The Associated Press
12/24/2004, 1:20 p.m. CT

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- Medical research in Birmingham attracted $279.4 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health last year, helping cement the city's position as regional research powerhouse.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham got $208 million of that amount for studies in medicine, biotechnology and biomedical devices, a new Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce report shows.

"UAB's consistently high level of funding from NIH demonstrates its national and international strength as a research organization," university President Carol Garrison said.

Southern Research Institute received $27.2 million last year, placing it second among the region's research institutions.

The remainder of the $279.4 million was shared by other research organizations in Birmingham, said Michael Shattuck, the chamber's economic director.

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Information from: The Birmingham News