From furnishing primary medical and dental care to track workers throughout the year to providing music at the Derby, UofL maintains a significant presence at Churchill Downs. Throughout the first week of May, UofL will post content on its social media accounts highlighting these ties using the hashtag #UofLDoesDerby. All UofL Cardinals, past and present, are invited to use the hashtag for their Oaks-Derby posts, also.

The will be May 5 and followed one day later by the on May 6. Here are ways in which UofL contributes to horse racing’s greatest weekend (and beyond):

The Kentucky Cancer Program at UofL established Horses and Hope with former Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear in 2009. Horses and Hope was the first partner with Churchill Downs to celebrate cancer survivors and recognize them at the Kentucky Oaks. Donations to Horses and Hope continue cancer screening, education and awareness at Kentucky racetracks and offer breast cancer survivor events across the state. Horses and Hope and the Kentucky Cancer Program will once again assist with the Cancer Survivors Parade held just prior to the Oaks post time, and Horses and Hope will benefit from funds raised by sales of the Oaks signature cocktail, the Lily.

Each year, the UofL Department of Chemistry hosts its Annual Derby Lecture Series featuring the best minds in the field. This year’s 43^rd annual lecture will be presented by Nobel Laureate George P. Smith, who won the award in 2018 for his development of phage display, a groundbreaking advance in which phages, a type of virus, are genetically manipulated to display certain proteins on their outer surface. The displayed proteins act as a label and provide a simple, effective method to purify these viruses from their surroundings. Smith’s free public lecture will be at 1 p.m., Friday, May 5, at Gheens Science Hall & Rauch Planetarium, 106 W. Brandeis Ave.��

The UofL Cardinal Marching Band has served as the official band of the Kentucky Derby since 1936. Band students play multiple songs throughout the day, culminating with the state song, “My Old Kentucky Home” by Stephen Foster. The song is played just before post time and has an average viewership of 15 million on broadcast television. Faculty member and director Amy Acklin will conduct the performance this year.

Like many native Louisvillians, John Sutton Jr. eagerly anticipates Kentucky Derby day. The first Saturday in May is always a highlight — and he does mean always. For double UofL alumnus Sutton, this May 6 offers bragging rights that probably no other racing spectator can claim: He plans to attend his 84th consecutive Derby.

In the past few years, his perch as a guest of Churchill Downs has been a rare vantage point that few have the chance to enjoy. But his view as an 8-year-old in 1940 — after begging his father for a year to take him to the Louisville track – was a remarkable start to this tradition.

His betting strategy? Take a stab at the winner but place bigger money on place and show. “Most people, all they want is to have a winner. I hate to lose,” said Sutton, a retired bourbon distillery employee. “I really wasn’t a gambler in the strictest sense. I was just an odds player.”

And the stories he has from 83-going-on-84 Derbies? He and granddaughter Amber Sims, also a UofL alum, have written The book is an account of his personal history, his love of racehorses and his unmatched feat of attending the Kentucky Derby for 83 consecutive years.��

He said there isn’t much about the Derby he doesn’t enjoy. “I like the whole ambiance of the Derby – the dresses and hats and suits. Everyone is dressed up and drinking liberally. You’ll see sights you’ve never seen before in your life. And I’m looking forward to winning, of course.”

The Kentucky Derby Festival’s Royal Court in 2023 boasts a Queen and two Princesses from UofL. As members of the Royal Court,��,����and��,�� joined by two University of Kentucky students, welcome visitors from all around the world to the city and state at dozens of events.��Additionally, Taheri, 21, a senior finance major in the College of Business, was crowned����at the 64th annual Fillies Derby Ball on April 15.��In addition to tiaras (and in Taheri’s case, a crown and robe), an awesome wardrobe and front-row seats to the balls, parades and other events surrounding the Derby, the princesses each won a $2,000 college scholarship.����

Student-run agency offers Derby week creative work for Churchill Downs

, a full-service, student-run agency focused on strategic communications will lend their creativity to Churchill Downs leading up to the Kentucky Derby. The agency is developing content and managing projects during Derby week for social media channels, including TikTok and Instagram. Students also will assist with event planning and public relations aspects of the Red Carpet.

“I am so grateful for all the opportunities that UofL has made possible for me during my academic career,” said Savannah Newton, communication major and director of research for The Bird’s Nest. “The Derby has 149 years of history within the Louisville community, and the university is both a blend of innovation and tradition. I am honored to be a part of the legacy.”��

Karen Freberg, professor in strategic communication and director of The Bird’s Nest says she appreciates the partnership with Churchill Downs. “This will be an incredible real-world experience for our students to showcase their creative, strategic and marketable skills in social media, public relations and event planning for their future internships and jobs,” Freberg said.

