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, łÉČËÖ±˛Ą, 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.ĚýA 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 MedicineĚý
• Manju Ahuja, College of BusinessĚý
• 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 MedicineĚý
• Douglas Borchman, School of MedicineĚý
• 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 EngineeringĚý
• 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 & SciencesĚý
• Mary Fallat, School of MedicineĚý
• 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 & SciencesĚý
• 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 MedicineĚý
• 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 SciencesĚý
• Yiyan Liu, School of Medicine
• Igor Lukashevich, School of Medicine
• Vija Lusebrink, College of łÉČËÖ±˛Ą & 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 łÉČËÖ±˛Ą & 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 łÉČËÖ±˛Ą & Human Development
• Václav VÄ›tviÄŤka, 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 Ĺ»urada, J.B. Speed School of Engineering

With the funding, which comes via a state appropriation, has launched the Catalyst Equipment Match (CEM) program. The program provides an up to 50% match for manufacturers (up to $200,000) for investments in capital equipment and next-generation technologies — for example, automation, robotics and additive manufacturing.

“These investments are critical to powering Kentucky’s manufacturing economy and making it future-proof,” said UofL President Kim Schatzel. “As someone with a background in manufacturing, I’m proud that we can offer these supports and drive these firms and Kentucky’s economy forward.”

Kentucky is home to more than 4,000 manufacturing firms in areas ranging from food and beverage to automotive, with a total workforce of more than 250,000. The goal of this new program is to help those companies improve production, expand, enhance customer service and, overall, gain competitive advantage that sets Kentucky firms apart.

Through CEM, firms can apply for funding to update or replace equipment, including those with smart and connected technology such as automation, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. It’s part of an overall drive in business and manufacturing known as or Enterprise 4.0., which has the potential to radically transform a number of industries, and the benefits will go to companies that plan ahead.ĚýĚý

“These technologies have the ability to greatly improve operations and expand Kentucky’s economy,” said Scott Broughton, executive director of the KY-MEP. “Through this new CEM program, we can support firms looking to adopt these technologies, building on KY-MEP’s mission of solving manufacturing problems for all Kentuckians and helping firms based here become even more globally competitive.”

KY-MEP, housed at UofL, solves manufacturing problems. The partnership leverages their industry-leading team and resources to help manufacturers affect transformational change management, implement waste-reducing systems and processes, grow revenue streams and customized culture models that support the talent pipeline and a sustainable workforce. In the past 12 months alone, KY-MEP supported more than 600 companies throughout Kentucky and drove more than $131 million in economic impact by way of retained or added jobs, improved efficiency and more.

“KY-MEP is part of an overall push by UofL to support industry and connect them to the resources and talent they need to solve important problems, innovate and grow,” said Will Metcalf, an associate vice president for research and innovation at UofL. “UofL has significant earned expertise in a number of different disciplines, and we plan to use that expertise to help drive Kentucky’s economy forward.”

The state appropriation was championed by a few key legislators, including Kentucky Rep. Jason Nemes and Sen. Julie Raque Adams.

“Our small and mid-sized manufacturing companies are vitally important to Kentucky’s economy,” Nemes said. “Leveraging the expertise at UofL, these grant funds will benefit manufacturers in all different corners of the Commonwealth, strengthening our economy by increasing access to advanced technologies.”

“I was proud to support the state appropriation for Kentucky manufacturers,” Adams said. “This state funding, along with UofL’s innovative team, provides a tremendous opportunity to help our manufacturing businesses grow and thrive in today’s fast-changing tech environment.”

KY-MEP is part of the NIST , a unique public/private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions to U.S. manufacturers, fueling growth and advancing U.S. manufacturing. The MEP National Network comprises the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP), the 51 MEP Centers located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, and more than 2,500 trusted advisors and experts at approximately 450 MEP service locations, providing any U.S. manufacturer with access to resources they need to succeed.

Manufacturing firms can find more information on the CEM program and apply for funding .Ěý

View more photos on from the March 6, 2025Ěýannouncement.Ěý

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 łÉČËÖ±˛Ą, 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.”

