The University of Minnesota Medical School’s research ranking continues to drop after declines in grades and MCAT scores.

In the latest U.S. News and World Reports medical school research rankings, the University ranked 44 out of 86, down from 35th last year.

Its rankings mirror slides in National Institutes of Health grants to the Medical School.

In NIH grants — which the University’s Board of Regents tracks — the program has fallen from 28th in 2012 to 32nd in 2015.

NIH funding increased slightly last year, Medical School Dean Brooks Jackson said in an emailed statement.

Administrators, regents and lawmakers have said they want to see the Medical School’s ranking increase.

To help increase its ratings, the University has prioritized hiring and retaining elite faculty members, among other initiatives.

“Our interest in rankings is based on identifying ways the Medical School is succeeding, and areas where we can continue to improve,” Jackson said in the statement. “We have actionable plans in place to continue to increase our national prominence.”

Still, in other areas of U.S. News and World Report’s report, the University’s ranking increased.

In rural medicine, the Medical School jumped from 5th to 3rd, while the school increased its primary care ranking to 7th.