Located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, the University of Southern California (USC) is one of the world's leading private research universities. In addition to a major medical center and business school, the university has two National Science Foundation-funded Engineering Research Centers (the Integrated Media Systems Center and the Center for Biomimetic Microelectronic Systems). The U.S. Department of Homeland Security selected USC as its first Homeland Security Center of Excellence. As of 2005, USC ranks among the top 10 private universities receiving federal funds for research and development support.