• $2.4 million from the National Institute on Aging will support work by Bradford Hill to investigate how aging leads to reduced blood flow to the heart in older individuals. Hill will study these changes and how this dysfunction could be prevented or corrected. The work may lead to opportunities to prevent age-dependent decline in exercise capacity and promote healthy aging.
• $3.4 million from the National Heart Blood and Lung Institute was awarded for a clinical trial to test whether treatment with the nutritional supplement carnosine improves symptoms and progression in peripheral artery disease in which narrowing of arteries reduces blood flow to arms or legs. Aruni Bhatnagar, Shahid Baba and Amit Dwivedi will conduct the trial.
• $4.67 million from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences will support the Green Heart Louisville Project, which studies how an increase in the number of trees and shrubs affects heart health. The team, led by Bhatnagar, recently reported results from their work that began in 2018 in South Louisville. The new award will allow the team to continue to gather data on community health for the next five years as the planted trees continue to grow.
• $ 0.8 million from the Department of Defense was awarded to Daniel Conklin for a two-year project to investigate the role of inhaled agents in Gulf War Illness (GWI), a chronic condition affecting 25-32% of Gulf War veterans. GWI involves chronic pain, muscle fatigue, cognitive impairment, migraines and stroke. Conklin will investigate whether inhalation of volatile organic compounds and particulate matter from burning oil wells, burn pits, contaminated sand and chemical and biological weapons may have led to repeated local and systemic inflammation, causing the condition.

This most recent funding adds to the $11.6 in grants awarded to institute researchers announced earlier this year.

The networks were created by the DoD’s (USCYBERCOM) and (USSTRATCOM) to further military research and build a talent pipeline through education. UofL was the only school selected from Kentucky for both networks and one of only a handful to hold the competitive Carnegie Research-1 classification.

“UofL is honored to have been selected for these academic networks,” said UofL Interim President Lori Gonzalez. “Through these new memberships, we will work hand-in-hand with the DoD to redefine student success through technology-driven curriculum, leverage our strength as a research powerhouse to advance defense innovation and provide the human and other resources necessary to defend and advance cybersecurity in the national interest.”

As one of 84 colleges and universities in the USCYBERCOM Academic Engagement Network, UofL will help further four main thrusts: applied cyber research, applied analytics, strategic issues and building a future workforce. UofL has significant strength in cybersecurity, including via its innovative , focused certifications and a $6.3 million research and curriculum partnership with the National Security Agency.

As one of 60 colleges and universities in , UofL will help further research and analysis of deterrence, assurance and associate strategic-level national security themes in a rapidly changing, multi-domain global threat environment.

“This research addresses some of the grand challenges of our time and could have a huge impact on our world,” said Kevin Gardner, UofL’s executive vice president for research and innovation. “UofL is proud to partner with the DoD, leveraging our research strengths to further defense innovation and engineer a future made possible by cutting-edge technology and ideas.”

The will coordinate students and researchers seeking to engage with the USSTRATCOM network through internships and opportunities to present work through DoD’s annual conferences and publications. The McConnell Center also will work with USSTRATCOM to develop on-campus programming featuring top national security thinkers and war gaming opportunities for students and soldiers.

“Our goal at the McConnell Center is to identify, recruit and nurture the next generation of great civic and military leaders,” said Director Gary Gregg. “The future of Kentucky, and our nation, depends on a strong pipeline of talented, motivated leaders, and we’re proud to partner with the DoD to ensure that pipeline is full.”

This work builds on UofL’s existing work with DoD, including via a recent partnership with the department’s . NSIN is focused on solving national security problems by connecting defense, academic and entrepreneurial innovators in artificial intelligence, bioengineering, autonomous systems and cybersecurity. The agreement also provides students access to DoD internships and employment opportunities.

“UofL has a deep pool of brilliant innovators and students who can help solve these military challenges,” said Will Fortune, who leads the NSIN program at UofL. “Participating in these two new networks is one more way UofL can help these important national security challenges.”

