Committed to advancing the science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM) community, the SOA is focused on a strategy to build a STEMM workforce that reflects the culturally rich, innovative and diverse talent pool of the United States.

SOA has engaged hundreds of partners to implement STEMM Equity and Excellence 2050: A National Strategy for Progress and Prosperity, with the goal of helping 20 million people from historically excluded and marginalized communities enter, contribute to and thrive within STEMM fields.

For UofL, this is a transformative effort that includes the College of Arts & Sciences, College of 成人直播 & Human Development, J.B. Speed School of Engineering, and School of Medicine in networking with national foundations, companies and the federal government to offer scholarships and expand the opportunity for STEMM careers to more students.

鈥淔or too long, many students have had to swim upstream to pursue careers in STEMM and UofL is joining the vital effort to seek fundamental, systemic change. Complex problems require multifaceted, creative, and innovative solutions, which are best addressed with diverse teams bringing distinct perspectives to achieve scientific excellence,鈥� said James Orlick, director of grant writing and innovation for UofL鈥檚 Office of Institutional Equity. 鈥淓quity and excellence are connected.鈥�

Suspended in a pediatric therapy harness, the boy鈥檚 feet moved across the treadmill. Each foot strike represented new hope for kids living with neurological conditions 鈥� to regain motor function, improve trunk control and even take steps on their own.听听听

That technology, invented by UofL researchers, is helping patients thanks to UofL’s unique suite of programs aimed at moving biomedical research from lab to market as products that can save and improve lives. Now, via a new partnership called the MidSouth Hub, UofL is offering its expertise to researchers across the four-state region of Kentucky, Virginia, Mississippi and Tennessee.听听

鈥淪eeing how the technology we鈥檇 worked so hard to support could impact that boy鈥檚 life was one of the proudest moments of my career,鈥� said Jessica Sharon, senior director of innovation programs and new ventures at UofL. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 when I knew we were building something special here at UofL. With the MidSouth Hub, we can expand that impact and ensure even more potentially life-changing technologies make it out of universities and help patients.鈥�听

PROOF OF CONCEPT听

UofL鈥檚 focus on innovation begins with the belief that good ideas shouldn鈥檛 stay in the lab 鈥� they belong out in the world, where they can make a positive impact as new diagnostics, treatments and therapeutics. To that end, the university has spent the past decade aggressively growing its support for biomedical innovation, helping researchers develop, test and refine their ideas before launch.听

UofL secured its first biomedical product innovation grant, the Wallace H. Coulter Translational Partnership, in 2011. Building on that success, UofL landed two more programs a few years later: Kentucky鈥檚 first NSF Innovation Corps (I-Corps) site and NIH Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub (REACH), led by now retired professor, Paula Bates.听听

Those were quickly followed by another award, then another, then another, and today, UofL holds a robust suite of programs unique from its peers across the country.听 With each new round of funding UofL forged听 new partnerships that expanded the impact first across the Commonwealth, and now, to the four-state region. The result is the MidSouth Hub, a multi-institution partnership led by Vanderbilt University, with UofL providing its original programming and leading efforts in Kentucky.听

鈥淯ofL has developed strategies that can help anyone to create healthcare solutions, whether you are a professor at a large university or a student at a technical college,鈥� said Matt McMahon, Director of the NIH鈥檚 SEED (Small business 成人直播 and Entrepreneurial Development) Office, which supports REACH. UofL is the only university to succeed in all three rounds of REACH funding.听

鈥淎nd in the end,鈥� he said, 鈥渋t鈥檚 patients and communities that benefit. We鈥檙e very excited to see UofL offer their leadership and expertise in scaling their approach across a broader part of the country.鈥�听

That approach is key to developing technologies like the pediatric therapy harness, which provides partial body weight support as therapists help the kids move their feet over the treadmill. The idea is to slowly and safely turn on muscles and gain control. Designed by researchers Andrea Behrman and Tommy Roussel, that technology has since been licensed and units are in-place or on their way to facilities in Pennsylvania, Texas and New York, as well as Kentucky.听