Financial impact of Churchill Downs and Derby week

The Derby is good for business in Louisville and Kentucky. Using data from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, Churchill Downs, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and IMPLAN, a software program for assessing economic impact, economist reports that in a typical year, the Derby and Churchill Downs generate $396 million in direct, indirect and induced spending and approximately $47 million in local, state and federal tax revenue.��

• Estimated Derby week economic impact of Churchill Downs:�� $302 million
• Estimated Derby week direct, indirect and induced spending on hotels, restaurants, etc.:�� $94 million
• Total Derby week economic activity: $396 million��

Lambert estimates that local and state governments provide $3-4 million in tax incentives and services to Churchill Downs and the Kentucky equine industry each year. However, these tax losses are offset by $17 million in tax revenue for local and state government generated by Churchill Downs and local businesses during Derby week.

Be on the lookout for sex trafficking, too

Each year, the joy of the Derby is marred by the knowledge that such large high-profile events can result in increased instances of sex trafficking.

Naomi Warnick, a pediatric emergency medicine fellow at UofL, suggests members of the public keep an eye out for any suspicious activity.��If you suspect you have encountered someone who is being trafficked, report it by calling the human trafficking hotline at 1-888-373-7888. Law enforcement also can be notified.��

While it can occur more during the Derby, Olivia Mittel, associate dean for medical student affairs in the UofL School of Medicine, said sex trafficking happens everywhere and at all times, and judgment should be used when making contact with anyone potentially involved in the situation.

“I think it’s important for people to become familiar with the various aspects of trafficking and recognize that many people are at risk, there’s not just one way. Asking the question ‘is anyone asking you to do something you don’t want to do?’ is one way to gauge whether someone is at risk.”

Warnick and Mittel are developing educational content for health care providers to help them recognize human trafficking and provide care for those who are trafficked or at risk of being trafficked. The project specifically relates to trauma informed communication with those who are affected by trafficking.��

Melissa Currie is Kosair Charities Professor and Endowed Chair for Pediatric Forensic Medicine and chief of the Kosair Charities Division of Pediatric Forensic Medicine and stresses that the public should remember children can be victims of sex trafficking too. “The average age of entry into trafficking in the United States is 13 years old. It can involve the child being advertised, solicited or otherwise exploited for commercial sex acts. The exchange can involve money, drugs, food, attention or housing—particularly in children who have run away from home—in return for sex acts.”

Children won’t necessarily recognize that they are being used and exploited, Currie said. “Victims often don’t recognize that they’re being victimized and may identify their trafficker as a romantic partner.��This is a complex crime that targets our most vulnerable children.”

The University of Louisville’s Equine Industry Program offers the only equine industry degree from an accredited college of business in the world, giving students the opportunity to turn their love of horses into a viable career. For 37 years, the UofL College of Business has been delivering equine degrees with a rigorous business focus and dedication to the combination of horse commerce, business enterprise and academics. The program provides a uniquely qualified workforce to Kentucky’s horse racing industry, as well as equine businesses across the globe.

The 362 program alumni include Gary Palmisano, executive director of racing for Churchill Downs Inc.; K. Amy Lawyer, who now directs the UofL Equine Industry Program; Thoroughbred trainers Lindsay Schultz and Jason Barkley; Corey Barberito, assistant trainer for Dallas Stewart; Hannah Boyle, social media manager at Churchill Downs; Sean Collins, assistant tour manager at the Kentucky Derby Museum; Paige Thompson, who recently opened White Tail Eventing in Cincinnati and Ali Sturtevant, who will graduate from veterinary school this spring.

Primary medical and dental care for the backside

Jockeys and trainers – not to mention racehorses – may get the glory and attention come racing season but associate professor of nursing Dedra Hayden considers their less heralded helpers the hardest working people she knows. Hayden considers it her privilege and mission to keep the backside workers at Churchill Downs and their families healthier through the nearby , steps away from the track’s barns that lodge the equine stars. UofL’s School of Nursing and the Kentucky Racing Health and Welfare Fund Inc. set up the clinic to provide comprehensive health care to backside workers – those who groom the horses, take them on their morning workouts, walk them after races, clean stalls and assist trainers in a myriad of ways.

Several times each year, the clinic also hosts a dental clinic for backside workers, conducted by the . Delta Dental sponsors a mobile dental van for School of Dentistry students to perform screenings, cleanings and exams. The next clinic will be held May 15.

“We’re basically serving an at-risk population that is uninsured,” said Hayden, clinic director since 2017. “They bring with them a unique set of needs as patients.” Recently named an exemplary project by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the clinic began as a safety net for the workers’ health needs and has evolved into a full-blown primary care site. “It’s a huge contribution to our community,” Hayden said. “If we didn’t have healthy backside workers, we wouldn’t have a Derby.”

