Who Is Funding the Science That's Too Early for Venture Capital?
April 22, 2026
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
#92 in Universities
92Institution Overview
Overall
Ranking
92
104
Rank in
Research Capabilities
60
Rank in
Entrepreneurial Readiness
137
Rank in
Market Translation
Memphis, TN
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center ranks 92nd among universities in the Cure Innovation Index and is based in Memphis, Tennessee. Its profile leans toward discovery, with solid research capabilities and a particular strength in entrepreneurial readiness, where it places 60th. Market translation is a developing area. The university maintains biomedical entrepreneurship training, an MD/MBA dual degree, an incubator and accelerator, and an entrepreneur-in-residence program, giving it practical infrastructure for connecting scientific work to commercial application.
Ranking Metrics
Research Capabilities
University of Tennessee Health Science Center 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, University of Tennessee Health Science Center fared best in Funding Support.
Learn MoreEntrepreneurial Readiness
University of Tennessee Health Science Center ranked above 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, University of Tennessee Health Science Center fared best in Ecosystem Support.
Learn MoreMarket Translation
University of Tennessee Health Science Center 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, University of Tennessee Health Science Center fared best in Industry Connections.
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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.