鈥淚 don鈥檛 know a university that supports faculty more for innovation and biomedical design than UofL,鈥� said Behrman, a professor of neurological surgery and director of the Kosair for Kids Center for Pediatric NeuroRecovery. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a massive help in moving good ideas down the path, and getting them out where they can actually help patients.鈥�听

THE RIGHT STUFF听

When it comes to good ideas, UofL has plenty to choose from. A Carnegie Research-1 university with a robust academic medical center and affiliated health system, UofL鈥檚 clinicians and researchers work to discover, invent, test and implement cutting-edge medical innovations that ultimately are commercialized.听听

鈥淭his kind of direct impact just isn鈥檛 possible without those ingredients,鈥� said Jon Klein, UofL鈥檚 interim executive vice president of research and innovation and vice dean for research at its School of Medicine. 鈥淭hat intersection of medicine, research and our suite of innovation programs 鈥� that mix is driving positive patient outcomes here and beyond.鈥�听

Those positive outcomes cover a range of potentially devastating diagnoses. Take the听 cancer-fighting technology invented by researchers Geoffrey Clark, Joe Burlison and John Trent, which works by targeting the RAS protein. When mutated, RAS turns into a stuck accelerator pedal, with cells suddenly growing very fast and penetrating other tissue, just like a tumor cell.听听听

Stopping that process has long been considered a 鈥榟oly grail鈥� that could shut down at least a third of human tumors. Thanks in part to support from UofL鈥檚 innovation programs, that technology is now in development with Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc., a publicly traded California-based biomedical company, and moving down the long pathway to FDA approval.听听

鈥淯ofL is in a unique position to develop technologies like this because you not only have actual clinicians and cutting-edge research, but programs to assist industry partners to drive the resulting innovations to market,鈥� said Michael Poirier, the company鈥檚 Chairman and CEO. 鈥淲e look forward to continuing work with UofL and to advancing these important clinical technologies with the goal of developing an effective treatment for this unmet need.鈥�听

READY TO LAUNCH听

Over the past decade, UofL鈥檚 I-Corps and REACH programs have supported hundreds of innovators, dozens of new products and licensing agreements, millions in follow-on funding and the launch of at least 16 new companies.听

One of those companies is led by School of Medicine researcher Matthew Neal, who participated in UofL鈥檚 Economic Development Administration-backed PRePARE program for developing pandemic-related technologies, along with the I-Corps site before going on to the prestigious national NSF program to develop his VR technology for patients with hearing deficiencies.听

Neal鈥檚 technology aims to help patients program their hearing aids and test out different models in realistic virtual environments, such as a noisy restaurant, all without leaving the comfort of the clinical setting.听

That led to a startup, Immersive Hearing Technologies, which Neal co-founded with former university entrepreneur-in-residence, Jeff Cummins. Together, they鈥檝e already secured non-dilutive follow-on funding and are on their way to improving the clinical processes behind a widespread problem 鈥� hearing loss 鈥� affecting one in eight Americans over the age of 12.听听

鈥淭he innovation programs were invaluable in understanding who our customers are, what they needed and how we might get this technology to market,鈥� Neal said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 no good if an idea like this just sits on a shelf. This is a technology that can help people, and it needs to be out in the world to do that.鈥澨�听

And that鈥檚 the goal, Sharon said.听听

鈥淲e don鈥檛 want good ideas to stay on our campus or any campus,鈥� Sharon said. 鈥淲ith these programs, we鈥檙e going to keep growing, keep pushing, to move these innovations from lab to market. And with this new MidSouth Hub, I know we can do that on an even bigger scale.鈥�听

Their award-winning , named Paper of the Year by the American Journal of Physiology, sheds light on the heightened risk of kidney complications in cancer patients undergoing treatment. The study revealed that cancer itself may harm the kidneys, but that damage and scarring is intensified when patients take cisplatin, a commonly used chemotherapy drug.听

鈥淓verything in your body is connected, from your internal systems to the medications we take,鈥� said Andrew Orwick, lead author and recent doctoral graduate in pharmacology and toxicology.