Each year, UofL’s in the College of Business honors a top industry executive with the John W. Galbreath Award for Outstanding Entrepreneurship in the Equine Industry.��This year, the 33^rd recipient of the award was Michael Dickinson, who has spent his life deeply involved in the horse industry, first as a steeplechase jockey and trainer, as a Thoroughbred trainer and most recently as an innovator of racetrack surfaces. Over the past two decades, Dickinson has developed and refined Tapeta Footings, an all-weather synthetic material designed to improve safety for both equine and human athletes. Tapeta 10, the latest version of Tapeta Footings, has substantially reduced equine fatalities and outperformed conventional dirt and turf surfaces.��

“The safety of the horse has always been a long-term goal of mine ever since I was a child when on small ponies I had to keep up with my mother who was on a Grade A International Showjumper. We used to jump post and rail fences, some with ditches and drops, and stone walls. Since then, I’ve always felt very grateful and indebted to all the horses I rode,” Dickinson said.

Biomedical researchers use slices of heart tissue to test the effectiveness and toxicity of new drugs, drug candidates and gene therapies. Until recently, the limited, 24-hour usable life of those slices created a major barrier to drug discovery, slowing down the development of new, potentially life-saving medications.

UofL methods, developed by a multidisciplinary team from the School of Medicine and J.B. Speed School of Engineering, extended the tissue’s usable life with a discovery in 2019, and now to 12 days, by mimicking the conditions experienced by a living heart. The tissue ‘lives’ in a pneumatic chamber, receiving electrical stimulation and nutrition and pumping air instead of blood.

“We’ve created a complete cardiac cycle within the chamber, so the heart tissue stays pumping and viable for longer,” said Tamer M. A. Mohamed, an associate professor of medicine who led the research. “This system will save time and costs of clinical trials during Phase 1 research, which includes testing for toxicity and proof of efficacy.”

Because of the short shelf-life of human heart tissue, many drug candidates today are tested in ways that poorly emulate living heart tissue or use tests that otherwise don’t show the full range of potential side effects related to cardiotoxicity.��This causes some . The UofL team believes their method can help solve this problem, potentially leading to better, safer medications.

“A longer shelf-life, as using our method, gives them more time for proper testing and access to the right materials,” said Jessica Miller, a graduate student researcher and an author on the paper. “That could lead to faster advancements in how we treat heart-related conditions.”

The through the university’s . The researchers also have been working with the entrepreneurs in residence team — part of the office’s entrepreneurial arm, UofL New Ventures — to explore potential paths to market.

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NEW YORK��and LOUISVILLE, Ky. — IN8bio Inc. (Nasdaq: INAB), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company discovering and developing innovative gamma-delta T cell therapies that utilize its DeltEx platform, today announced it has selected the UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center GMP Manufacturing Facility at the University of Louisville, home of the Dunbar CAR T-Cell Program, as its manufacturing partner for INB-400. The collaboration provides IN8bio exclusive access to a state-of-the-art GMP manufacturing facility and is structured to support the Company’s anticipated INB-400 Phase 2 clinical program in glioblastoma.

“We are proud to be partnering with the University of Louisville (UofL), the UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center and the Dunbar CAR T-Cell Program who have been at the forefront of clinical development and patient access to novel cellular immunotherapies. One of the biggest challenges facing cell therapy companies is efficient access to high-quality manufacturing facilities with the experience and capacity required to support multicenter clinical trials and commercial manufacturing,” said Kate Rochlin, Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer of IN8bio. “The Dunbar CAR T-Cell Program has a superb facility designed specifically to advance the development of promising T-cell therapies. We are excited to progress our INB-400 program towards a company-sponsored investigational new drug (IND) application that will advance this program into Phase 2.”

“Since their inception, the UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center GMP Manufacturing Facility and these lifesaving immunotherapies to adult and pediatric cancer patients throughout Kentucky and the region. This manufacturing agreement with IN8bio will allow our facility to provide these groundbreaking immunotherapies for patients throughout the United States,” said James Cripps, Ph.D., manager of the Brown Cancer Center GMP Manufacturing Facility.

“It is with the greatest excitement for the Evan Dunbar Foundation CAR T-cell program that we announce that IN8bio has joined us in this world-changing research,” said Thomas E. Dunbar. “Along with the amazing work at the University of Louisville, I believe that IN8bio can join with us in achieving the goals of the Evan Dunbar Foundation CAR T-cell program. These three organizations working together will create trials that will impact hundreds, if not thousands of patients.

