Who Is Funding the Science That's Too Early for Venture Capital?
April 22, 2026
Kennedy Krieger Institute
#55 in Institutes and Centers
55Institution Overview
Overall
Ranking
55
53
Rank in
Research Capabilities
46
Rank in
Entrepreneurial Readiness
53
Rank in
Market Translation
Baltimore, MD
Kennedy Krieger Institute ranks 55th among 60 biomedical institutes in the Cure Innovation Index. Based in Baltimore, Maryland, the institute sits in the lower tier across all three measured domains: Research Capabilities, Market Translation, and Entrepreneurial Readiness, with consistent standing in each. Its mission focuses on childhood developmental disabilities and rehabilitation medicine, a clinical specialty that sets it apart from general biomedical research institutions. The index profile reflects a balanced orientation between discovery and translation activity.
Ranking Metrics
Research Capabilities
Kennedy Krieger Institute ranked below average for Research Capabilities, a measure of the foundational infrastructure and resources that enable an institution to conduct high-quality, innovative science. Out of the factors in this category, Kennedy Krieger Institute fared best in Funding Support.
Learn MoreEntrepreneurial Readiness
Kennedy Krieger Institute ranked below average for Entrepreneurial Readiness, a measure of whether the institution has built a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurship and whether faculty are engaged in and incentivized toward commercial activity. Out of the factors in this category, Kennedy Krieger Institute fared best in Ecosystem Support.
Learn MoreMarket Translation
Kennedy Krieger Institute ranked below average for Market Translation, a measure of how effectively a research institution moves scientific discovery out of the lab and into real-world clinical and commercial applications. Out of the factors in this category, Kennedy Krieger Institute fared best in Industry Reputation.
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Cure Innovation Index Methodology
From a pool of more than 6,000 institutions, the top 303 were ranked using two dozen indicators — from scientific foundation and lab infrastructure to patents, products, and partnerships — drawn from more than a dozen federal and commercial databases, an original audit of all institutions, and surveys of more than 3,300+ scientists, industry leaders, and biomedical experts.
Insights From the Cure Innovation Index
Explore by Category
Innovation isn't a single moment — it's an entire ecosystem. The Index evaluates institutions across two dozen indicators, grouped in three core domains that reveal the full picture of what it takes to turn groundbreaking science into real-world impact.