Scott Broughton, UofL’s new director of manufacturing engagement in the , will work closely with UofL researchers and groups focused on 3D-printing, energy, robotics and other cutting-edge areas that could help manufacturers innovate and grow.Ěý

Broughton comes to UofL from the Advantage Kentucky Alliance (AKA), where he previously was director of the state’s manufacturing extension partnership. UofL News recently had the chance to talk to Broughton about what’s new and next in manufacturing, and why he’s excited to connect industry with UofL.Ěý

UofL News: This is a new role – what excites you about connecting manufacturers with UofL?

Broughton: What excites me most is being the conduit itself. What I mean by that is UofL has vast resources, technologies, capabilities, training in operational improvement, etc. that manufacturers simply do not know are available to them. For example, our ) and the .

I am excited about connecting manufacturers’ needs to UofL solutions. Manufacturers have a need for embedding new technologies into their processes and bringing in new employees. I am excited to show them how UofL is the perfect fit to be able to do both; the use of new technologies without the investment costs of buying the equipment as well as talented, well-trained UofL graduates looking to start their careers.

UofL News: Can you give a few examples of ways UofL’s helped manufacturers in the past?Ěý

Broughton: Too many to count! One is how we allow manufacturers, startups and others to leverage our research capability as a one-stop shop for product development — from concept drawing through fully manufactured part through hiring your next great innovation engineer. Ěý

Another one I’m really excited about is our Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU)-backed program, Accelerated Innovative Manufacturing with 3D Printing, or AIM-3DP. That program provides small and medium manufacturers in the automotive and aerospace sectors with training, mentorship, consulting,Ěýresearch and development. Some of the manufacturers we’re working with would not have been able to do this work in the past without access to UofL expertise and resources in the latest technologies, like 3D printing and additive manufacturing.

UofL News: You mentioned new technologies – how are these changing the landscape for manufacturers?

Broughton:ĚýNew technologies are, of course, changing the way manufacturing is done; additive manufacturing/3D-printing can make prototyping and parts manufacturing less expensive and quicker, for example, and robotics and artificial intelligence can make things more efficient and safer. But currently, the No. 1 issue is workforce. The latest change-drivers in manufacturing are focused on trying to resolve that dilemma – both in terms of optimizing workflows by integrating these technologies and hiring employees trained to use these advanced technologies.Ěý

UofL News: How can using these technologies help industry?Ěý

Broughton: In several ways. One is that these smart technologies, like artificial intelligence, can help prevent mistakes. In today’s competitive market, we can not afford quality issues and stay competitive. Another, is that these technologies offer new ways to manufacture. Additive manufacturing and 3D-printing, for example, enable us to create parts not possible to produce any other way, nonetheless as quickly. The benefits of using these technologies are near limitless, from improving safety, to preventing errors, to reducing costs, to a thousand other things. These cutting-edge technologies can help manufacturers to innovate, optimize, build and grow.Ěý

You can contact Scott Broughton atĚýscott.broughton@louisville.edu.

The , recently finalized, once more has  designated UofL a “Research 1” doctoral university with very high research activity. UofL is one of only 146 universities – roughly 4% of those considered – to receive this designation.ĚýĚý

“UofL is a research powerhouse, and our consistent Research 1 designation is proof-positive of that fact,” said Interim President Lori Gonzalez. “Our strength and growth in research is made possible by our faculty and staff, and their work to expand knowledge and tackle the grand challenges impacting the human condition.”ĚýĚý

In the past fiscal year, 2020-2021, UofL brought in a record $201.5 million in competitive research funding and had $200.4 million in expenditures. That funding supported groundbreaking research to address the biggest global problems of our time, including climate change and providing robotic solutions for manufacturing, health care and logistics challenges.Ěý

“Carnegie R1 status is highly competitive and is evidence of our dedication and commitment to research and graduate education,” said Kevin Gardner, UofL’s executive vice president for research and innovation. “This continued designation shows our commitment to ensuring the work we do here at UofL has an impact here in our community and beyond.”Ěý