“I am so honored and pleased to see our vision of cancer research come closer to trial and real-time treatment of patients. This has been my lifelong dream and is the most fulfilling way to honor my son, Evan Dunbar, my wife, Dr. Stephanie Altobellis, my father, Wallace and the rest of my family.”

The Dunbar CAR T-Cell Program was created in 2019 thanks to a $1-million pledge from Dunbar, a Louisville resident. It is a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility custom built to collaborate with the biotech industry to advance cutting-edge cell and gene therapies. T-cell therapies utilize immune cells that are genetically modified to fight cancer. The modified cells are infused into the patient with the goal of fighting the cancer and creating long-term immunity to delay or prevent recurrence. The facility is led by and staffed with experts in cell therapy manufacturing who will work closely with the IN8bio team to produce the DeltEx DRI cells for INB-400.

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About INB-400

INB-400 is IN8bio’s DeltEx Allogeneic DRI. INB-400 expands the application of DRI gamma-delta T cells into other solid tumor types through the development of allogeneic or “off-the-shelf” DeltEx DRI therapies. INB-400 will be a genetically modified DeltEx allogeneic candidate in both newly diagnosed and relapsed refractory glioblastoma.

About IN8bio

IN8bio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing gamma-delta T cell product candidates for solid and liquid tumors. Gamma-delta T cells are a specialized population of T cells that possess unique properties, including the ability to differentiate between healthy and diseased tissue. IN8bio’s DeltEx platform employs allogeneic, autologous, iPSC, and genetically modified approaches to develop cell therapies that synergize with chemotherapy to effectively identify and eradicate tumor cells.

IN8bio is currently conducting two investigator-initiated Phase 1 clinical trials for its lead gamma-delta T cell product candidates: INB-200 for the treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma and INB-100 for the treatment of patients with leukemia undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. IN8bio also has a broad portfolio of preclinical programs focused on addressing other solid tumor types. For more information about IN8bio and its programs, please visit��.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by words such as “aims,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “goal,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “possible,” “potential,” “seeks,” “will” and variations of these words or similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the success of IN8bio’s partnership with UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center GMP Manufacturing Facility at the University of Louisville; the timing of initiation, progress and scope of clinical trials for IN8bio’s product candidates; the potential of IN8bio’s DeltEx platform to discover and develop innovative product candidates, including iPSC-derived cell therapies; and IN8bio’s ability to achieve planned milestones, including data readouts from its trials and plans to file an IND application. IN8bio may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including: risks to site initiation, clinical trial commencement, patient enrollment and follow-up, as well as IN8bio’s ability to meet anticipated deadlines and milestones, presented by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; uncertainties inherent in the initiation and completion of preclinical studies and clinical trials and clinical development of IN8bio’s product candidates; the risk that IN8bio may not realize the intended benefits of its DeltEx platform; availability and timing of results from preclinical studies and clinical trials; whether the outcomes of preclinical studies will be predictive of clinical trial results; whether initial or interim results from a clinical trial will be predictive of the final results of the trial or the results of future trials; the risk that trials and studies may be delayed and may not have satisfactory outcomes; potential adverse effects arising from the testing or use of IN8bio’s product candidates; expectations for regulatory approvals to conduct trials or to market products; IN8bio’s reliance on third parties, including licensors and clinical research organizations; and other important factors, any of which could cause our actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, are described in greater detail in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on August 12, 2022, as well as in other filings IN8bio may make with the SEC in the future. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and IN8bio expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether because of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.

About the University of Louisville:

Founded in 1798 as one of the nation’s first city-owned, public universities, the University of Louisville (UofL) is a vital ecosystem that creates thriving futures for students, our community and society. As one of only 79 universities in the United States to earn recognition by the Carnegie Foundation as both a Research 1 and a Community Engaged university, we impact lives in areas of student success and research and innovation, while our dynamic connection with our local and global communities provides unparalleled opportunities for students and citizens both. The university serves as an engine that powers Metro Louisville and the commonwealth and as a classroom for UofL’s more than 23,000 students, who benefit from partnerships with top employers and a wide range of community service opportunities.

Get more news from UofL delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday evening by signing up for our UofL News Weekly Roundup here: .

About UofL Health:

UofL Health is a fully integrated regional academic health system with seven hospitals, four medical centers, Brown Cancer Center, Eye Institute, nearly 200 physician practice locations, and more than 800 providers in Louisville and the surrounding counties, including southern Indiana. Additional access to UofL Health is provided through a partnership with Carroll County Memorial Hospital.

With more than 12,000 team members – physicians, surgeons, nurses, pharmacists and other highly-skilled health care professionals, UofL Health is focused on one mission: to transform the health of communities we serve through compassionate, innovative, patient-centered care.