Orwick鈥檚 doctoral research in the laboratory of researchers Leah Siskind and in collaboration with Levi Beverly, both from the and , examined the interplay of cisplatin and lung cancer, which is highly prevalent in Kentucky.

鈥淏y better understanding what those interactions are and how they happen,鈥� he said, 鈥渨e can take them into consideration and improve outcomes for the patient.鈥�

Ultimately, that could lead to new diagnostics, more effective drugs and treatment plans that better consider the patient鈥檚 overall health and avoid or limit kidney damage.

Chronic damage to the kidneys can nausea, vomiting, fatigue, high blood pressure and even death, without transplant or dialysis. Because symptoms progress slowly, patients may not notice the condition until its advanced stages. Even so, current testing methods are difficult and invasive.

The UofL researchers think their work could help clinicians better predict not only which patients will react negatively to cisplatin and other chemotherapy drugs, but also identify potential kidney problems early. The goal is to better understand the underlying mechanisms and biomarkers, so clinicians can make more informed decisions.

鈥淥bviously, addressing the cancer is first and foremost, but if we can do that while also preserving the patient鈥檚 overall health and feeling of health, that鈥檚 optimal,鈥� said Siskind, a professor and senior author on the study. 鈥淭he great news is that the fact that we鈥檙e even having this conversation means we鈥檙e making progress in solving cancer 鈥� we鈥檙e considering not only life, but the quality of that life.鈥�

Siskind said the paper represents a paradigm shift in how researchers think about and treat both cancer and kidney disease. As it stands, no treatment for this form of kidney disease has made it past a phase 2 clinical trial or been approved for use in patients. This research could also help inform better drugs and experiments to fill that need.听

That innovative thinking and broad impact is likely part of why this work was selected as Paper of the Year, said Jon Klein, interim executive vice president for .

鈥淏eing selected for this honor is a massive accomplishment and underpins the immense value of the research being done by this team and across UofL,鈥� Klein said. 鈥淭his is work that truly can save and improve lives.鈥�听

Eating disorders affect an estimated 9% of Americans 鈥� nearly 30 million people 鈥� and can impact a person鈥檚 eating behaviors and perceptions about food and their bodies. The UofL prototype technology, dubbed Awaken Emerse, helps users virtually face and overcome their associated fears, such as the fear of gaining weight.

鈥淩esearch shows exposure treatment can be really effective in taking back control over these devastating and life-altering fears,鈥� said Christina Ralph-Nearman, a assistant research professor, researcher and co-inventor of the technology. 鈥淥ur virtual simulation allows people to do that in a safe way.鈥�听

In a pilot study, Awaken Emerse 鈥� invented by Ralph-Nearman and researcher Cheri Levinson 鈥� was shown to be effective in helping participants face their fears of gaining weight. The new grant, $125,000 through the NEDA鈥檚 Feeding Hope Fund, will support work by the inventors, along with Andrew Karem of the J.B. Speed School of Engineering, to expand the platform to be more inclusive of all body types and sizes, ethnicities, races and gender identities and to further test outcomes in a clinical setting.听听

鈥淓ating disorders don鈥檛 just affect one type of person 鈥� there are a multitude of factors that can influence them,鈥� said Levinson, associate professor and director of the Eating Anxiety Treatment (EAT) Lab. 鈥淭reatment and prevention options should reflect that full range of experience.鈥�

The NEDA grant comes on the heels of some $11.5 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support Levinson鈥檚 work to better understand and address some of the most devastating effects of eating disorders. That research will investigate how eating disorders may develop in childhood and adolescence, their contribution to suicidal behaviors and how innovative personalized treatments, like VR simulation, may offer hope.

