 (tied) for best Earth sciences programs. JABSOM ranked No. 42 for most graduates practicing in rural areas and No. 45 for most graduates practicing in primary care.

“UH Mānoa’s strong showing in the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings underscores our commitment to excellence in teaching, research and student success,” said UH Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos. “These results reflect the talent and dedication of our faculty, students and staff, and �鶹��ý can take pride in knowing their university is preparing the next generation of leaders and changemakers for our community and the world.”

Rankings were based on multiple factors, including research activity (such as publications and citations), student and alumni outcomes (employment and earnings), quality assessments (from peers and recruiters), student selectivity (GPA and test scores), and faculty resources (doctoral degrees awarded and student-to-faculty ratios).

Note: not all programs are ranked every year. See these UH News stories on previous years’ rankings: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019.

Jump to program rankings:
William S. Richardson School of Law  |  John A. Burns School of Medicine  |  Shidler College of Business  |  School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology  |  School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene  |  College of Education  |  Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health  |  College of Social Sciences  |  College of Engineering  |  College of Natural Sciences  |  College of Arts, Languages & Letters

William S. Richardson School of Law

The William S. Richardson School of Law was ranked in 16 categories by U.S. News and World Report. In addition to its ranking of No. 18 (tied) for best environmental law programs and law schools with most grads in federal clerkships, No. 24 for best part-time law programs, No. 41 (tied) for best international law programs, No. 47 (tied) for best dispute resolution programs and No. 48 (tied) for best legal writing programs, the �鶹��ýlaw school placed No. 91 (tied) among the top law schools in the nation.

Other law school rankings include:

• Tax law: No. 80 (tied)
• Criminal law: No. 88 (tied)
• Contracts/commercial law: No. 92 (tied)
• Health care law: No. 92 (tied)
• Constitutional law: No. 95 (tied)
• Business/corporate law: No. 101 (tied)
• Clinical training: No. 102 (tied)
• Intellectual property law: No. 127 (tied)
• Trial advocacy: No. 175 (tied)

John A. Burns School of Medicine

JABSOM was one of 16 schools that placed in the nation’s top tier (tier 1) for best medical schools for primary care. JABSOM also placed in tier 3 for best medical schools for research.
In addition, JABSOM ranked No. 42 for most graduates practicing in rural areas, No. 45 for most graduates practicing in primary care, No. 139 for speech language pathology and No. 171 for most graduates practicing in medically underserved areas. .

Shidler College of Business

The Shidler College of Business placed in nine subject areas. Leading the way were international programs at No. 22 (tied), accounting programs at No. 68 (tied), information systems programs at No. 72 (tied) and marketing programs at No. 91 (tied). In addition, Shidler ranked at No. 104 (tied) for best management programs, No. 113 (tied) for best executive programs, No. 123 (tied) for best finance programs, No. 125 (tied) for best entrepreneurship programs and No. 142 (tied) for best part-time MBA programs.

School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology

SOEST placed No. 40 (tied) among the nation’s best Earth sciences programs.

School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene

The School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene placed No. 55 (tied) for best nursing school–master’s and No. 62 (tied) for best nursing school–doctor of nursing practice (DNP). Both were the only programs in �鶹��ý to be ranked by U.S. News and World Report.

College of Education

The College of Education ranked No. 57 (tied) in the U.S., the 21st straight year the college has been listed as one of the nation’s top 100 education programs. Nationally accredited since 2000, the College of Education continues to be recognized for its award-winning programs and people.

Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health

The ranked No. 89 (tied) among the nation’s top public health schools and programs in the U.S. accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. The Department of Public Health Sciences offers a ; a , with specializations in , , and , and a , as well as PhD program in , specializing in community-based and translational research and a PhD in . The Department of Public Health Sciences is also home to an online master of public health program to meet workforce demands.

College of Social Sciences

The College of Social Sciences placed among the nation’s best in at No. 90 (tied) and at No. 92 (tied).

