Who Is Funding the Science That's Too Early for Venture Capital?
April 22, 2026
Rush University
#102 in Universities
102Institution Overview
Overall
Ranking
102
77
Rank in
Research Capabilities
177
Rank in
Entrepreneurial Readiness
67
Rank in
Market Translation
Chicago, IL
Rush University ranks 102nd among universities in the Cure Innovation Index, based in Chicago, Illinois. Its standing in Research Capabilities and Market Translation is above average, while Entrepreneurial Readiness remains a developing area relative to peer institutions. The university holds a Clinical and Translational Science Award, supports a faculty-led clinical trials program, and maintains an on-campus incubator and accelerator. The overall profile reflects a discovery-leaning institution with infrastructure to support translational work, situated within one of the larger biomedical research ecosystems in the U.S.
Ranking Metrics
Research Capabilities
Rush University ranked above 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, Rush University fared best in Funding Support.
Learn MoreEntrepreneurial Readiness
Rush University 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, Rush University fared best in Faculty Engagement.
Learn MoreMarket Translation
Rush University 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, Rush University fared best in Health Impact.
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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.