Company Contact:
IN8bio, Inc.
Patrick McCall
+ 1 646.600.6GDT (6438)
info@IN8bio.com

Investors & Media Contact:
Argot Partners
IN8bio@argotpartners.com

University of Louisville Contact:
Jill Scoggins
+1 502.650.2624
jill.scoggins@louisville.edu

WASHINGTON, D.C. and LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The International Franchise Association (IFA) and the University of Louisville (UofL) today announced a landmark partnership to offer continuing education and certification through the and the , part of the UofL College of Business. For nearly 35 years, a CFE designation has been the premier certification in franchising, offering business, leadership and legal education unique to pursuing a career in the franchising industry.

Through the new partnership, foundational CFE education will include even more rigorous requirements standardized by the College of Business at the University of Louisville, a public tier-one research institution.

“This landmark education and certification partnership will be transformational to the industry,” said Matthew Haller, president and CEO of the International Franchise Association. “Building on the success of the CFE program, this new partnership will encourage more people in franchising to level-up their skills by pursuing a CFE, ultimately creating a new level of professional excellence in franchising with standards-based education as the foundation. IFA is pleased to partner with the University of Louisville on this venture, which will make franchise education more accessible at a time when we are seeing more and more interest in the business model.”��

“We are excited about our partnership with the IFA. This arrangement has been a long time in the making and represents a wonderful opportunity in franchise education,” said Jeff Guan, interim dean of the UofL College of Business. “Our high educational standards and curriculum will improve the business qualifications of franchisees in the program and elevate the franchise industry as a whole.”

“It’s exciting to see the impact that these organizations can have when they share a passion for collaboration and a mission to make a difference in the lives of entrepreneurs,” said Wanda Williams, head of Global Franchising for Yum! Brands and IFA Board Member. “We are very proud of the work that has been done at the Yum! Center for Global Franchise Excellence since it opened and adding the IFA’s Certified Franchise Executive certification further enhances the reputation of these best-in-class educational programs.”

The Certified Franchise Executive program is the highest level of franchise education and the leading resource to help franchise executives, managers and local franchise owners accelerate individual and organizational growth. The CFE program allows graduates to develop a more thorough understanding of franchising, regardless of their level of experience. It provides an opportunity for accelerated career growth while unleashing the power of opportunity within the franchise business model. In addition, it further strengthens the franchise business model by closing the knowledge and education gap.

The new “Fundamentals of the Franchise Model” program from UofL will include sessions on the foundations of the franchise business model, legalities, business growth, human resources, leadership and the franchisor-franchisee relationship. The six-week, instructor-led virtual bootcamp is delivered by a institution and an business college, signifying high standards of educational excellence. This program, paired with the IFA’s FranGuard compliance course, will serve as the mandatory, core components of the CFE program. These core components, combined with elective courses and participation events round out the CFE candidate’s path to achieve the honored distinction of Certified Franchise Executive.

Anyone interested in pursuing the CFE designation can apply through the information link below.

For more information, visit the or .

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About the International Franchise Association:

Celebrating over 60 years of excellence, education, and advocacy, the International Franchise Association (IFA) is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations, and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the approximately 775,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.2 million direct jobs, $787.7 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy, and almost 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees, and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology, and business development.

About the University of Louisville:

Founded in 1798 as one of the nation’s first city-owned, public universities, the University of Louisville (UofL) is a vital ecosystem that creates thriving futures for students, our community and society. As one of only 79 universities in the United States to earn recognition by the Carnegie Foundation as both a Research 1 and a Community Engaged university, we impact lives in areas of student success and research and innovation, while our dynamic connection with our local and global communities provides unparalleled opportunities for students and citizens both. The university serves as an engine that powers Metro Louisville and the commonwealth and as a classroom for UofL’s more than 23,000 students, who benefit from partnerships with top employers and a wide range of community service opportunities.

Get more news from UofL delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday evening by signing up for our UofL News Weekly Roundup here: .

��

SoFab Inks LLC was founded by UofL graduate students Blake Martin, Peter Armstrong and Sashil Chapagain, who won DOE’s for technology they helped develop along with UofL investigators Thad Druffel and Craig Grapperhaus. SoFab Inks is one of only three companies currently moving on to the final stage of the competition.

Solar panels today are typically made of single-crystal silicon, which requires expensive processing using clean room environments. The American-Made Perovskite Startup Prize is designed to accelerate the use of perovskite crystalline semiconductor materials that can be produced using simpler known printing techniques, resulting in improved efficiency, durability and affordability.

