Research record highlights university’s innovation, growth trajectory

Research record highlights university's innovation, growth trajectory

Ohio State remains a top-tier research university

The Ohio State University recorded $1.68 billion in research and development expendituresfor fiscal year 2025, the most ever for the university.

The university's expenditures grew 6% year over year, extending record-breaking annual increases and spotlighting the research enterprise powering discoveries that save lives and strengthen communities. President Walter "Ted" Carter Jr. highlighted this and other achievements on Thursday at the full Board of Trustees meeting.

More than $797 million in research funding came from the university's federal partners, a 3% increase from the previous year.

The university's industry-sponsored research grew 10% to $174.8 million. Partnerships between Ohio State and business leaders like Honda help develop breakthroughs in battery technology.

"We're also the nation's No. 1 producer of Fulbright Scholars for the second straight year- which tells me we're successfully preparing our students to live and work in a global economy," Carter said.

Ohio State continues to place among the nation's top-tier research universities. The new National Science Foundation Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) survey rankings for fiscal year 2024 placed Ohio State 12th nationally among all universities for total research expenditures - above esteemed research programs at Harvard, Duke and Yale.

The Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge, with support from the university's colleges, tracks annual research and development funding. The combined total of federal, state, industry and institutional support measures the resources available for innovative scientific research and creative expression.

The following actions were taken during the full board meeting:

Distinguished Service Awards approved
Trustees approved the awarding of Distinguished Serve Awards to Matthew Desch, Johanna Sue DeStefano, Tahlman Krumm Jr. and Edgar Lampert.

Interdisciplinary master of science in quantum information science and engineering established
Trustees approved the creation of a master of science in quantum information science and engineering degree program in the Center for Quantum Information Science and Engineering. The board also approved the creation of an interdisciplinary doctor of philosophy in quantum information science and engineering.

Master of energy sustainability established
The board approved the establishment of a master of energy sustainability, facilitated through the Sustainability Institute.

Honorary degree awarded
Trustees approved the awarding of a doctor of public service degree to E. Roe Stamps IV, the founder of the Stamps Scholars Program.

Acquisition of real property approved
The board approved the acquisition of 6515 Pullman Drive in Lewis Center, Ohio, at a purchase price of $7.5 million, to support the Wexner Medical Center's long-term strategic plans.

Professional services and construction contracts approved
The board authorized the university to enter into or increase professional services and construction contracts for the following projects:

Brain and Spine Hospital renovation
Professional services totaling $2 million, to be paid for with auxiliary funds.

15^th and High Arts Plaza
Professional services totaling $2.3 million, to be paid for with university funds.

Martha Morehouse pavilion concourse renovation
Professional and construction services totaling $5.8 million, to be paid for with auxiliary funds and university funds.

Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center linear accelerator replacement
Professional and construction services totaling $4.9 million, to be paid for with auxiliary funds.

North Towers renovations
Construction services totaling $15 million, to be paid for with university debt.

Outpatient Care East clinic renovations and relocations
Construction services totaling $3.9 million, to be paid for with auxiliary funds.

Doan Hall sprinkler installation
Construction services totaling $8.8 million, to be paid for with auxiliary funds.

Resolutions in Memoriam

• John Dewitt Jacob, who died on Jan. 20, 2026, at age 87. He was an alumnus, member and chair of the university's Board of Trustees.

• John Joseph Kennedy, who died on Aug. 9, 2025, at age 85. He was professor emeritus of educational policy and leadership.

• Stephen F. Loebs, who died on Nov. 10, 2025, at age 87. He was former associate dean and professor emeritus in the Division of Health Services Management and Policy in the College of Public Health.

• George Arthur Skestos, who died on Jan. 9, 2026, at age 97. He was a civic leader, philanthropist and former member of the Board of Trustees and Wexner Medical Center Board.

Resolution specifying conditions for exemptions to the civic literacy course requirements in Ohio Senate Bill 1, the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act
Trustees approved conditions for exemptions to the civic literacy course requirements in Ohio Senate Bill 1.