鈥淒espite the high prevalence of eating disorders, there still aren鈥檛 many options for treatment and prevention,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his work will not only create new options by leveraging technology, but open previously unopened doors for treating people on a personal, individual level.鈥�

Work to develop the VR technology has also been supported by the UofL Office of Research and Innovation鈥檚 intellectual property and new ventures teams. This includes patenting, coaching by entrepreneur-in-residence Alice Shade, and training and financial support through two innovation development programs: KYNETIC, focused on furthering biomedical technologies, and PRePARE, focused on technologies that address a health or societal problem resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The four Phase 2 winners in the NIH鈥檚 competition each will receive $1 million, technical assistance and other resources to accelerate the development for neuromodulation therapies 鈥� those aimed at stimulating the nervous system to improve function and treat a range of conditions. At UofL, researchers are using these therapies to help patients with paralysis restore functions they may otherwise never have again.

鈥淭his technology holds enormous potential for people living with paralysis resulting from spinal cord injury,鈥� said Susan Harkema, a UofL professor, researcher and lead on the Neuromod Prize project. 鈥淥ur research so far, and the progress we will make supported by this new funding, could dramatically improve all aspects of their daily lives, from movement to cardiovascular function.鈥�

The project team includes UofL researchers Harkema and Charles Hubscher, working in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), Medtronic and long-time clinical translational research partner, the Kessler Foundation. Together, they will develop a novel communication and analysis system, called StimXS, that integrates sensor information to both stabilize blood pressure and improve respiratory and bladder function.

This builds on past work by UofL researchers, who have used neuromodulation to target and improve a range of health effects resulting from spinal cord injury, including cardiac, respiratory and bladder function and even 鈥� something previously thought to be impossible. To target these functions, the researchers use an implantable stimulation device that can send electrical signals to select areas of the spinal cord.

鈥淲ith this new Phase 2 Neuromod funding, we can take a major step toward advancing this technology for broad use in patients,鈥� said Hubscher, professor and co-director of the KSCIRC. 鈥淲e鈥檝e seen great results in the lab, but the true impact of this technology will be when it鈥檚 in a clinical setting and helping the people who need it most.鈥�

This work has also been supported by several public and private sponsors, such as the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, the Helmsley Charitable Trust and . As part of the Neuromod Prize, Phase 2 winners will be exclusively invited to participate in Phase 3, which will have a total potential prize pool of $5 million. 听

鈥淭his is truly game-changing research with the power to improve lives,鈥� said Jon Klein, UofL鈥檚 interim executive vice president for research and innovation. 鈥淚 applaud the research team for their success in driving this important work forward and am excited to see them translate this for broad use in patients.鈥�

The Neuromod Prize is part of the听, which is making critical progress to help accelerate the development of neuromodulation therapies, close fundamental knowledge gaps, and offer tools that enable open science and innovation through the .

Autism is a spectrum of developmental disabilities impacting social skills, language processing, cognition and other functions. The UofL tool has been shown to be 98.5% accurate in diagnosing kids as young as two, which could give doctors more time to intervene with potentially life-changing therapy. Their results were published in the journal .

鈥淭herapy could be the difference between an individual needing full-time care and being independent, holding a job and living a fulfilled life,鈥� said Ayman El-Baz, a co-inventor and professor and chair in the . He developed the technology with Gregory Barnes and Manuel Casanova of the UofL .

shows therapy can have the most impact if done in early childhood, when the brain is more elastic. However, currently, and even fewer are diagnosed by age eight. The problem, the researchers say, is one of supply and demand 鈥� there are too many patients and too few specialists to conduct the interviews and examinations needed for diagnosis.

鈥淎s a result, there鈥檚 an urgent need for a new, objective technology that can help us diagnose kids early,鈥� said Barnes, a professor of neurology and executive director of the . 鈥淲e think our tool can help fill that need, while providing more objectivity over the current interview method.鈥�

With the UofL technology, AI can make the initial diagnosis, which researchers think could reduce specialist workload by as much as 30%. The specialist would meet later with the patient to confirm the diagnosis and talk about next steps.

The UofL technology works by using AI to analyze magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans for differences and abnormal connections that may indicate autism. Tested against scans of 226 children between the ages of 24 and 48 months, the technology was able to identify the 120-some children with autism with near perfect accuracy.