College of Engineering

The ranked among the nation’s best in at No. 91 (tied), at No. 92 (tied), and at No. 128 (tied). The College of Engineering overall ranked No. 164 (tied) among the top engineering schools in the U.S. that grant doctoral degrees.

College of Natural Sciences

The placed among the nation’s best in at No. 97 (tied), and at No. 115 (tied), and at No. 125 (tied).

College of Arts, Languages & Letters

UH Mānoa placed No. 106 (tied) among the nation’s best for fine arts programs.

Other rankings

UH Mānoa also received these notable rankings:

• 2026 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings by Subject, March 25, 2026
• 2025 U.S. News and World Report best online programs, January 27, 2026
• 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject, January 21, 2026

Kauilaonālani Tengan is inspired to encourage greater participation from Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and Filipino communities in diabetes clinical trials to ensure research better reflects the populations most affected by the disease.

Leave your assumptions and biases at the door and engage these communities with aloha.
—Kauilaonālani Tengan

He is translating that goal into practice through applied research. A master of science student in epidemiology at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� , Tengan was part of a study team at The Queen’s Health Systems (QHS) whose findings were published in in the study Exploring Diabetes Clinical Trial Participation: A Diverse Group Interview Study.

“I have a family history of cardiometabolic diseases and I remember visiting extended family who had to fly from Molokaʻi just to receive quality care here on Oʻahu,” he said. “This [experience] instilled in me a desire to learn more about health issues so prevalent in our islands and contribute to innovative solutions.”

Research findings and lessons learned

While at QHS, Tengan split his time between health equity research and clinical data management, utilizing electronic medical records to address research questions. He helped conduct interviews with 56 hospitalized patients to explore what motivates—or prevents—patients from joining diabetes clinical trials.

Although 84% expressed willingness to participate, most had never been asked. Barriers included mistrust, concerns about medication risks, and lack of understanding, while many Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander participants cited family and community benefit as key motivators.

“Engaging face-to-face with people in a clinical setting humanized health data for me,” Tengan said. “It reminded me that these are people, not statistics. I realized that my work has a lasting impact, so it is my responsibility to do things in a pono manner.”

Tengan hopes to carry these lessons forward. “Leave your assumptions and biases at the door and engage these communities with aloha,” he said. “It is vital that we do work in an ethically and culturally nuanced way because there are real world impacts in the data that we publish.”

The study was part of an Food and Drug Administration-funded project at The Queenʻs Medical Center, in collaboration with the UH ����ԴDz� , and clinical partners. also found that Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander participants are consistently underrepresented in U.S. clinical trials.

“Kauilaonālani’s perspectives and real-life application from quantitative analyses are so important to building collective public health,” said Tetine Sentell, public health professor and study co-author.

Cancer patients traveling off-island for treatment. Kūpuna waiting months to see a neurologist. Rural communities struggling to access behavioral health and addiction services. These challenging realities are driving the University of �鶹��ý Board of Regents request for $3,724,600 to expand �鶹��ý’s healthcare workforce and improve access to care across the islands.

The funding would support UH’s new Health Science and Healthcare Interdisciplinary Workforce Initiative, a coordinated hire request that would add 18.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) clinician and faculty positions across five health sciences units to address severe shortages in high-need medical fields, including cancer, neurology and dementia, and behavioral health integration and addiction medicine.

“UH has a kuleana to the people and ʻāina of �鶹��ý, and that responsibility drives us to focus on solutions that make a real difference in our communities,” said UH President Wendy Hensel. “By strengthening our healthcare workforce, we can train more providers and expand access to care for kupuna and families across all islands.”

Expanding the healthcare pipeline, patient care

The coordinated hire would add clinician faculty who both train future healthcare providers and deliver direct patient care in rural and underserved communities across the state.

“The goal is to improve access to care across all islands by providing direct clinical services and addressing shortages in underserved communities,” said UH ����ԴDz� Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos. “This coordinated request for positions will increase the workforce pipeline by training more doctors, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and other health providers essential to providing high quality care for patients with dementia, addictions, or other behavioral health challenges.”

