The Center for Bioscience will be custom designed as a collaboration space for research and innovation teams from UofL’s Health Sciences Center and Belknap Campus. The state-of-the-art interdisciplinary research facility��will bring together researchers from biosciences, engineering, computational science and related disciplines to accelerate discovery, innovation and technology development.

“The Center for Bioscience represents a strategic investment in the university’s research enterprise and will transform the regional innovation ecosystem,” said President Gerry Bradley. “The larger vision for an innovation park will further drive collaborative research and expand our connection with industry and the community.”

The innovation park is a planned development for the 37-acre property formerly owned by Kentucky Trailer acquired by the UofL Foundation in 2008. The property is bordered by S. Third St., S. Brook St. and the CSX and Norfolk Southern railroad. It is just south of the Speed School of Engineering.

Developer Wexford Science + Technology shared concept plans for the project with the UofL Board of Trustees at their July 23 meeting. Plans highlighted options for additional academic and industrial facilities, living spaces, a restaurant, parking and greenspace. Key considerations include potential uses for the property’s historic Drop Forge building and a pedestrian walkway over the railroad, connecting the park with Belknap Campus.

The Center for Bioscience will be constructed on the northeast side of the property, adjacent to the J.B. Speed School of Engineering.

“As the first building to be constructed in the innovation park, the Center for Bioscience will catalyze expansion of the university’s scientific capacity and strengthen regional and national innovation competitiveness,” said Jon Klein, executive vice president for research and innovation. “The building is key in our goal of advancing the translation of discoveries by fostering multidisciplinary research and collaboration.”

The Center for Bioscience will house advanced research infrastructure��including wet, dry and computational laboratories, shared core facilities, collaboration spaces, conference facilities and research offices that support basic, applied and translational research.

The center will support activities such as design, prototyping, testing and refinement of biomedical technologies, translational research conducted in partnership with federal and industry collaborators and applied technology development efforts addressing real world health challenges.

Beyond the Center for Bioscience, other aspects of the innovation park will facilitate , allowing companies to access UofL’s workforce pipeline, engage with students, collaborate with university researchers and clinicians, access shared research infrastructure and form strategic partnerships in biosciences, engineering, computational science and other fields to accelerate commercialization and fuel economic growth.

Download a high-resolution file�� for the preliminary conceptual image of the Center for Bioscience shown at the top.��

Ethan Havertape and Nate Royal developed Due Gooder, an AI-powered application designed to help college students stay organized and manage their coursework. Fed with users’ syllabi or learning management system information (such as Blackboard), Due Gooder can help students manage their work and plan for class deadlines.

Royal, a senior majoring in computer science in , and Havertape, a junior majoring in CIS in the , employ AI both within the software programming and in their business operations.

“Within the app, we’ve developed ‘Duey,’ a personal AI assistant that understands students’ class schedules, assignments and coursework context. Duey can help students plan study blocks, answer questions about syllabus policies and assist with schedule-related decisions,” Havertape said.

The system includes adaptive AI learning tools that generate flashcards and practice tests from the student’s notes, slides and coursework. It even identifies areas where the student needs improvement and adapts the study resources to strengthen those skills.

“Beyond the product, we use AI heavily across coding, operations, marketing and internal business workflows to increase efficiency,” Royal said.

The team gained support and mentoring for the project through Sandbox, a year-long class that guides students as they navigate the process of developing software businesses.

“Since entering Sandbox, we’ve grown from only a few hundred users to tens of thousands of student signups across thousands of universities, taken on investment and expanded into university research pilots focused on student engagement, persistence and retention,” Havertape said.

First offered during the 2025-26 year, UofL’s Sandbox chapter gave the student teams the opportunity to network with mentors and other Sandbox teams from across the U.S. The class allows students to form interdisciplinary groups to identify and validate software products, sell them and seek venture financing. The students retain 100% of the equity in any company they build as part of Sandbox.

Sandbox is for entrepreneurial students in any area of study, whether or not they are technologically trained, said , entrepreneur in residence and instructor for the course.

“Students with a desire to experience a startup team and develop a software business can benefit from spending a year in Sandbox,” Manzella said. “The resources and national networking opportunities available to Sandbox students help them lay a solid foundation and actually work through the steps to launch a business.”

Havertape and Royal said Sandbox gave them a distinct advantage in growing their idea.

