ANN ARBOR—University of Michigan scientists and engineers have been awarded more than 260 federal stimulus-package research grants to date, totaling $103.2 million.

The funding includes 188 National Institutes of Health stimulus awards and 70 from the National Science Foundation. In addition, stimulus-package funding from the Energy Department will pay for a $19.5 million U-M research center to explore new materials for solar cells.

“I’m pleased that our faculty researchers are advancing competitive ideas that will contribute significantly to the economic well-being of the United States and Michigan,” said U-M Vice President for Research Stephen Forrest.

“These grants will contribute to our research enterprise and help the U-M continue to play a vital role in the economic transformation now underway in our state,” Forrest said.

Stimulus awards from the federal government will support a variety of U-M basic science, biomedical and engineering projects, from novel cancer and vaccine studies to research on ultra-energy-efficient computers and the next generation of rechargeable batteries.

The research funds were included in the $787 billion federal economic stimulus package approved in February, known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. ARRA grants will continue to be awarded in coming months.

Through Sept. 17, U-M researchers have been awarded 188 stimulus grants from the National Institutes of Health, totaling $49.1 million, according to the NIH Web site.

Most of the NIH awards went to the U-M Medical School. Dr. Janet Gilsdorf, professor and director of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Service at the Medical School, received a $546,488 stimulus award to search for vaccines that ward off bacterial ear infections in children.

In addition to the Medical School, the School of Public Health, the College of Engineering, the School of Dentistry, the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, the College of Pharmacy, the Life Sciences Institute, the Institute for Social Research and the School of Nursing also received stimulus funding from the NIH.

Through Sept. 17, U-M researchers have also received 70 stimulus awards from the National Science Foundation, totaling $31.7 million, according to the agency Web site.

Last month, the University was awarded a $2.5 million stimulus grant from the Energy Department to create courses on topics such as hybrid electronics, battery technology and green power. In addition, the Health Resources and Services Administration recently made two stimulus awards to the U-M, totaling $299,444, to train health professionals, according to the agency Web site.

The total from all agencies, through Sept. 17, is $103,163,135.

Related Links:

• Complete list of U-M stimulus awards is available at the university’s Innovation Economy Web site