Kansas University Medical Center has been awarded the largest grant ever received by a university in Kansas, officials announced Thursday.

The five-year, $18 million grant from the National Institutes of Health will benefit the Kansas Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (K-BRIN). The network was started with an $8.2 million grant in 2001.

K-BRIN is part of a national program designed to pump research money into states that have traditionally received less than their share of federal funds.

Projects underway include developing bioinformatics capabilities at universities, granting $10,000 awards to outstanding faculty and creating a summer scholars program, which awards 30 students a $3,000 stipend to pursue research projects.

Joan Hunt, senior associate dean for research and graduate education at the Medical Center, is principal investigator for the grant. Participants in the network include both the Medical Center and Lawrence campuses of Kansas University, Kansas State University, Wichita State University, Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Haskell Indian Nations University, Pittsburg State University and Washburn University.