The UofL technology improves these panels further by replacing other expensive photovoltaic materials with a liquified “ink.” This more cost-effective, high-performance liquid can be deposited as one of the conductive layers of a solar cell called charge transport layers that allow electrons to move and produce electricity. The UofL-held technology is patent-pending. ��

“The perovskite technology is a new entrant in the solar energy industry and has clear potential to radically reduce costs both due to low cost of materials and simple manufacturing,” Druffel said. “This prize reflects the potential of this technology and this team. They are well suited to continue to validate this technology and demonstrate substantial progress towards commercialization over the next year.”

The next step for SoFab Inks is to begin production and scale up capacity. In about a year, their progress in commercializing the product will be evaluated for the final prize award. The founders also plan to market their materials to LED and detector manufacturers.

“The mission of SoFab Inks is to accelerate the decarbonization of electrification by improving efficiency, scalability, stability and bankability of perovskite solar cells,” Martin said. “The $200,000 prize will allow us to scale our process up and begin selling to customers.”

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The new , one of only 10 across the U.S., is part of the operational backbone of the NSF’s National Innovation Network, which helps translate academic research for the marketplace. The hubs are charged with providing experiential entrepreneurship training to researchers across all fields of science and engineering while working to build diverse and inclusive regional innovation ecosystems.

The MidSouth Hub is a collaboration among nine regional research universities, led by Vanderbilt University and including UofL, George Mason University, Jackson State University, Meharry Medical College, Tennessee State University, the University of Kentucky, the University of Tennessee – Knoxville and the University of Virginia. As part of the hub, UofL will receive $1 million over five years to support focused product development and training.

“As a top-tier, Carnegie Research-1 university, UofL has a strong track record as a driver of technological innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Kevin Gardner, executive vice president for research and innovation. “We are excited to work with our Mid-South Hub partner institutions to accelerate that work, furthering important and often life-saving technologies, launching new growth-focused companies and creating opportunity here and beyond.”

UofL’s role in the new hub follows years of leadership as a member of NSF’s I-Corps Site Program. UofL was named an I-Corps Site in 2015, the first in Kentucky, and has since awarded product development training and microgrants to more than 250 innovative faculty, staff and students.

Those awards have supported the creation of at least 16��new companies, eight intellectual property��licensing agreements and more than $8 million in follow-on funding secured to further product development. Several UofL teams also have been selected to participate in the competitive I-Corps National TEAMS program, each receiving $50,000 to further develop technologies that could improve health care through artificial intelligence, extend the shelf-life of donated blood and more.

“Our goal is to take these brilliant research-backed ideas out of the lab and develop them into full-fledged, market-ready products that can improve the way we live and work,” said Will Metcalf, an associate vice president for research and innovation and a lead for the UofL program. “Participating in the new Mid-South Hub dramatically expands our ability to support the development and growth of scalable companies that bring ideas to life.”

UofL’s I-Corps programming is led by UofL New Ventures in the , and includes entrepreneurial mentors, prototyping support and , UofL’s eight-week product innovation bootcamp. The office strives to launch and scale innovative companies that can bring technologies to market and solve big problems.

I-Corps is part of UofL’s unique suite of prestigious, grant-backed programs aimed at supporting the translation of research into viable commercial products. UofL is one of only a handful of universities in the country to host each of these innovation-associated programs — and it’s the only one to receive��all��of them.

“These programs have helped support a wide range of technologies and teams, helping them learn the product development process and lens,” said Jessica Sharon, director of innovation programs and a lead on the UofL hub program. “Through this new hub, we are very excited to work with our regional partner universities to train more innovators and get research-backed products to market.”

The skills needed by nearly all manufacturers soon will be shaped to some degree by the rapidly accelerating robotics and machine learning revolution, including automation, robotics, additive manufacturing and artificial intelligence. RAMPS will allow UofL’s Louisville Automation and Robotics Research Institute (LARRI) and other centers to purchase additional advanced equipment, such as a robotic quadruped, and introduce future workers to these devices.

“We want to make this technology accessible for people or students who don’t necessarily have the advanced technical skills, but they are enthusiastic,” said Dan Popa, director of LARRI and lead for the RAMPS project. “They want to learn about robotics, AI and additive manufacturing, how they are used in industry and what kind of skills you need to operate this type of equipment.”

Made possible by funding secured by U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth from the U.S. Department of ����ֱ��, RAMPS aims to address workforce needs in the advanced manufacturing industry sector and enhance employment opportunities for underrepresented groups. It will allow LARRI, the Additive Manufacturing Institute of Science and Technology (AMIST) and Micro/Nano Technology Center (MNTC), all based in the at UofL, to obtain additional equipment and pilot programs to increase awareness and access to training in robotic and additive manufacturing technology over the next year.