NSIN, an undersecretary of defense for research and engineering program, is changing how the DoD solves national security problems by connecting defense, academic and entrepreneurial innovators in artificial intelligence, bioengineering, autonomous systems and cybersecurity. NSIN is building a diverse defense network through three portfolios:

•  accelerates the adoption of novel concepts and technologies for DoD application
•  increases the intellectual diversity of the DoD by engaging academia and the venture community on national security issues
•  promotes opportunities for national security service among populations that might not otherwise consider a career in national security

NSIN programs allow the university to expand its already robust innovation ecosystem and relationships with the Department of Defense. This new partnership gives students and faculty opportunities to work on real-world national security problems at startup speed. Students and faculty will interact with key military decision-makers and have access to federal funding to develop solutions and technologies. In addition, the agreement also provides students access to internships and employment opportunities with the Department of Defense.

“The University of Louisville is honored to have been chosen to participate in the NSIN program,” said UofL President Neeli Bendapudi. “Across the nation, the NSIN is leveraging universities’ abilities to work with industry in providing viable solutions to issues faced by our military worldwide. As one of only 16 institutions in the nation, and one of three in the program’s southeast region, to have a NSIN university program director on our campus, this collaboration is exciting for our faculty and students.”

Fortune is a Navy pilot with over 20 years of active duty and reserve experience. He has deployed to South America, Afghanistan and Europe. Most recently, he served as assistant chief of staff for the U.S. Navy’s Second Fleet. His local civilian experience includes serving as director of business development for the Kentucky Aerospace Industry Consortium and director of program management for the city of Lexington. He earned a master’s degree at The Naval War College and a bachelor’s degree at Davidson College.

“I am excited for this new partnership between NSIN and the University of Louisville. Although I cherish my time as a naval aviator, it is not the only way to serve our country,” Fortune said. “The Department of Defense needs talented individuals to help solve our toughest national security problems and critical technology gaps. The University of Louisville and the state of Kentucky have a deep pool of brilliant innovators, and my goal is to build an extensive innovation ecosystem focused on addressing these national security challenges.”

Now assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve at Fort Knox, Hopkins is starting a new chapter through a cybersecurity program at the University of Louisville College of łÉČËÖ±˛Ą & Human Development that will prepare him for a job in the high-demand information technology career field.

A $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense, administered through the Kentucky Commission on Military Affairs (KCMA), is making it possible for Hopkins and others to pursue cybersecurity education.

The KCMA received the funding to develop cybersecurity education pathways, while continuing its efforts in workforce development for service members, veterans and spouses. 

Of the funding, $1.2 million will build new pathways leading to cybersecurity certifications and degrees through UofL. The money funds program design and implementation, along with student testing fees. Called the , the program is expected to produce 110 to 190 learners who will qualify for industry certifications. Some individuals also may choose to pursue a bachelor’s or master’s degree to enhance their competitiveness in the labor market. 

Hopkins says the program will open up a whole new realm of job possibilities. “I understand a fair amount about information technology, but I don’t have a formal certification. This will provide that for me,” he said.

The program also offers practical experiences, which may include an apprenticeship as a form of on-the-job training and workplace learning. With these opportunities, Kentucky will draw upon experiential learning with defense contractors, primes and their sub-contractors.

“This grant builds on Kentucky’s goal to become our nation’s most military and veterans’ friendly – and ready – state,” said Governor Andy Beshear. “Team Kentucky’s partnership of state and federal legislators, state agencies, universities and defense industry companies is working to fill critical skills gaps and ensure military service members, past and present, and their families are gainfully employed.”

“The University of Louisville is proud to take a leading role in training our dedicated service members, veterans and spouses to become cybersecurity professionals” said Neeli Bendapudi, Ph.D., president of the University of Louisville. “I am truly thankful to the U.S. Department of Defense and the Kentucky Commission on Military Affairs for their vote of confidence in our strategic partnership and this most recent example that we are a great place to learn for our military leaders and their families.”

This grant is phase three of KCMA’s effort to diversify Kentucky’s defense industry sector. The first two phases, carried out between 2015 and 2019, were focused on studies of Kentucky’s defense sector and efforts to expand that industry and its workforce. Among the findings of the studies, KCMA discovered that Kentucky’s defense industry has grown from $12 billion to $17 billion from 2015 to 2018. This growth indicates a new demand for cybersecurity talent to support defense manufacturing processes.

The grant funding for all three phases comes from the Department of Defense (DOD) Economic Adjustment Assistance for State Governments Program, which helps communities adjust to local reductions in DOD spending.