By looking at the physical structures of the brain rather than using interviews, researchers believe they can make diagnoses more objective and target the specific parts of the brain that may benefit most from therapy.

鈥淭he idea is that by drawing from both medicine and engineering, we can come up with a better solution that improves lives,鈥� said Mohamed Khudri, a undergraduate student and author on the paper.

The diagnostic technology and intellectual property received support through . That includes the office鈥檚 suite of innovation programs, aimed at developing research-backed inventions for market, including the prestigious national Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program through the National Science Foundation. UofL is one of only a handful of universities nationwide to have each of these programs 鈥� and it鈥檚 the only one to have them all.

The consortium 鈥� known as REBECCA, short for Regional Energy Business, 成人直播, and Commercialization Convergence Accelerator 鈥� has been selected for a $500,000 Phase 1 planning grant under the U.S. Tech Hubs Program. The program, authorized by the federal CHIPS and Science Act, aims to transform high-potential regions across the country into globally competitive innovation centers.

鈥淯ofL is a top-tier, community-engaged research institution, and we鈥檝e developed a solid track record of partnering with industry to solve important problems,鈥� said Kim Schatzel, president of UofL. 鈥淲ith REBECCA, we are excited to build on UofL鈥檚 already impactful energy research and work with our industry partners to develop Kentucky鈥檚 energy strength.鈥�

At UofL, work on REBECCA will be led by researchers Mahendra Sunkara and Sundar Atre in the . Consortium partners include the , , and , a Haier company.听

Together, they will use the Phase 1 Tech Hubs funding to study the region鈥檚 energy economy and develop a plan for its continued growth, including needed technology, infrastructure and workforce. As a successful Phase 1 applicant, REBECCA also is eligible to compete for up to $75 million in Phase 2 funding to implement their plan.听

鈥淭he UofL REBECCA consortium aligns with Louisville鈥檚 economic development and net-zero energy goals,鈥� said Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg. 鈥淲e are very eager to see this project bring new green jobs and advance our state鈥檚 investment and leadership in renewable energy technology.鈥�

Energy is a , with more than a third of all energy produced going toward agriculture, the production of food and beverage, manufacturing and other industry. As both the public and private sectors invest in new energy technologies 鈥� such as renewables 鈥� there鈥檚 a need for more innovation, infrastructure and .

鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to be a part of this project and what the future holds for this region and job growth in the renewable energy space,鈥� said Kevin Nolan, president and CEO of GE Appliances, a Haier company.听 鈥淭his aligns with our focus on net zero energy homes, and how we can innovate products that use less energy and work with renewable energy sources and energy storage solutions.鈥�

Beyond developing a strategy for the energy Tech Hub in Kentucky, the consortium will conduct workforce development programs and partner with UofL researchers on pilot projects related to energy production, use and efficiency. GE Appliances will work on a solar power microgrid, TARC will work to introduce extended-range battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell buses into the fleet, and Clariant will work on hydrogen storage and delivery.

“We at Clariant are thrilled that UofL will be leading a new Tech Hub focused on the energy transition in Kentucky through the new consortium REBECCA,鈥� said Victor Johnston, head of Clariant鈥檚 Louisville R&D Center.听鈥淲ith our longstanding ties to Louisville, we have had the privilege of partnering with the university for many years on critical research in catalyst development, materials science and cultivating STEM talent. This recognition is well-deserved. We eagerly anticipate continuing our collaboration with REBECCA, which will drive innovations that shape the future of energy.”

UofL has significant expertise in working with industry to innovate in renewable energy and energy efficiency, including through the Speed School鈥檚 Conn Center 鈥� established more than a decade ago in honor of major donors Hank and Rebecca Conn, for whom REBECCA is named. Emmanuel Collins, dean of the Speed School, said partnership with industry is critical to understanding gaps and growing the state鈥檚 capacity to manufacture, commercialize and deploy these technologies.

