Who Is Funding the Science That's Too Early for Venture Capital?
April 22, 2026
University of Texas Medical Branch
#37 in Universities
37Institution Overview
Overall
Ranking
37
25
Rank in
Research Capabilities
46
Rank in
Entrepreneurial Readiness
57
Rank in
Market Translation
Galveston, TX
The University of Texas Medical Branch, based in Galveston, Texas, ranks 37th among U.S. universities in the Cure Innovation Index. Research Capabilities is its strongest domain, where it places 25th, reflecting a profile that leans toward discovery science. Market Translation and Entrepreneurial Readiness are both above average, underpinned by a Clinical and Translational Science Award, an incubator and accelerator, a biomedical entrepreneurship training program, an entrepreneur-in-residence program, and an MD/MBA dual degree. Faculty-led clinical trials further mark it as an institution with broad research reach.
Ranking Metrics
Research Capabilities
University of Texas Medical Branch 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, University of Texas Medical Branch fared best in Funding Support.
Learn MoreEntrepreneurial Readiness
University of Texas Medical Branch 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 Texas Medical Branch fared best in Faculty Engagement.
Learn MoreMarket Translation
University of Texas Medical Branch ranked above 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 Texas Medical Branch 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.