“You do not need to already have a startup or even know exactly what you want to build,” Havertape said. “Sandbox gives students the opportunity to learn entrepreneurship from the ground up while being surrounded by people who are motivated to create and solve problems. The more effort and energy you put into the program, the more valuable the experience becomes.”

AI tool for Etsy sellers

Stephanie Sithu, another Sandbox alum, advanced her AI marketing tool, BeforeMe, through the class. Born out of a need to enhance her own Etsy business, BeforeMe is for Etsy sellers who want to grow their business on Pinterest. It generates pins from the user’s Etsy listings and schedules them.

In developing BeforeMe, Sithu engaged with both platforms’ tech teams and refined her marketing approach through Sandbox.

“I worked directly with both the Pinterest and Etsy API teams to build it. AI is central to BeforeMe in two ways: using Gemini to generate optimized pin copy and building my own heuristic AI layer that adapts scheduling based on which pins are gaining traction and what audience intent (shopping, lifestyle, gift-giving, solutions) they serve,” Sithu said.

The 2026 Speed School graduate in computer science said the structure of the Sandbox course was just what she needed.

“The customer discovery framework helped me stop guessing and start finding the real, specific problems Etsy sellers face with Pinterest marketing, which directly shaped the features I built,” Sithu said. “The lineup of industry speakers walked us through every stage of building something real, and I especially enjoyed the branding sessions. The pitching process was also humbling in the best way. I revised my pitch up to the final day, and by the end it felt genuinely like me, not a rehearsed product-benefit script.”

About Cardinal Intelligence

empowers the University of Louisville to lead and learn in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) with human-centered guidance and responsibility. For generations, Cardinals have embraced technology, expanding how we learn, discover, connect and work. While AI raises important questions, our students, faculty, researchers and staff bring the curiosity and innovation needed to find answers. Through Cardinal Intelligence, we are shaping how UofL uses AI to advance our university and uncover solutions that strengthen the communities we serve.

Klein, whose storied career spanned more than 40 years, served as UofL’s Sports Information Director from 1983 until his retirement in 2022. He worked tirelessly behind the scenes and earned the reputation as one of the most well-known and respected communications leaders in collegiate athletics.��

Following his retirement, Klein continued to work as a consultant with the Cardinals’ men’s basketball program during the 2022-23 season. After a year of retirement, Klein returned to action, rejoining former Louisville men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino as a special advisor for St. John’s men’s basketball program from 2024-26.

Klein joined the Cardinals’ staff in July of 1983 after nearly two seasons as sports information director at Morehead State University. Prior to that stint, Klein spent four years as an undergraduate and graduate assistant at Murray State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1981. At the time of his appointment at UofL, he was the youngest SID at an NCAA Division I football institution at 23.

In addition to working alongside Hall of Fame Louisville basketball coaches Denny Crum and Rick Pitino, Klein himself was a legend in his field. A 2015 inductee into the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Hall of Fame, Klein also worked one season as a student assistant in sports information at Austin Peay State University and was a sports writer for the��Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle.

His career dedication led to Klein’s induction into the state’s Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. He received the 2012 Katha Quinn Award, presented by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association in recognition for providing outstanding service to media covering college basketball.

Klein coordinated the computerized statistics operation for 40 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Fours. In his initial season with the Cardinals, he edited the 1983-84 UofL basketball guide which was judged second in the nation by CoSIDA. Klein, who edited UofL’s 352-page basketball history book��Above the Rim, also received multiple other publication awards while at UofL and Murray State.

He served as the media coordinator for the 1987 USA Pan American Games men’s basketball team, has served on the NCAA Final Four media coordination committee and annually assisted in media operations for the Kentucky Derby. He was the local media center committee chairman for the 1996, 2000 and 2014 PGA Championships in Louisville, and served in a similar capacity for the 2008 Ryder Cup and 2004 and 2011 Senior PGA Championships. He also assisted in the media operations at the 1999 Ryder Cup in Boston.

Klein served as vice-chairman of the CoSIDA Scholarship Committee and was the athletic department’s representative for multimedia rights with the ACC, including the inception and oversight of the Cardinals’ broadcast center for the ACC Network.
Klein, who grew up in Southside, Tenn., is survived by his wife, the former Donna Graham, along with two sons: Alex (Beth) and Brady (Carly) and grandchildren Clark and Iris.����������

Kenny Klein was one of the most treasured figures in the history of Louisville Athletics.