“I’m so proud to have secured $750,000 in federal funding for UofL’s RAMPS program, which will help students excel in the industries of tomorrow,” Yarmuth said. “Manufacturing is a key sector of our local and state economy, and robotics and automation will have a tremendous impact on how businesses and industries operate moving forward. UofL is a national leader in innovative training programs, and through its RAMPS program, students will have access to the state-of-the-art equipment and training that will best position them to succeed in our rapidly changing workforce.”

“The RAMPS program not only will help fulfill today’s workforce needs of our commonwealth, it also will enhance the University of Louisville’s work in advanced research and education in robotics and additive manufacturing,” said UofL Interim President Lori Stewart Gonzalez. “We are extremely grateful to Congressman Yarmuth for his support in helping us obtain this funding.”

Using existing and new equipment and leveraging the knowledge and skills present in the UofL facilities, RAMPS leaders will introduce K-12 students, high school graduates and university students to robotics and additive manufacturing and help train them to use these advanced technologies in the workplace.

“The goal of this program is to help future technicians and engineers prepare for employment in additive manufacturing fields that are both high-paying and growing in need. Whether it is a mid-career person looking to transition professions, a currently enrolled college student or someone with no post-high school education, we will be delivering workforce training tailored to an individual’s starting education and skills level,” said Thomas Berfield, co-director of AMIST.

Berfield anticipates that AMIST will add equipment used in the aerospace, automotive, dental and biomedical industries, among others.

Workers at Kentucky’s multiple manufacturing facilities are expected to be disproportionately affected by the shift toward automation, making programs like RAMPS essential to advance employment opportunities in the commonwealth.

“While it is true that automation is expected to displace workers in manufacturing, the adoption of robot technology actually predicts wage growth as those positions are replaced with higher skilled workers in high-tech positions needed to interface with the robots,” Popa said.

RAMPS leaders expect around 200 students will be exposed to these technologies in the first year as part of pilot projects, followed by more robust and formalized workforce training programs and curricula to be developed in future years.

In addition to training workers, RAMPS will elevate UofL’s programs at LARRI, AMIST and MNTC by further improving the high-quality learning environment within these centers, attracting highly qualified faculty and talented students and increasing opportunities for additional funding.

Since the opening of LARRI’s dedicated robotics lab on the UofL campus in October, it has hosted more than 400 K-12 and college students, industry professionals and researchers to learn about existing and potential uses of robots, drones and other technology.

“The research we do here at UofL has real impact in engineering a future technology-driven economy in Kentucky and beyond,” said Kevin Gardner, UofL’s executive vice president for research and innovation. “We are grateful to Congressman Yarmuth for securing this funding to expand that impact and support our work to build the next generation of robotics technologies and professionals.”

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Henry Snaith, professor of physics at the University of Oxford and co-founder and chief scientific officer of Oxford PV, has won the 2021 Leigh Ann Conn Prize for Renewable Energy from the University of Louisville. The prize recognizes outstanding renewable energy ideas and achievements with proven global impact.

Snaith is recognized for his work on the development of perovskite solar cell technology. This technology enables more electricity to be generated from sunlight, increasing the adoption of sustainable solar energy worldwide.��

Snaith was one of the first people in the world to recognize the potential of metal halide perovskite, a crystalline semiconductor material, as a solar absorber and charge conductor in 2012. In the decade since, he has led the research community in advancing fundamental understanding of perovskite materials and making them practically useful by improving device efficiencies, long-term stability and cost effectiveness. ��His ongoing research at the University of Oxford aims to increase the efficiency and durability of perovskite solar cells further with the goal of reducing the overall cost of electricity production.

“This is a wonderful achievement and richly deserved,” said Ian Shipsey, professor and head of the Department of Physics at Oxford. “Henry’s work is indeed ground-breaking; photovoltaic research is vital if we are to address the impact of energy use on the Earth’s climate and Henry’s group is leading the way.”

Snaith’s work on perovskite materials has contributed to Oxford PV’s commercial plans for a perovskite-on-silicon tandem cell. These solar cells, which combine a layer of perovskite on top of conventional silicon, are poised to increase solar power’s practical conversion efficiency beyond 30% in the next decade.

“Professor Snaith’s research is not only at the forefront of science but, as this award recognizes, his practical, commercial approach means that it stands to enormously benefit society in very real terms,” said Laura Herz, professor and associate head for research for the Maths, Physics and Life Sciences division at Oxford. “It is a fantastic example of our research portfolio here at Oxford and I congratulate professor Snaith on this achievement.”

In March, Snaith will give a public lecture in Louisville about his winning work and achievements, trials and tribulations. He will receive the Conn Prize medal and $50,000 award at a formal ceremony.

“The University of Louisville celebrates professor Snaith’s research and clear efforts toward improving our world through technology,” said UofL Interim President Lori Stewart Gonzalez, who will confer the award. “Energy generation from renewables is a defining global challenge. Dr. Snaith’s work renders renewable energy more competitive, reliable and accessible.”