Addressing high-priority health needs

The initiative spans five UH units—UH ����ԴDz�’s , the , the , the , and the UH Hilo —and focuses on clinician leaders and researchers working with state and health system partners through community-based, interprofessional approaches aligned with legislative priorities.

Funding would be directed toward three high-priority health areas identified as critical needs for the state:

• Cancer ($1,674,400; 6.35 FTE): Establishing an accredited hematology-oncology fellowship and expanding clinical research capacity.
• Neurology and Dementia ($1,162,200; 7.40 FTE): Creating an accredited neurology residency program and expanding the Kūpuna Workforce Innovation Hub.
• Behavioral Health Integration and Addiction Medicine ($888,000; 4.75 FTE): Expanding the Education and Research Center of Addiction Medicine and enhancing telehealth services.
• Beyond direct patient care, the initiative would support statewide continuing education in dementia care and behavioral health–primary care integration, consistent with �鶹��ý State Department of Health and legislative priorities.

Targeted request in a tight budget climate

The initiative is one of two high-priority items in UH’s $18.8 million supplemental operating budget request () for fiscal year 2026–27, introduced amid slowing state revenue growth.

“We purposefully limited the request to major strategic items that are time-sensitive and provide essential benefits to both the state and the university,” said UH Vice President for Budget and Finance Luis Salaveria. “Given the current fiscal climate, this approach allows UH to focus its resources on areas where the need is greatest, and the impact on �鶹��ý’s communities will be most immediate.”

October is American Pharmacists Month and the University of �鶹��ý at �ᾱ����’s (DKICP) is helping shine a light on the vital role pharmacists play in public health. The pharmacy school is now accepting applications for a new online degree program called PharmD-XO, designed for aspiring pharmacists who need flexibility.

The first cohort starts in January 2026. It is a track towards earning a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. The program is built for working adults and off- island and out-of-state residents. Students can stay in their jobs and communities while earning the degree.

“As we address the physician shortage affecting rural communities nationwide, pharmacists trained to practice at the full scope of their license can provide vital healthcare services where they’re needed most,” said Rae Matsumoto, dean at DKICP.

Pharmacists fill critical healthcare gaps

The need is clear. National data show physician shortages are intensifying with 20% of Americans living in rural areas and only 10% of physicians practicing there. Nearly 90% of Americans live within 5 miles of a pharmacy, making pharmacists the most accessible healthcare providers.

The college recently earned an eight-year accreditation renewal from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. Building on that momentum, the PharmD-XO program spans 5.5 years. Most learning happens online. Students come to Hilo once a year for a two- to four-week immersion during the first 4.5 years. Those visits focus on labs, team skills, and hands-on training. The final year is all clinical experience at pharmacy practice sites.

Learn more on the college’s website, email pharmacy@hawaii.edu, or call (808) 932-7704.

The University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� has named Katey Pelican as the inaugural director of the , a key initiative aimed at improving healthcare and health outcomes in �鶹��ý. Pelican, an expert in One Health, sustainable development, and global health security, will begin her role on April 1, 2025.

Launched in 2022, the Health Sciences Institute was created to leverage UH ����ԴDz�’s strengths to expand the healthcare workforce, reduce health disparities and address emerging health threats. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for a more integrated approach, and the institute fosters collaboration across health sciences to drive innovation and equity.

As director, Pelican will oversee the coordination of efforts across UH units to advance the health and well being of Hawaii’s communities, ensuring the institute acts as a central hub for information, advocacy and resource development. UH ����ԴDz� offers more than 50 health sciences-related degrees and certificates across nine colleges and schools, including the , the , the and the . Pelican will focus on strengthening community resilience, health systems, and the healthcare workforce through establishing strategic partnerships, advancing solutions-based research programs, and growing educational pathways and training opportunities.

“I am honored to join UH ����ԴDz� and lead the Health Sciences Institute in its mission to improve health equity and resilience in �鶹��ý and the Pacific,” said Pelican. “I look forward to collaborating with faculty, students and community partners to drive meaningful, interdisciplinary solutions to today’s most pressing health challenges.”

Health sciences experience, leadership

With more than 25 years of experience, her expertise and leadership span a broad range of health science disciplines, including infectious disease response, climate resilience, and Indigenous community food sovereignty. Pelican has worked in 45 countries, leading initiatives at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health in collaboration with organizations such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and the United Nations.

Pelican joins UH ����ԴDz� from the University of Minnesota (UMN), where she led the Strategic Partnerships and Research Collaborative, helping to secure more than $158 million in grants and contracts to support global health and sustainability projects. She also co-founded UMN’s Sustainable Development Goals Initiative and previously led the One Health Division at UMN’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Pelican holds a doctor of veterinary medicine from UMN and a PhD in comparative physiology from a joint program between the Smithsonian Institution and the University of Maryland.

“Dr. Pelican is uniquely qualified for this important and challenging role, with significant leadership experience in interdisciplinary health initiatives and large-scale collaborative research projects,” said UH ����ԴDz� Provost Michael Bruno. “Her leadership will be instrumental in shaping the future of the Health Sciences Institute and advancing our mission to address pressing health challenges in �鶹��ý and the Pacific region.”

This message was shared with the faculty and staff of the 10-campus University of �鶹��ý system on February 10, 2025.

Aloha UH ʻohana,

The University of �鶹��ý is deeply concerned about the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) February 7 announcement to significantly cut reimbursement of research facilities and administrative costs. These funds are essential to maintaining the infrastructure that supports groundbreaking research and lifesaving medical breakthroughs.

This sweeping change—imposing a 15% cap on indirect cost reimbursement for all NIH grants—will have severe consequences for biomedical research in �鶹��ý and across the nation, slowing progress on treatments for cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other critical health challenges. Currently, indirect costs for biomedical research—both nationally and at UH—average around 50%. By limiting this essential support, the federal government is stepping back from its long-standing commitment to advancing medical innovation.

Related: Attorney General Lopez sues Trump Administration for defunding medical and public health innovation research, February 10, 2025

For UH, the impact of this decision cannot be overstated. The University of �鶹��ý System of 10 campuses includes the UH ����ԴDz� John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), the UH Cancer Center (a National Cancer Institute designated center), the UH Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, the UH ����ԴDz� School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, and the Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health. All of these Schools, Colleges and Centers conduct translational and fundamental research, and the university is supported by 175 awards and subawards from the NIH with a current value of $211 million. NIH’s reduction of UH’s current negotiated IDC rate of 56.5% at the JABSOM and the Cancer Center alone will eliminate approximately $15 million in funding that UH uses to support its research programs, including ongoing clinical trials and debt service payments.

According to a 2024 annual report by United for Medical Research, NIH funding generated $158 million in economic activity and supported 819 local jobs across the state. The UH Cancer Center and JABSOM led the majority of these NIH-funded research projects, receiving $27 million and $26.6 million, respectively.

As I emphasized in my February 6 address on federal policy changes affecting higher education, UH will continue working closely with �鶹��ý’s congressional delegation, Gov. Josh Green’s office and the state attorney general, and in this instance, the national higher education and research associations and peer institutions to advocate against this harmful policy. Additionally, we are closely monitoring legal challenges that may arise in response to this directive, including the lawsuit filed today in a federal court in Massachusetts, by 22 states, including the State of �鶹��ý.

We will keep you updated as the situation unfolds and remain steadfast in our efforts to protect UH’s research enterprise, which benefits our university, our state, and the millions who rely on medical advancements.

With aloha,
Wendy Hensel
President, University of �鶹��ý

Student pharmacists from the will assist HMSA and University Health Partners to perform Medication Therapy Management (MTM) for people with chronic diseases in the state of �鶹��ý.

“Our most qualified students will be putting their technical knowledge and people skills to work to help patients achieve better outcomes from their medications,” said DKICP Dean Rae Matsumoto.

MTM services will be available statewide via telehealth. HMSA will identify a subset of members that will be eligible for this early phase of the program. MTM students will help review a patient’s medication to ensure they are being used appropriately, answering any drug-related questions and determining the most cost-effective options. MTM students will help review a patient’s medication to ensure they are being used appropriately, answering any drug-related questions and determining the most cost-effective options.