For almost 40 years, Kenny gave himself completely to this university, to our student-athletes, our coaches, our staff and our fans. He was the keeper of our stories, the guardian of our history and the steady, smiling presence that made everyone around him feel seen and valued. There was no one who loved Louisville more, and Louisville loved him right back.

But Kenny’s legacy extended far beyond the walls of Louisville Athletics. He was revered nationally as one of the best sports information directors in the industry, a true master of his craft who earned the respect and admiration of peers, media and colleagues across the nation. His Hall of Fame recognition was well deserved, but those who knew Kenny understood that his greatest distinction was never a title or an award. It was the man he was every single day.

Kenny Klein was kind. He was generous. He was humble. He made everyone from the newest student manager to the most seasoned sportswriter feel like they mattered. He answered every call, remembered every name, and approached every interaction with grace and genuine warmth. In a profession that demands so much, Kenny never lost sight of what mattered most: people.

We extend our deepest love and condolences to the Klein family. We grieve with you, and we hold you close.

Kenny was, and will always be, a Cardinal Forever.��

IBD, which includes conditions such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, affects millions of people worldwide. The disease is characterized by chronic inflammation and damage to the intestinal lining. A healthy gut barrier helps keep harmful bacteria from leaking out of the intestines, while allowing nutrients to enter the body. In people with IBD, that barrier becomes weakened, leading to inflammation, pain and long-term complications.

A research team led by , associate professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and UofL’s Brown Cancer Center, discovered how a naturally occurring microbial metabolite called urolithin A, or UroA, which is generated by gut bacteria after digestion of foods such as pomegranates, walnuts and berries, activates a protective pathway in the intestine that may help preserve gut health.

The study, , focuses on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, or AHR, a protein that acts as a sensor for environmental, dietary and microbial signals. Researchers have long known that AHR can contribute to harmful effects when activated by certain environmental toxins, but previous studies also suggested that activation by beneficial dietary compounds may support gut health. Scientists have not fully understood why this is the case until now.

These new findings suggest that the outcome depends on where and how strongly AHR is activated.

Researchers at UofL found that UroA selectively activates AHR in intestinal epithelial cells, the specialized cells that line and protect the gut. That targeted activation of AHR in intestinal epithelial cells triggers a cellular defense system known as the NLRP6 inflammasome. Although inflammasomes are commonly associated with harmful inflammatory responses, this study found they can also serve as a protective role.

When activated by UroA in intestinal epithelial cells, the NLRP6 inflammasome led to the release of the right amount of molecules that are associated with maintaining normal intestinal function and that help repair the gut lining, strengthen the intestinal barrier, increase protective mucus production and enhance antimicrobial defenses, rather than promoting inflammation.

This study shows, for the first time, how a natural microbial product works together with the body’s response to control complex molecular and cellular processes during intestinal injury, helping preserve gut health and reduce tissue damage.

“The findings show that not all inflammatory pathways are harmful,” said , previously a postdoctoral researcher in Jala’s laboratory and lead investigator on the study. “Under the right conditions and in the right cells, these pathways can play an essential role in maintaining gut health and supporting tissue repair.”

The team confirmed the mechanism using multiple experimental systems, including cell and organoid studies, as well as intestinal tissue samples from patients with IBD, demonstrating that UroA activated the same protective pathway in human tissue. Their findings indicate that rather than broadly suppressing the immune system, it may be possible to develop new therapies for IBD and other gastrointestinal diseases that target specific protective pathways in certain cell types.

“This study helps us better understand how natural compounds produced through interactions between diet, gut microbes and the body can influence disease processes,” Jala said. “By identifying this specific protective pathway, we may be able to develop more targeted therapeutic approaches that restore intestinal balance instead of broadly suppressing immune responses.”

Jala previously led research that discovered the in the gut. This study furthers that work by revealing how UroA interacts with the immune system to improve intestinal health.

Narayanan’s research to decode how atoms move and interact within these materials requires hundreds of computer simulations, but the work can now progress much faster thanks to a new high-performance computing (HPC) system at UofL. The system allows Narayanan’s team to develop machine learning tools that will perform these simulations much more rapidly.

The “Zurada” HPC system, launched in late 2025, enables Narayanan and researchers across the university to conduct more advanced research in materials development, personalized medicine, AI and many other fields. The blazing fast and versatile system yields rapid solutions to a wide variety of complex computational problems and once programmed, can even perform and analyze a sequence of computer models autonomously. The researchers then assess the final results to move forward with physical experiments.