In addition to being a Research 1 institution, UofL also holds the Carnegie community-engaged designation, which recognizes institutions that work with community partners to exchange knowledge and resources for public benefit. UofL is one of just 79 U.S. institutions to hold both designations.Ěý

UofL’s dedication to community-engaged research has been especially apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, when UofL researchers partnered with the community to lead widespread testing, develop and implement innovative wastewater monitoring methods, and further products that address the long-term health, economic and societal problems caused by the virus.ĚýĚý

“Not only are we expanding the horizons of what’s considered possible,” Gardner said, “but we’re working hand-in-hand with our partners to use that knowledge to the benefit of our community. This is research with a reason; it’s innovation with impact.”Ěý

That funding, an increase of more than $30 million over the previous record set a year earlier, supported work to address some of the biggest global problems of our time, including climate change and battling the COVID-19 pandemic.

“UofL is truly a research powerhouse, continuously blazing new trails and seeking answers to important questions,” said UofL President Neeli Bendapudi. “This record-breaking year for funding is proof of that fact, but it also shows our research and scholarship are a great investment — that UofL is a great place to invest.”

The value of that investment is especially apparent in the university’s work to combat COVID-19. In the past year, researchers investigated innovative new treatments, led widespread community testing and developed new methods that could revolutionize how we track and contain future disease outbreaks.

“The research we do here at UofL has real impact — it can improve the way we live and work, spur economic development, and in some cases, it literally saves lives,”Ěýsaid Kevin Gardner, UofL’s executive vice president for research and innovation. “This funding makes that important work possible.”

The 2021 fiscal year was also far-and-away the university’s best year on record for commercialization income. UofL earned $26.7 million from license royalties and other related income from university research-born intellectual property, nearly triple the previous record set just a year before, and was awarded 80 new patents.

The increased income was propelled by strong deals and development funding, including the license of UofL-born drugs to fight cancer and other conditions. UofL also received grants to develop new technologies, including those addressing societal problems caused by COVID-19.

The past fiscal year also saw the launch of two new startups based on university-born technology. One, iTolerance Inc., signed an exclusive license for a UofL therapy that helps people with Type 1 diabetes stay off immunosuppressants, and is now developing it for clinical use.

To support the launch of more startups based on university technology, UofL recently launched UofL New Ventures, within the . UofL New Ventures is dedicated to broad entrepreneurial support, from forging connections with experienced and potential company founders to helping the resulting startups attract funding and market share.

“It’s important for people to know that our research doesn’t end with a paper or manuscript,” Gardner said. “It ends in getting our research out into the world in the form of innovative new companies, partnerships and technologies. Our goal is innovation with impact.”

The new Electronic Research Administration system, , comes with a suite of tools for finding funding, applying for limited submission opportunities, proposal management and more.

“One of the primary goals of my office is to build strong and sustainable infrastructure to support our growing research community,” said Kevin Gardner, UofL’s executive vice president for research and innovation. “That infrastructure includes critical research systems and tools that can expand opportunities and facilitate the efficient and effective management of research programs, giving our research community more time to focus on discovery and innovation.”Ěý

Cayuse will rollout over the next year, beginning with new tools that will help researchers, administrators and students easily find relevant funding opportunities and apply for internal and limited grant competitions. More information is available on the Office of Research and Innovation .

The first tools to launch (with more to come) will be:Ěý

• , powered by Pivot (already launched) – an easy-to-use searchable database that will help researchers and scholars across all disciplines find external funding opportunities from federal, foundation, corporate and other private sponsors. Pivot also provides a number of additional tools to support researchers, including newsletters and automated notifications for customized funding opportunities.
• Competitions, powered by InfoReady (targeted to launch in winter 2021-22) – a centralized, online portal that streamlines the process of applying for internal grant programs and limited submission opportunities from external sponsors. InfoReady is a holistic system for internal funding opportunities, reviews and selections.
• Proposals, powered by Cayuse (targeted to launch in winter 2021-22) – a web-based proposal development and system-to-system submission solution for federal Grants.gov opportunities. Cayuse’s Proposals application utilizes advanced validation technology, based on sponsor guidelines, facilitating reduced submission errors and successful submission through Grants.gov on the first attempt. Proposals will replace the university’s existing S2S solution and streamlined processes around proposal submission will be implemented alongside this new system.