Resolution establishing a process to review and approve new academic programs, degree programs, curricula/courses, general education requirements, colleges, departments, schools, centers and institutes
The board approved the process as explained in Ohio House Bill 96.

Personnel actions approved
Trustees approved the following faculty appointments and reappointments:

Appointments

• Robert Baker as professor (Andrei Baronov and Ratmir Timashev Professorship in Chemical Physics) in the College of Arts and Sciences for a term running from Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2029.
• John Bozinovski as professor-clinical (The Gerard S. Kakos, MD and Thomas E. Williams, Jr., MD, PhD, Professorship) in the College of Medicine for a term running from March 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030.
• Jessica Merlin as professor (The Julius F. Stone Chair in Cancer Research) in the College of Medicine for a term running from Jan. 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030.
• Amy Moore as interim dean in the College of Medicine for a term starting Jan. 20, 2026.
• Daniel Prevedello as professor (Dr. John M. McGregor Department of Neurosurgery Professorship) in the College of Medicine for a term running from Jan. 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030.
• W. Kimryn Rathmell as professor and chief executive officer (Jeri B. Block and Robert H. Schottenstein Distinguished Chair in Cancer) in the College of Medicine for a term running from May 27, 2025, through May 26, 2030.
• Curtis Roth as associate professor (Robert S. Livesey Professor in Architecture) in the College of Engineering for a term running from Jan. 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
• Triparna Sen as professor (The Max Morehouse Chair in Cancer Research) in the College of Medicine for a term running from Jan. 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030.
• Stephanus Viljoen as associate professor-clinical (The William E. Hunt, M.D. and Charlotte M. Curtis Chair in Neuroscience) in the College of Medicine for a term running from March 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030.
• Lin Zhu as assistant professor (Elizabeth McKeever Ross Professorship Fund) in the College of Medicine for a term running from Nov. 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. (This is a correction of dates from the last meeting.)

Reappointments

• Eric Green as professor (Excellence in Veterinary Care Diagnostic Imaging Chair) in the College of Veterinary Medicine for a term running from March 5, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
• Dana Renga as professor (Divisional Dean for Arts and Humanities) in the College of Arts and Sciences for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Lydia Walker as assistant professor (Seth Andre Myers Chair in Global Military History) in the College of Arts and Sciences for a term running from Dec. 4, 2025, through Aug. 14, 2027.

Trustees also approved the reappointments and compensation adjustments of Ayanna Howard as dean and Monte Ahuja Endowed Dean's Chair in the College of Engineering for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031, and Carroll Ann Trotman as dean of the College of Dentistry for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031. The board adjusted the compensation for President Walter "Ted" Carter Jr. and Executive Vice President and Provost Ravi Bellamkonda.

Naming of spaces
Trustees approved the following namings:

• The Baughman Family Tower in Ohio Stadium
• The Kokosing Construction Management Program in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences
• The education center in University Hospital as the Thomas M. and Debra F. Feeney Education Center
• The Vrable Center for Pharmacy Excellence in the Riffe Building
• The Dr. Gerald M. Gregorek Aerospace Learning Laboratory in Bolz Hall

Internal spaces in the Riffe Building as follows:

• Dr. Milap C. Nahata Welcome Atrium Made Possible by Ric Mora BS Pharm '63
• Dr. Jack L. Beal Room Made Possible by Ric Mora BS Pharm '63 (rm. R201)
• Ric Mora BS Pharm '63 Kitchenette (rm. R103)
• The Sagraves Buckeye Huddle by Dr. Rosalie Sagraves PharmD, BS Pharm '69 (rm. R208)
• Meijer Pharmacy Classroom (rms. R112 & R118)
• Ned Milenkovich Family Group Study Room (rm. R209)
• Dr. Sheila M. Thomas-Jackson BSPharm '92 PharmD '00 Group Study Room (rm. R205)
• Nancy Perilla Peoples and Max J. Peoples Sr. & Belinda D. Peoples, MS, OSU, 83 & William A. Peoples, BS, OSU 83 Collaboration Room (rm. R106B)
• Mary Schickling Peoples and Wayne W. Peoples & Violet Grace Hurd Berdine (Pharmacist) and Anthony A. Berdine Collaboration Room (rm. R106A)
• Julie Johnson, PharmD Deanna Kroetz, PhD Amy Wells Valley, PharmD, BS Pharm '85, Group Study Room (rm. R207)
• The Lisa and John Warner, MD Welcome Desk and Lisa and John Warner, MD Family Lounge in University Hospital