The system represents a $3.7-million computing investment that significantly enhances the university’s capabilities and will help UofL achieve its strategic research goals.

“This new HPC system represents a monumental leap forward for UofL’s research and development initiatives,” said Jon Klein, executive vice president for research and innovation. “Its processing power, combined with dedicated AI acceleration and ultra-fast networking, will empower our students, faculty and researchers to achieve breakthroughs faster and explore new frontiers previously beyond our reach.”

The materials Narayanan is testing have the potential to significantly improve the next generation of storage batteries over current lithium-ion technology. Narayanan,��associate professor of mechanical engineering in the , is modeling batteries that use iron and aluminum – inexpensive and abundant elements – and sustainable electrolytes, containing simple salts and water.

With Zurada HPC, Narayanan can run the models much more rapidly than with previous systems. He also believes the system has excellent potential to accelerate research in autonomous experimentation.

“We can develop AI models that decide what experiments to run, how to run them and how to analyze the results of those experiments,” Narayanan said. “Most of the heavy lifting is done by AI, and human scientists can come in once every so often to supervise. This platform can get results much faster.”

Narayanan said with existing approaches it would take 10 to 15 years to bring a commercial battery product such as the ones he is working on to market. Using Cardinal Intelligence, human thinking and strategy, paired with the autonomous experiments and testing capability with Zurada HPC could shorten that time to an estimated 3 to 4 years.��

He also uses the HPC system in his research on metal-insulator transitions in complex oxides, which can be used for preparing the building blocks – called memristors – for brain-like computing platforms.

“We are trying to understand the atomic processes that dictate how the same material can switch from being an insulator to a metal when a voltage is applied.” Narayanan said. “Interestingly, when the direction of voltage is flipped, they turn back to insulators again. These materials hold a lot of potential in mimicking the neurons of the human brain.”

The Zurada HPC system also empowers UofL researchers to advance cutting-edge artificial intelligence research inspired by its namesake, . A professor of electrical and computer engineering at UofL, Zurada is known for his pioneering research in neural networks – a core technology of today’s AI – since the 1990s and has since become one of the world’s in computer engineering, according to data compiled by the global academic publishing and information analytics company Elsevier.

, associate professor in the and a former PhD student of Professor Zurada, is using Zurada HPC for AI research in personalized medicine.

“A lot of my work involves time consuming and computationally heavy AI model training, fine-tuning and simulation,” Gaweda said. “With the Zurada HPC, I will be able to run multiple such jobs in parallel, thereby accelerating the generation of new results.”

For one project, Gaweda is collaborating with in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences to develop tools for individualized treatment of eating disorders. He also relies on Zurada HPC in his project on AI-powered discovery of treatments and interventions to slow progression of chronic kidney disease.

Technical specifications

The various servers that comprise the Zurada HPC system have different “personalities,” each suited for specific kinds of computation and projects, according to Ritu Arora, associate vice provost of . The system consists of 119 servers and features a powerful blend of blazing fast CPUs, 43 NVIDIA GPUs, very large memory servers, ultra-fast 200 gigabits-per-second networking and 5 petabytes of high-performance storage.

The system is capable of more than 1.6 petaflops��of double-precision performance. “Peta” in petaflops refers to��a quadrillion (1,000,000,000,000,000). “Flops” are floating-point operations per second, or the number of math problems (like 4.5 x 1.2) the system can solve every second.

In other words, Zurada HPC can perform more than 1.6 quadrillion calculations every second.

To understand the magnitude of this capability, imagine if each of the approximately eight billion people on Earth performed one calculation every second. It would take them more than 55 hours to do what this machine can do in one second. This kind of speed is necessary to solve complex problems with billions of interacting variables, such as research in drug discovery, cybersecurity, AI and high-performance materials development.

Researchers can learn more about using the system .

About Cardinal Intelligence

Cardinal Intelligence empowers the University of Louisville to lead and learn in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) with human-centered guidance and responsibility. For generations, Cardinals have embraced technology, expanding how we learn, discover, connect and work. While AI raises important questions, our students, faculty, researchers and staff bring the curiosity and innovation needed to find answers. Through Cardinal Intelligence, we are shaping how UofL uses AI to advance our university and uncover solutions that strengthen the communities we serve.

