Blue Ridge Rankings Include College of Human Medicine Faculty

April 7, 2026

College of Human Medicine researchers continue to rank as top recipients of research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

According to a report by the nonprofit Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, three faculty members have ranked in the top 20 in their given area of research. They rank within the top ten health science researchers at Michigan State University funded by the NIH.

“These three faculty members exemplify the strength and reach of the College of Human Medicine’s research across Michigan—from big cities to rural northern communities—reflecting our land-grant mission,” said Nara Parameswaran, BVSc, MS, PhD, senior associate dean for research.

“Their nationally recognized work is not only advancing science but also improving health outcomes in the communities we serve. NIH funding is highly competitive, and being ranked among the top in their fields nationally is a significant accomplishment for these faculty members. It speaks to the strength of our research enterprise and the national leadership of our investigators.”

Jean Kerver, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, ranked number 14 on the public health list. Kerver leads the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) research program in Michigan, which studies the impacts of early-life environmental exposures on long-term health.

“Investing in research about things in our lives that are not completely under our control—like the air we breathe, the water we drink, the nutrients in the soil where our food is grown, our access to health care—and connecting that to our children’s health, is investing in the future of our country,” said Kerver. “And because we have community-based medical campuses across the state, we can use the federal NIH funds to hire people who live and work in the communities where we are conducting research. It is important for rural residents to experience the joys and benefits of participating in research that is funded by their federal taxes and will help future generations of their own families.”

Cris Meghea, PhD, Red Cedar Distinguished Professor, ranked 14th highest funded OB-GYN researcher in the country. Meghea is a principal investigator of the Multilevel Interventions for Maternal Health and Disparities (MIRACLE) Center, one of the few national NIH-funded Maternal Health Research Centers of Excellence. The Center addresses the need for multilevel, community-centered, equity disparity-focused interventions developed and tested with an emphasis on scalability and sustainment to address disparities in pregnancy-related illness and death. Meghea is director and founder of the Maternal Health Lab, with Lee Anne Roman, leading a program of research and evaluation to reduce maternal morbidity, mortality and disparities.v

In addition to Kerver, Jennifer Johnson, PhD, ranked #18 in public health. Johnson is the founding chair and C.S. Mott Endowed Professor of Public Health at the Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health, C. S. Mott Endowed Professor of Public Health and a University Distinguished Professor. Her NIH-funded grants include the National Center for Health and Justice Integration for Suicide Prevention (NCHATS), the MIRACLE Center of Excellence in Women’s Health with Meghea, and several R01s evaluating structural interventions to improve community mental health or maternal health services.

By Claudia Price 

Media Contact | Emily Linnert