The Pivot platform is already up and running and can be accessed . It’s connected with UofL Single Sign On, so faculty and staff can log in using their UofL username and password.

SeveralĚýunit-level research administrators are currently being trained on Pivot to assistĚý with this tool. There also will be a virtual educational session for Pivot at noon on Thursday, September 2, to help with the onboarding experience. Faculty and staff can sign up for the upcoming session , and it will be recorded for those who cannot attend.

“We’re very excited to bring these new capabilities to the UofL research community over the coming months,” said Kevyn Merten, associate vice president for research and innovation. “We look forward to working with you to launch these new tools, and receiving feedback on how they help to advance your research, scholarship and creative activities.”

This is the first agreement of its kind for SDF, which will allow the airport campus – including all facilities, terminal and airfield – to serve as an innovation lab for UofL-led research projects. University faculty, students and airport staff will work together to identify opportunities for both technological and process improvements, then tackle them with UofL’s research capabilities.Ěý

“UofL is a world-class research university and we are excited to establish this partnership with such a prominent institution in our community,” said Dan Mann, executive director of the Louisville Regional Airport Authority. “With their researchers that revolutionize markets and industry sectors, it was a no-brainer to work with them to explore outside-of-the-box ideas that will transform our operations and the experiences of our customers at SDF. We strive every day to be the best airport in the country, and this collaboration is another element in making that a reality.”

UofL will conduct an evaluation this summer to identify possible projects. Researchers specializing in everything from engineering to business will tackle those projects, finding solutions that could be implemented industry-wide both in the terminal and on the airfield. Examples might include developing runway surfaces with extended lifecycles or improving the efficiency of airport terminal operations and passenger movement through technology.

“As a top-tier research university engaged in its community, UofL is proud to work with the airport toward continued innovation and growth,” said Kevin Gardner, UofL’s executive vice president for research and innovation. “This collaboration offers our researchers and students a rich, real-world innovation lab, where their work can have a meaningful impact on how the airport operates and how travelers to and from Louisville fly.”

The collaboration also will create experiential learning opportunities for UofL students. The idea is to give them real-world experience and skills, developed by working side by side with researchers and airport staff, that they can apply when they enter the workforce.

“We love building strong, impactful relationships with our industry partners,” said Will Metcalf, UofL’s associate vice president for research development and partnerships. “This work has significant potential to energize our regional economy, from driving workforce development to generating new technologies. The possibilities are endless.”

Darrell Watson, vice president of strategy and innovation for the Airport Authority, said this unique collaboration positions SDF as a leader in airport innovation. The ideas generated, he said, could revolutionize the way other airports operate.Ěý

“The thought of the entire airport campus as an innovation lab is a concept I have explored for a while,” Watson said. “SDF can be the launching point of ideas and concepts that may potentially be game-changers in the airport industry.”

“Innovation is absolutely critical to UofL’s mission,” said UofL President Neeli Bendapudi. “It’s what drives us and inspires us. Our three most important goals as a university are to be a great place to learn, to work and to invest, and the work of these innovators contributes to all three.”Ěý

The second annual event, hosted virtually this year by the and its technology transfer arm, the honored UofL innovators who had recently been awarded a patent or whose technology had been licensed to a company for commercialization in fiscal year 2020, which ended June 30, 2020.Ěý

Two large awards were also presented: Paula Bates was given the Innovator of the Year Award, and Theo Edmonds, Brad Shuck and Laura Weingartner all accepted Trailblazer awards on behalf of their teams. Each was delivered a red-and-black glass flame — the symbol for the event.