“Studies show that using pharmacists to provide MTM services improves medication adherence and ensures patients are on the appropriate medications and doses,” said Camlyn Masuda, DKICP associate specialist and a coordinator for the new program.

Students can apply and interview for the MTM consultant positions, which will be in addition to their academics. Working under the guidance of a pharmacist, students conduct one-on-one phone consultations with each patient about all the medications they are taking, document the information and any recommendations and share it with the patient’s physician.

“This type of work experience puts our students on the forward edge of pharmacy services being offered in healthcare today,” said Matsumoto. “We are very excited to have this opportunity to work with HMSA and University Health Partners, two of the largest healthcare providers within the state, to help in delivering better care to their patients.”

DKICP will expect the first students to be hired and start providing MTM services after the fall semester begins.

Read more at the .

The University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� has launched the search for a director to lead the newly established , a major initiative to improve healthcare and health outcomes in �鶹��ý, inspired by UH‘s pivotal role in the stateʻs response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The goal of the institute is to leverage the university’s extensive expertise and resources in health sciences and medicine to expand the healthcare workforce, reduce health disparities, address climate change impacts on health and respond to emerging health threats.

“We are seeking a dynamic leader to guide the new institute,” said UH ����ԴDz� Provost Michael Bruno. “This is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on the health and well-being of our communities in �鶹��ý and the broader Pacific region. The director will play a critical role in shaping the future of healthcare through innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to addressing health disparities.”

The director will be responsible for coordinating efforts across the UH units that include programs related to health sciences and medicine:

Related: Collaboration across health sciences goal of UH ����ԴDz� initiative

• College of Natural Sciences
• College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources
• College of Education
• College of Engineering
• College of Social Sciences
• Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy
• John A. Burns School of Medicine
• School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene
• School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology
• Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health
• UH Cancer Center

UH ����ԴDz� offers more than 50 health sciences-related degrees and certificates across nine colleges and schools, as well as the state’s largest social work, nursing and public health programs. In fiscal year 2022 alone, UH ����ԴDz� secured more than $130 million in external grants and contracts related to health sciences.

Alex Ortega, dean of the Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health, is chairing the search advisory committee, whose members consist of steering committee members who led the development of the Health Sciences Institute. The committee will recommend finalists to Bruno, who will determine the best candidate for the position.

For the job announcement and position description, visit the . Review of applications will begin in late July and will continue until the position is filled.

Professor Deborah Taira is a health economist at the University of �鶹��ý at �ᾱ����’s and has extensive experience studying health equity issues for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. The professor conducts in-depth research on health disparities that impact AANHPI populations and wants to improve access to clinical trials.

As the country commemorates AANHPI Heritage Month, the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Minority Health and Health Equity spotlighted Taira’s expertise in a . She revealed that even though national statistics identify �鶹��ý has the highest life expectancy of any state in the U.S., there are still huge health disparities.

“Unfortunately, Native Hawaiians live about 11 years less than Chinese in �鶹��ý,” Taira said. “That’s a huge disparity, and I just feel like that should not exist now, not in our state of �鶹��ý. And so, I’m passionate about trying to do what I can to correct that.”

A legacy of research

Taira has published more than 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts related to health disparities, cost and health outcomes Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders face. Her interest in studying health disparity started long ago with her mother, a professor of nursing who made house calls in elderly housing projects.

“I remember she brought me along with her. And she said, ‘You can learn more in 5 minutes when you go into these people’s homes. And you see in their fridge they don’t have any food or the place is filthy or whatever. You learn more about what can help the patient by actually getting to know their life circumstances,’” Taira explained.

Along with health disparities, Taira’s research also focuses on medication adherence and cost-effectiveness of cardiovascular interventions. She has worked at the Health Institute at the New England Medical Center examining outcomes from the patient perspective and spent 10 years working at �鶹��ý Medical Service Association analyzing large administrative datasets, including cost and lab data.