“I was an entrepreneur before I knew what an entrepreneur was,” Allen said. “In elementary school, I would fold up paper and sell origami – probably not very good origami. In high school I would bake brownies and sell snacks to the students. When COVID hit, I offered homework assistance to other students for an additional stream of income. I didn’t realize that was an entrepreneur mindset, but it was something I really enjoyed.”

As a Central High School student, Allen was selected for the����with the��. The program offers high school students the chance to earn college credits and a direct path to admission to the school.

The stress of adding college coursework to two jobs, high school and navigating COVID restrictions nearly derailed the opportunity. She messaged the instructor that she wanted to quit the course.

“I was in distress. I just wanted to drop this class,” Allen recalled. “I had so much going on. I was a manager at Arby’s and that was all I knew.”

A conversation with Raymond Green, the then-principal at Central and current senior director of undergraduate programs in the College of Business, changed her attitude toward work and education.

“I didn’t know a story of going to college and finding a career. For the first time in my life, someone told me, ‘You have your whole life to work at fast food. This is an opportunity that you wouldn’t want to miss,’” Allen said. “So, I continued on with the course.”

After graduating from high school in 2021, Allen enrolled at UofL and took part in an internship with UofL Campus Dining, which she held for two years.��

“It didn’t feel like working,” Allen said. “I liked putting together events for students. Going from thinking of the promotions or activities and how to decorate and fast forward to being at the event and seeing everyone enjoying it was fulfilling.”

Allen also took advantage of Alternative Service Breaks, travelling to Puerto Rico and Chicago. Most recently, she took a trip to the Black Elk Wilderness and Mount Rushmore through the����and Campus Recreation.

Challenges and support

While Allen enjoyed her classwork and the college experience, mental health challenges threatened her success. Allen experienced several bouts of serious depression, resulting in failing grades and the loss of financial aid. She felt like her life was crumbling around her. Her instructors worked with her and encouraged her to get help at the��. She would find solutions only to experience another setback.

“There were a lot of moments where I didn’t know what the end looked like for me. It got so bad where I genuinely felt like it would be better to not be here anymore,” Allen said. “At one point, I attempted suicide.”

But her support network rallied to help.��

“I had so much support around me. I had support through the school, my friends and my family showed up for me. I have a community through church,” Allen said. “I told myself I would no longer be a victim. I just wanted to take control of my life.”

With help from her UofL instructors and staff and support through her employer, Allen’s financial aid was restored and she got back on track academically.��

This month, Allen graduated from UofL’s College of Business with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, a minor in entrepreneurship and a certificate in sales. She encourages anyone struggling with depression to get help and push through.��

“If I could talk to someone who is in that position I would tell them, ‘Don’t give up. Keep pushing. Keep trying. It’s OK to cry, wipe your tears and get back up. Just don’t give up.’”

A bright future

For her next step, Allen has secured a full-time position at Republic Bank, where she originally worked as an intern.

Kat Roberts, Allen’s director at Republic Bank, praised her growth since joining the bank.

“LaRoya Allen joined Republic Bank as a contact center intern and has since grown into a client experience representative who truly embodies our commitment to exceptional service,” said Roberts, VP and director of contact center client experience for Republic Bank. “She brings a rare combination of professionalism, warmth and genuine care to every interaction. I’ve had the privilege of watching her evolve from supporting behind-the-scenes initiatives to becoming a standout representative. LaRoya’s positive energy and dedication make her not only a valued team member, but a true ambassador of our client experience.”

Allen’s long-range plans include engaging her entrepreneurial spirit through additional education and creating a youth program.

“I do plan on going back to school after a few years of working. I want to focus on building my own business and climbing a ladder in the field that I choose

With an estimated cost of $280 million, the building represents the largest single-project funding package in UofL’s history. The State of Kentucky has allocated $260 million toward the project, with the university providing the remaining $20 million.

“Today marks more than the start of a new building. It reflects a bold commitment to the future of health in our community and across Kentucky,” said President Gerry Bradley. “This new health sciences facility will accelerate discovery, strengthen our workforce and expand access to high-quality care. It’s an investment in people, in partnership and a powerful step toward building healthier lives, stronger families and a more resilient region.”

The , located along Preston Street from Chestnut to Gray, will be a connecting point for the UofL Schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing and Public Health and Information Sciences. The building features extensive medical simulation facilities, along with dedicated spaces for learning, research and work. The six-story, 257,000-square-foot structure will enable UofL to increase enrollment in health professions programs to meet existing and future health care workforce demands.