“Our office, and UofL as a whole, are committed to taking the brilliant, groundbreaking research happening on our campus out of the lab, out of the classroom, and translating it into inventions and products that improve the way we work and live,” said Executive Vice President for Research and Innovation, Kevin Gardner. “And, this past year, our researchers worked tirelessly to develop innovations that in a very real way, may save lives — all while dealing with the added challenges of COVID-19.”Ěý

Innovator of the Year, Bates, is a serial inventor and , known for a long track record of developing strong partnerships with industry to commercialize her technologies. In 2020, she partnered with other UofL innovators to develop a potential breakthrough in our fight against COVID-19 that is believed to block the virus from infecting human cells. The technologyĚý to a now publicly-traded biomedical company, which is working with UofL to further develop it for market.

As for the Trailblazers, who are awarded for work in new areas of innovation for UofL, Edmonds accepted the award for the Cultural Wellbeing Index, a tool that helps companies improve corporate culture and organizational wellbeing. To commercialize the technology, Edmonds launched , UofL’s .

Shuck accepted for the Employee Engagement Scale, a software that helps companies measure workforce engagement. The technology’s non-exclusive license to startup Unitonomy marks the — followed by the second and third, also secured by Shuck, when the technology was licensed to two other companies in the same year.

Lastly, Weingartner accepted the award for “,” a first-of-its-kind manual aimed at better-training future medical professionals on caring for LGBTQ and other non-normative patients. The manual is meant to provide resources and guidance so that medical schools, residencies and continuing medical education programs across the country are able to implement training and provide better resources for more equitable care.

All told, fiscal year 2020 was the at UofL, with a total income of $9.4 million driven by a strong year for startups and deals. It also was UofL’s best year on-record for competitive research funding, with total new awards of $170 million.

“This was a great year for innovation and research — also our best year on record,” said Allen Morris, executive director of the Commercialization EPI-Center. “Our innovators all share in that success, and I look forward to continuing that work together in 2021.”

In January, Charasika started his term as an entrepreneur in residence, or EIR, through the UofL Office of Research and Innovation. In this role, he will work with inventors and theĚýĚýto connect UofL technologies to industry and startups.

Charasika is a seasoned entrepreneur and leader, previously serving as executive director of EnterpriseCorp of Greater Louisville Inc., the Louisville Metro chamber of commerce, and as CEO of , a mobile platform company that helps colleges and universities engage and communicate with their fans.

Currently, Charasika serves as chief strategy officer with Saling Wealth Advisors, an independent wealth management firm that focuses on comprehensive financial planning for multi-generational families.

Charasika got his start at UofL as a varsity football star and student of both the UofL J.B. Speed School of Engineering, where he earned a bachelor of science in chemical engineering, and the UofL College of Business, where he completed his entrepreneurship MBA.

“It is a privilege to continue to be a part of the University of Louisville team, which I have been since enrolling at the university in 1996 as a Speed School student and student-athlete on the football team,” he said. “This time, I have the honor of helping to support and guide to market the incredible innovations that are being developed at the university.”

Charasika’s hiring marks the third round of EIRs hired by the UofL Office of Research and Innovation to bring inventions born from UofL research to market. He joins EIRs Jeff Cummins and Josh Nickols, , and Alice Shade, .Ěý

Cummins will roll off the roster in spring, while Nickols and Shade will stay on through summer 2021. The goal is to rotate EIRs regularly, to offer fresh insight, perspectives and connections that promote the conversion of technologies with commercial potential into high-growth companies and spurring economic development.

The program claims among its early successes a new, Vogt Award-winning startup, Unitonomy, founded by former EIR Charley Miller. The company is built around aĚý, which Miller discovered and licensed while working with UofL. It’s the first license from the EIR program and the first from the UofL College of łÉČËÖ±˛Ą and Human Development.

“We’re ecstatic to have Tendai join our EIR team, bringing with him all the knowledge and experience of his years as a successful entrepreneur and founder,” said Will Metcalf, UofL’s executive director of strategic initiatives, who heads the EIR program. “We’ve had great success with the EIR program so far and I look forward to building on that success with Tendai on board.”

The EIR program is part of the , a collaboration between UofL and the Louisville Healthcare CEO Council to support health-centric entrepreneurship and innovation. It is funded by the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development through , an effort to energize the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem.