WASHINGTON – Rhode Island-based medical researchers have been awarded more than $22 million from the National Institutes of Health – 91 grants in total, including 52 for Brown University teams – through money included in the economic stimulus law enacted in February, officials announced this week.

The grants include nearly $1.5 million for a study of a collagen-platelet composite to improve healing of ACL (anterior curiae ligament) grafts, at Rhode Island Hospital; $967,000 for Rhode Island Hospital’s Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) for Skeletal Health and Repair; $257,000 for Women & Infants Hospital researchers to test a new way to detect autism early by evaluating infants’ crying; and $215,000 for HIV vaccine work at EpiVax Inc.

The Brown grants include $1.1 million for a radiology biostatistics data management center; $716,000 for a follow-up study of 3,000 New Englanders born between 1959 and 1966 who were closely evaluated in a study at the time; and $498,000 to study the effect of prescription drug benefits on seniors’ cardiovascular health, plus many smaller projects.

Nearly $1.3 million will support a R.I. Network for Excellence in Biomedical and Behavioral Research, based at the University of Rhode Island. And smaller grants will support studies on premature infants, nutrition, exercise in older adults, and more.

“Rhode Island’s biomedical research community is renowned for being on the forefront of medical breakthroughs and advanced treatment options that have helped prevent diseases like diabetes and care for patients with rare forms of cancer,” U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., said in a news release.

“Many Rhode Islanders have suggested the biotech industry is the kind of economic development the state should focus on,” Reed added, “and these Recovery Act grants will provide critical federal funds for innovative projects to help save lives and create jobs.”

A full list of Rhode Island organizations receiving grants, with project details, is available on the NIH Web site.