NIH funding by state · Fiscal year 2026
NIH Funding in Kentucky
Reviewed by Dr. Meng ZhaoLast reviewed October 16, 2026Data refreshed October 16, 2026Editorial standards
Kentucky institutions received $218.6M in NIH award funding in fiscal year 2026 across 365 award records to 17 recipients, ranking #29 among 55 states and territories with 0.6% of NIH funding to U.S. recipients, down 5.1% from FY2025. University of Kentucky received 61.2% of the state total.
FY2026 closed on September 30, 2026, but NIH keeps posting that year's awards to RePORTER for several weeks. FY2026 figures reflect records available on October 16, 2026 and may rise slightly at the next refresh.
FY2026 NIH funding
$218.6M
−5.1% vs FY2025
Rank among states
#29
#29 in FY2025
NIH recipients
17
365 award records
Largest recipient
61%
University of Kentucky, $133.8M
Kentucky institutions ranked by NIH funding, FY2026
| KY | Institution | FY2026 | vs FY2025 | Awards | U.S. rank | Top IC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of KentuckyLexington, KY · Higher education | $133.8M | −8.3% | 227 | #68 | NIA |
| 2 | University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY · Higher education | $75.0M | +4.2% | 119 | #107 | NIGMS |
| 3 | Xleratehealth, LLCLouisville, KY · Company | $1.3M | — | 1 | #908 | NIGMS |
| 4 | Aquilo Sports, LLCLouisville, KY · Company | $1.1M | — | 1 | #1013 | NHLBI |
| 5 | Ralphvr Inc.Lexington, KY · Company | $1.1M | — | 1 | #1069 | NIA |
| 6 | Wicked Sheets, LLCLouisville, KY · Company | $1.0M | −29.1% | 1 | #1087 | NIA |
| 7 | Pgxl Technologies, LLCLouisville, KY · Company | $958K | −0.4% | 1 | #1256 | NHLBI |
| 8 | Northern Kentucky UniversityHighland Heights, KY · Higher education | $662K | +71.5% | 2 | #1505 | NIGMS |
| 9 | Lagrange Scientific, LLCPewee Valley, KY · Company | $582K | +8.1% | 1 | #1564 | NCI |
| 10 | Paratechs Corp.Lexington, KY · Company | $535K | −4.6% | 1 | #1602 | OD |
| 11 | Morehead State UniversityMorehead, KY · Higher education | $526K | — | 1 | #1615 | NIGMS |
| 12 | Western Kentucky UniversityBowling Green, KY · Higher education | $503K | −43.2% | 3 | #1643 | NIGMS |
| 13 | Tele-Stethoscope Inc.Louisville, KY · Company | $406K | — | 1 | #1760 | NHLBI |
| 14 | University of PikevillePikeville, KY · Higher education | $351K | — | 1 | #1871 | NHLBI |
| 15 | Creosalus, Inc.Louisville, KY · Company | $314K | −53.9% | 1 | #1958 | NIBIB |
| 16 | Bioptics Imaging LLCLexington, KY · Company | $295K | — | 1 | #2097 | NCI |
| 17 | Murray State UniversityMurray, KY · Higher education | $273K | −59.6% | 2 | #2132 | NIGMS |
Kentucky NIH funding, FY2022–FY2026
| Year | Funding | Change | Recipients | State rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | $218.6M | −5.1% | 17 | #29 |
| FY2025 | $230.4M | −1.8% | 17 | #29 |
| FY2024 | $234.6M | +2.3% | 23 | #29 |
| FY2023 | $229.4M | −2.3% | 22 | #29 |
| FY2022 | $234.7M | — | 19 | #30 |
NIH institutes funding Kentucky, FY2026
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) administered the most NIH funding in Kentucky. Institute figures cover the state's recipients with $10M or more (95.5% of state funding).
- NIGMS · National Institute of General Medical Sciences$30.8M · 14.8%
27 awards · vs FY2025: +6.6%
- NIA · National Institute on Aging$22.5M · 10.8%
32 awards · vs FY2025: +1.2%
- NIDA · National Institute on Drug Abuse$19.8M · 9.5%
30 awards · vs FY2025: +29.8%
- NCI · National Cancer Institute$18.7M · 8.9%
42 awards · vs FY2025: −16.3%
- NHLBI · National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute$18.5M · 8.8%
36 awards · vs FY2025: −9.5%
- NIAID · National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases$11.9M · 5.7%
26 awards · vs FY2025: −35.6%
- OD · NIH Office of the Director$11.9M · 5.7%
5 awards · vs FY2025: +319.4%
- NIEHS · National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences$11.5M · 5.5%
21 awards · vs FY2025: −35.6%
- NINDS · National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke$10.6M · 5.1%
24 awards · vs FY2025: −27.3%
- NIDDK · National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases$8.2M · 3.9%
19 awards · vs FY2025: −21.7%
Also: NIDCR $8.1M · NIMH $7.9M · NIAAA $6.4M · NIAMS $5.5M · NCATS $5.2M · NICHD $3.7M · NEI $3.4M · NIDCD $1.8M · NCCIH $642K · NIMHD $598K · NLM $579K · NIBIB $268K · NHGRI $249K
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