“Investing in the UofL Health Sciences Center is a direct investment in the future of Kentucky’s economy. By modernizing how we train our next generation of nurses, doctors and dentists through simulation training, we are ensuring that our commonwealth remains a leader in health care innovation,” said Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers. “A healthy workforce is the backbone of a strong economy, and this facility will provide the critical infrastructure needed to train the next generation of health care professionals to serve the people of the commonwealth.”��

The space is designed to facilitate interdisciplinary learning, instilling a collaborative, interprofessional approach to health sciences. The goal is to advance health professions education, empowering the next generation of health care providers to improve health and health care for people in Louisville, across Kentucky and beyond.

“Building a strong and resilient economy for Kentucky families starts with investing in people – those including our health care workforce. This state-of-the-art simulation facility will give students the hands-on training they need to master complex clinical skills before ever entering a hospital room,” said David Osborne, speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives. “By modernizing health care education, we are strengthening the pipeline of highly trained professionals ready to meet the demands of a 21st-century economy. Ultimately, this investment will lead to better care, improved outcomes and healthier communities across the commonwealth.”

The building’s modular classroom and conference spaces, research labs and workspaces are designed with the needs of learners and instructors in mind. UofL’s School of Public Health and Information Sciences will be completely housed within the building, while other spaces are customized for the Schools of Dentistry, Medicine and Nursing.

Extensive simulation facilities will incorporate the latest technology where health professions students, residents and clinical professionals can gain practical skills training. Jarrod Young, , is leading the development, integration and strategic direction of the simulation spaces.

“This groundbreaking is an investment in Louisville’s future,” said Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg. “By uniting education, research and hands-on training, UofL’s new Health Sciences Building will grow the next generation of health care professionals, strengthen our workforce, improve health outcomes for people across Kentucky and reinforce Louisville’s role as a leading medical and education hub for Kentucky and beyond.”

The structure is infused with an emphasis on collaboration, engagement and wellbeing for those who use each space, with formal and informal working and gathering spaces, natural light and easy access to landscaped outdoor spaces. Casual dining and seating options encourage personal interaction. Abundant windows are enhanced with a unique scrim to prevent glare and heat gain, while still taking advantage of sunlight. The space provides multiple opportunities to access nature with plantings along the perimeter, terraced outdoor space and a microforest of dense natural landscaping on the building’s south side.

The building sits along the main corridor of the and borders the , which is improving walkability, health and safety by enhancing walkways and adding trees and green spaces to the streetscape.

The building design is a product of architects Champlin | EOP with Perkins&Will, and Messer construction is the general contractor. Construction is expected to be completed in 2029.

To learn more, visit the .��View a of the construction site.

See the complete gallery of photos from the .

��

In a study in the journal Environmental Research, researchers compared blood samples of people participating in the . The researchers found that people living in greener neighborhoods showed immune patterns consistent with lower chronic inflammation, including lower levels of several circulating immune cells linked to inflammatory activity, such as monocytes, natural killer cells, B cells and some white blood cell types.

“The study also found evidence of a shift toward a more regulated immune profile, suggesting that nearby trees and vegetation may do more than improve quality of life – they may also influence the body’s immune system in ways that support cardiovascular health,” said Daniel Riggs, assistant professor in UofL’s and first author of the study. “While the study cannot prove cause and effect, the findings add to growing evidence that greener residential environments may be an important public health resource for reducing inflammation and promoting long-term health.”

The findings provide additional support for preliminary findings from the Green Heart Louisville Project showing that people living in neighborhoods where the number of trees and shrubs was more than doubled had lower levels of a blood biomarker of inflammation than those living outside the planted areas. Those living in the greened area had 13-20% lower levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) than those living in the areas that did not receive additional trees and shrubs. Higher levels of hsCRP are strongly associated with a risk of cardiovascular disease. Higher CRP levels also indicate a higher risk of diabetes and certain cancers.

The recent study evaluated the immune function of Green Heart Louisville Project participants based on the greenness of their residential environment prior to the addition of trees for the project.

“These studies show that greener neighborhoods don’t just look better; they appear to educate our immune system in ways that may reduce chronic inflammation and disease risk,” said Aruni Bhatnagar, director of the Envirome Institute. “They align with the Envirome Institute’s mission of identifying environmental conditions that shape human health and translating those insights into strategies for improving the health of our communities.”

UofL in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, Washington University in St. Louis, Hyphae Design Laboratory and others to study whether and how living among more densely greened surroundings contributes to better heart health.

The project design, a multi-phase transformation supported by $6.75 million in combined city and state funding, features expanded sidewalks, increased tree canopy and extensive landscaping. New curb extensions will introduce seating areas and further soften the urban environment. By enhancing pedestrian infrastructure, the project aims to create a street that is safer and more welcoming to the thousands of employees, students and patients who traverse the district daily.

In collaboration with city officials and project partners Gresham Smith and Pace Contracting, LOUMED has begun project construction for the project in the 300 block of East Chestnut Street. This location allows the new work to physically and visually connect the streetscape to LOUMED Commons, a public park opened in November 2025 that converted a vacant lot into vital green space, and to enhance UofL’s Health Sciences Center.

The project is located within the study area of Greenprint, a 10-year initiative coordinated by UofL’s and its affiliated Urban Design Studio. Greenprint integrates science-based greening strategies into downtown Louisville’s growth and redevelopment, optimizing new green spaces so they can have the greatest impact on human health. The initiative links separate projects like LOUMED Commons and the Chestnut Street improvements, ensuring a shared commitment to creating a cooler, cleaner and healthier Louisville.

The Chestnut Street Improvement Project is informed by walkability studies and temperature monitoring conducted by UofL’s Center for Geographic Information Sciences (ULCGIS), which recently became part of the Envirome Institute. Using drone-mounted thermal imaging sensors to map surface temperatures across project areas, ULCGIS staff identify hot spots and provide data to help guide planting strategies that can cool the city and support healthier, more comfortable microenvironments. Researchers will continue to monitor the impact of this greening on the local microclimate and human health and comfort to develop a replicable national model for greening urban pedestrian areas in other cities.

Construction for the Chestnut Street project is proceeding in a phased approach to minimize disruption. Work on the current block is scheduled for completion later this year. Crews will then immediately begin improvements on the three subsequent blocks extending east from South Preston to South Clay streets, with the full eastern section projected to be complete in 2027.

Huang-Ge Zhang, a professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology and endowed chair in cancer research at the Brown Cancer Center, and Jun Yan, chief of the Division of Immunotherapy within the Department of Surgery, are included in the 2025 report. Clarivate provides data, insights and analytics for academia, life sciences, health care and other fields and has compiled listings of the top 1% of researchers annually since 2014.

Citations, when one researcher references and builds on another’s work, are an important measure of success for academics. Typically, citations mean the researcher made a meaningful and original contribution to the world’s knowledge — and that their peers agree.

In a separate published list, more than 100 UofL researchers are listed among the top 2% most-cited in their fields in 2024, according to an updated list . The list spans researchers in 22 disciplines, from business to basic science, engineering and medicine, whose journal articles were the most referenced by other researchers in their works in 2024.

UofL researchers on the Elsevier list represent eight of the university’s schools and colleges: Arts & Sciences, Business, Dentistry, ����ֱ��, Engineering, Law, Medicine and Public Health & Information Sciences.

“When a scholar’s work is cited by another scholar, it affirms the value of their work in the eyes of other researchers,” said Jon Klein, UofL’s executive vice president for research and innovation. “This recognition for so many UofL researchers highlights their impact in a wide variety of areas.”

The list, prepared by John P.A. Ioannidis of Stanford University, is based on data compiled by Elsevier, a publisher of academic scientific and medical journals.��A separate table linked in the article recognizes top-cited researchers based on career-long impact and is calculated based on publications dating to 1995. That list also includes more than 100 UofL researchers.

UofL researchers among the top-cited in their fields in 2024:

• Thomas Abell, School of Medicine
• David Adamkin, School of Medicine��
• Manju Ahuja, College of Business��
• Bahaaldin Alsoufi, School of Medicine
• Farrukh Aqil, School of Medicine
• Ronald Atlas, School of Medicine
• Swagato Banerjee, College of Arts & Sciences
• Richard Baumgartner, School of Public Health and Information Sciences
• Harold Bays, School of Medicine
• Aruni Bhatnagar, School of Medicine (AHA)
• Kunwar Bhatnagar, School of Medicine
• Roberto Bolli, School of Medicine��
• Douglas Borchman, School of Medicine��
• Konrad Bresin, College of Arts & Sciences
• Lu Cai, School of Medicine
• Jeffrey Callen, School of Medicine
• Manuel Fernando Casanova, School of Medicine
• Matthew Cave, School of Medicine
• Jonathan Chaires, School of Medicine
• Andrew Chamblin, J.B. Speed School of Engineering
• William Cheadle, School of Medicine
• Jason Chesney, School of Medicine
• Kevin Chou, J.B. Speed School of Engineering��
• Daniel Conklin, School of Medicine
• Toru Deguchi, School of Dentistry
• ZhongBin Deng, School of Medicine
• Gill Diamond, School of Dentistry
• Dale Ding, School of Medicine
• Lee Dugatkin, College of Arts & Sciences
• John Eaton, School of Medicine
• Ronald Elin, School of Medicine
• Adel Elmaghraby, J.B. Speed School of Engineering
• Andreas Elpidorou, College of Arts & Sciences
• Adam Enders, College of Arts & Sciences
• Paul Ewald, College of Arts & Sciences��
• Mary Fallat, School of Medicine��
• Minghong Fang, J.B. Speed School of Engineering
• Allan Farman, School of Dentistry
• Eugene Fletcher, School of Medicine
• Gary Foulks, School of Medicine
• Joseph Fowler, School of Medicine
• Per Fredriksson, College of Business
• Robert P. Friedland, School of Medicine
• Susan Galandiuk, School of Medicine
• Sachin Handa, College of Arts & Sciences
• Brian Harbrecht, School of Medicine
• David Hein, School of Medicine
• George Higgins, College of Arts & Sciences��
• Bradford Hill, School of Medicine
• Steven Jones, School of Medicine
• Dinesh Kalra, School of Medicine
• Seyed Karimi, School of Public Health and Information Sciences
• Mohsen Bahmani Kashkouli, School of Medicine
• Karen Kayser, Kent School of Social Work
• Carolyn Klinge, School of Medicine��
• Charles Kodner, School of Medicine
• Richard Lamont, School of Dentistry
• Rainer Lenhardt, School of Medicine
• Cheri Levinson, College of Arts & Sciences
• Ying Li, College of Arts & Sciences
• Bert Little, School of Public Health and Information Sciences��
• Yiyan Liu, School of Medicine
• Igor Lukashevich, School of Medicine
• Vija Lusebrink, College of ����ֱ�� & Human Development
• Robert Malina, School of Public Health & Information Sciences
• Arthur Malkani, School of Medicine
• Gary Marshall, School of Medicine
• Robert C.G. Martin, School of Medicine
• Craig McClain, School of Medicine
• Stephen McClave, School of Medicine
• Kelly McMasters, School of Medicine
• Suzanne Meeks, College of Arts & Sciences
• Michael Merchant, School of Medicine
• Carolyn Mervis, College of Arts & Sciences
• Donald Miller, School of Medicine
• Jingyao Mu, School of Medicine
• John Nyland, School of Medicine
• Hiram Polk, School of Medicine
• Jan Potempa, School of Dentistry
• Janina Ratajczak, School of Medicine
• Robert Reilly, School of Public Health & Information Sciences
• J. David Richardson, School of Medicine
• Mark Rothstein, Brandeis School of Law
• William Scarfe, School of Dentistry
• Charles Scoggins, School of Medicine
• Brad Shuck, College of ����ֱ�� & Human Development
• Ashwani Singal, School of Medicine
• Leah Siskind, School of Medicine
• Mark Slaughter, School of Medicine
• Sanjay Srivastava, School of Medicine
• Christopher States, School of Medicine
• Yi Tan, School of Medicine
• Douglas Taylor, School of Medicine
• Yun Teng, School of Medicine
• Richard Tewksbury, College of Arts & Sciences
• Neetu Tyagi, School of Medicine
• Suresh Tyagi, School of Medicine
• Teruo Umemoto, College of Arts & Sciences
• Jeffrey Valentine, College of ����ֱ�� & Human Development
• Václav Větvička, School of Medicine
• Banrida Wahlang, School of Medicine
• Eugenia Wang, School of Medicine
• Hui Wang, J.B. Speed School of Engineering
• Frederic Wightman, School of Medicine
• John Pierce Wise Sr., School of Medicine
• Jun Yan, School of Medicine
• Pavel Zahorik, College of Arts & Sciences
• Huang-Ge Zhang, School of Medicine (VA)
• Jacek Żurada, J.B. Speed School of Engineering