The UofL prize is named for the late daughter of Hank and Rebecca Conn, who are university alumni, supporters and the prize benefactors.

“Henry Snaith is transforming the field of solar energy generation,” Hank Conn said. “It is exciting to celebrate a scientist with the fortitude, patience and resiliency to endure technology commercialization into the marketplace, where impact occurs. That recognition is Leigh Ann’s lasting legacy through the prize.”

Nominations for the 2023 Leigh Ann Conn Prize competition close Dec. 31. Criteria and instructions are found at . For more information, contact Andrew Marsh at 502-852-8597 or LeighAnnConnPrize@louisville.edu.

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The launch of the New Vision of Health Campus is made possible by a commitment from health advocate Christina Lee Brown of Louisville valued at $47 million by the university. Brown is providing $30 million over 20 years to support the and is giving rent-free use of the buildings to the university, equating to a $17-million in-kind donation. In a special meeting on May 25, the UofL Board of Trustees approved a lease granting UofL use of the property, which is owned by Brown. The university plans to seek additional partnerships and financial support for the campus and its mission.

“We are incredibly grateful to Mrs. Brown for this generous gift of support and this special space in the heart of the city,” said Lori Stewart Gonzalez, interim president of UofL. “On this new campus, UofL researchers will increase our understanding of the many aspects of our environment that contribute to optimum health for everyone, here and beyond. It embodies our commitment to health equity.”

“To grow from our past and promote long, fulfilling lives, we shouldn’t chase any single cause. We live in a complex, interdependent world where history is our shared legacy and health is our shared aspiration,” Brown said. “By honestly recognizing our common stories, we can frame a new vision of health which unifies us. It can inspire healthier lives, healthier communities and a healthier world.”

The will include specially designed laboratories and offices for the that will engage researchers and community members to learn how natural, cultural and personal environments impact health. Institute researchers work with community partners to discover how to build healthier cities, creating insights and models to improve health in Louisville and around the world.

The research will be directed by Aruni Bhatnagar, director of the UofL Envirome Institute, professor of medicine and chief of the UofL Division of Environmental Medicine.

“Our quest is to pursue the new vision that health is a resource that needs to be cultivated through conducive physical and environmental conditions,” Bhatnagar said. “Health is more than the absence of disease. Health is a resilience that helps individuals withstand all forms of stress. We want to move the discussion of health away from disease and instead focus on actively promoting health before disease occurs.”

The UofL Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute was created in 2018 with a $5-million gift from Brown that charged UofL researchers to take a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to understanding how the human-environment interrelationship affects peoples’ lives and to convert that knowledge to actionable steps to promote human health. This research and the new funding announced today support the university’s grand challenge strategic research priority of “,” an initiative to lead a transformative shift in how we understand, promote and recover health through all stages of life.

Research highlights from the Envirome Institute include the , documenting the health impacts of living among greater levels of vegetation, the , tracking the presence and spread of COVID-19 in the community through testing of individuals and wastewater, and research to document the effects of smoking and vaping on health. Bhatnagar is co-director of the American Heart Association’s Tobacco Center for Regulatory Science, and the center’s research was employed as key evidence for ending the sale of flavored vaping products in California. The institute also houses the only NIH Superfund Research Center devoted to studying the effects of superfund chemicals on cardiovascular health, diabetes and obesity.

“This is UofL research that could transform the way we promote well-being by revealing and decoding the factors that affect it,” said Kevin Gardner, UofL’s executive vice president for research and innovation. “We are proud to work with Christina Lee Brown and appreciate her continued support to further this important effort in advancing our health. Together, we will help people here in Louisville and around the world live lives that are not just longer, but healthier and more resilient.”

The gift is the single largest philanthropic gift in the university’s history.

UofL alumni are invited to a session Tuesday, May 10, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in rooms 116 and 117, Swain Student Activities Center, Belknap Campus.

The community at large is invited to a similar session Wednesday, May 11, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Chao Auditorium, Ekstrom Library, Belknap Campus.

The public sessions will be both in person and on Microsoft Teams. To attend virtually, go to . If you cannot participate in the discussion, please use the on that site to provide your feedback.

Additional sessions will be held for students, faculty and staff. These sessions are not open to the public. Meetings also will be held with on-campus constituency groups, including the Council of Academic Officers; the executive committees of the Faculty and Staff senates; Student Government Association leadership; the Presidential Search Faculty Consultation Committee; and representatives from the Commission on Diversity and Racial Equality, the Commission on the Status of Women and diversity leaders.

The search committee will use feedback from all these sessions to create a leadership statement/job description for the presidency and to inform decisions made during the search process.

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