Internal spaces in Engineering Research and Education Laboratories as follows:

• The Baysore Family Engineering Suite (containing rms. 4200, 4200A, 4200B and 4220)
• The George and Gretchen Smith Foundations Lab (rm. 1230)
• Doug "Ben" Herr and Jane Maliszewski Collaboration Space (rm. 4319)
• The Victor Yin Lab (rm. 1210)
• Saeid and Shelley Rahimian Processing Studio (rm. 1320B)
• John and Libby Toussant Wet Lab (rm. 1320C)
• KG and Nivedita Ganapathi Conference Room (rm. 3243)
• The Schavey Family Office (rm. 5229)
• The Clinical Research and Innovation Facility at 1960 Kenny Road
• The Institute of Brain, Behavior and Immunology at 460 Medical Center Drive

Degrees and certificates
The board approved the conferral of degrees and certificates on May 10, 2026, to those people who have completed the requirements for their respective degrees and certificates and are recommended by the colleges and schools.

Bylaws to rename committee approved
Trustees approved a resolution amending the Bylaws of the Board of Trustees to rename the Academic Affairs and Student Life Committee as the Academic Affairs, Research and Student Life Committee and to adopt a charter for the committee.

Amendments to the Rules of the University Faculty approved
Trustees approved amendments to the Rules of the University Faculty as recommended by the University Senate.

Obstetrical Services Standards for fiscal year 2026 approved
Trustees approved the annual review of the Obstetrical Services Standards for fiscal year 2026 for the hospitals at the Wexner Medical Center, including: Ohio State University Hospital, Ohio State Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital, Ohio State Harding Hospital and East Hospital.

University Foundation Report approved
The board approved, as of Jan. 31, 2026, the establishment of: five endowed chairs as part of the Provost's Endowed Chair Matching Program: The Endowed Chair in Comparative and Translational Oncology and Biomedical Research, The Endowed Chair in Comparative and Translational Parasitic and Infectious Diseases, the Endowed Chair in Comparative and Translational Immunology, Oncology, and Vaccinology Research, the Excellence in Veterinary Care Diagnostic Imaging Chair in the College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Kokosing Construction Management Endowed Chair; one endowed chair: The Paul L. Wright Chair in Agricultural Law; eight endowed chair funds as part of the Provost's Endowed Chair Matching Program: the James and Patricia Dietz Endowed Chair Fund in Chemical Engineering, the Bernard and LaJune Cohen Endowed Chair Fund in Neurodegenerative Disease Research, the Libby and Rick Germain Chair Fund in Cancer Research, The Tom and Debra Feeney Family Endowed Chair Fund in Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The John and Alix Ankele Endowed Chair Fund in Human Ethics, the Franklin Foundation Endowed Chair Fund, The Susan and Grant Douglass and Family Endowed Chair Fund in Pain Management, and the Buckeye Cruise for Cancer Chair Fund in Cancer Research; two endowed professorships: the Bertha Lamme Professorship and the Maryann Z. and Larry Kennedy Endowed Professorship in Drug Discovery; seven scholarships as part of the Scarlet and Gray Advantage Endowed Matching Gift Program; two scholarships as part of the Joseph A. Alutto Global Leadership Initiative; 47 additional named endowed funds; the revision of 14 named endowed funds; and the closure of one named endowed fund.

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