Charleston-Based MUSC Ranks in Top 10 for Mental Health Research Funding Nationwide
In Charleston, SC, the Medical University of South Carolina’s (MUSC) Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (DPBS) continues making strides in mental health research, fortified by strong funding support. Recent data reveals that DPBS ranked ninth out of 89 departments of psychiatry in U.S. medical schools for funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the fiscal year ending 2023 as reported by the Blue Ridge NIH funding report.
Despite the size of MUSC, the DPBS has outpaced many larger institutions by acquiring over $34 million in NIH funding during the past year. This accomplishment is significant, as the department has consistently been ranked in the top 10 for NIH funding for 11 of the past 15 years.
Academic Contributions to Mental Health Research
Five faculty members from MUSC earned ranks in the top 100 researchers in medical schools based on NIH funding in 2023. These leading researchers included Kathleen Brady, M.D., Ph.D.; Kelly Barth, D.O.; Aimee McRae-Clark, Pharm.D.; Howard Becker, Ph.D.; and Tracy Smith, Ph.D. In addition, 13 faculty members received more than $1 million in NIH funding in 2023.
DPBS Vice Chair of Research and Research Administration, Dr. Alyssa Rheingold stated, “We’re a small but mighty force. It’s truly remarkable what we have achieved, given the size of our academic health care system.”
Extending beyond NIH Funding
While NIH funding plays a crucial role, Dr. Rheingold also underscored the department’s success in securing non-NIH federal funding, private foundation support, and corporate funding. After accounting for these additional financial resources, the DPBS’s total research funding nearly touched $47 million in 2023, marking an increase of 11% from its 2022 figures.
Research Progress across Diverse Areas
According to Dr. Rheingold, one of the key strengths of the department lies in the diversity of its research portfolio. The DPBS has gained national recognition for various research areas, including substance use disorders, trauma, mass violence, women’s reproductive and behavioral health, tobacco control, anxiety, sleep, mood and sensory processing disorders. The DPBS researchers are also leading innovations in new treatments such as individualized, MRI-guided transcranial magnetic stimulation and ketamine treatments. Furthermore, the department has actively contributed towards the response to major public health challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, burn-out among healthcare workers, natural disasters, mass violence, and depression.
The Secret to Success
Dr. Thomas Uhde, DPBS Chair, credits the department’s consistent success in securing funding and research output to its culture of collaboration across disciplines. This spirit of collaboration has fostered innovative thinking, leading to a range of pioneering advances and treatment interventions. Another significant factor behind the department’s success is its long-standing partnerships with organizations like the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center.
Ultimately, the goal of the department’s research is to improve the lives of those struggling with mental health difficulties across South Carolina, the nation, and the world. Dr. Uhde further emphasises the importance of dissemination and implementation science in translating these research breakthroughs into real-world practices.
Dr. Rheingold summarized the department’s mission stating, “At the end of the day, the work that our department does is about understanding what research can do to help people who struggle with mental health difficulties.”