鈥淯ofL and the Speed School have a long track-record of success and leadership in energy research and academics,鈥� Collins said. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to working with our partners to build on that success, strengthening the regional innovation ecosystem and advancing the state鈥檚 bright energy future.鈥�

LaunchIt, offered twice per year through the , is an intensive eight-week hybrid course focused on , which helps innovators and entrepreneurs test their ideas or products in the real world and see if they have what it takes to stick.

The program, taught by experienced and successful entrepreneurs, includes coaching, mentoring and curriculum including lessons on customer discovery, product validation and other considerations when preparing for market launch. The program is open to anyone in the region working to develop a technology-focused product or company.

Leads for the fourteen teams in the fall 2023 session were:

• Tom Alaimo: LifeStory Connection, software that personalizes the quality of care to their life and experiences, creating a person-centered approach to healthcare.
• Faisal Aqlan (J.B. Speed School of Engineering): A UofL data-driven interactive virtual reality clinic (IVRC) that enhances cognitive function provides an accurate assessment of dementia level to providers.
• Shavonne Bass: Loc鈥檔 Key, offering community driven products focused on sustainable, eco-friendly organic hair care products specifically designed for customers with locs.
• Zachary Fowler (J.B. Speed School of Engineering): A device for wearable continuous monitoring insulin biosensor to help physicians identify patients who are at risk for metabolic disease and Type II diabetes.
• Kelly Gibson and Jason Crist: Crison, an electrical infrastructure app for seamless integration of asset information and test result trending.
• Seokyoung Han (J.B. Speed School of Engineering): A smart device for interpreting dog behaviors combines imaging of the animal’s expressions with biometric data to relay accurate status to the owner.
• Arpan Jain: Jain Energy Co., a biofuel cell that promotes a neutral-carbon-based circular economy and reduces dependency on fossil fuels for electricity generation.
• Young Hoon Kim (J.B. Speed School of Engineering): Building construction materials that consume zero-water used in drought regions.
• Hallie Osborne (J.B. Speed School of Engineering): A device used for improved visualization when removing fluid from around the heart in emergent cardiovascular cases.
• Sumit Paul (J.B. Speed School of Engineering): A novel mechanical interlocking metamaterial that strengthens biomedical implants and increases durability after implantation.
• Farshid Ramezanipour (College of Arts and Sciences): A novel compound that efficiently generates hydrogen from water to provide a cheaper, environmentally friendly energy source.
• Nicolas Tehrani: Lode, a company creating full-flavor fermented non-alcoholic beverages for beer enthusiasts.
• Elton Thomas: Project Story 成人直播, a company using cutting edge biometric technologies to design and provide education, fitness and security solutions.
• Imelda Wright (School of Nursing): An assessment tool used in several high-risk industries by identifying weaknesses in their safety systems.

LaunchIt is offered by the team as part of its National Science Foundation program. All teams in this cohort received training, funding and other support from I-Corps to drive their innovation-backed technologies to market.

鈥淟aunchIt was a window into the world of entrepreneurship,鈥� said Ramezanipour, a UofL faculty member who participated as part of the I-Corps program. 鈥�It was a great experience and very helpful in understanding how to take your innovation to the next stage.鈥�

UofL New Ventures works to launch and grow startups, and is supported in part by Amplify Louisville. LaunchIt coaches include the office鈥檚 Entrepreneurs in Residence, knowledgeable founders with an in-depth understanding of launching and growing a business.听

The next session of LaunchIt, beginning in spring 2024, is now enrolling. More information and registration is available at .

Professor Green 鈥� often described as the 鈥渇ather of modern photovoltaics鈥� 鈥� is recognized for his pioneering efforts and groundbreaking achievements in high conversion efficiency of silicon photovoltaic materials as well as leading the invention and development of the passivated emitter and rear contact (PERC) solar cell.

PERC technology improved the quality of both the top and rear surfaces of standard silicon solar cells, resulting in greater and more efficient generation. This allowed more electricity to be generated from sunlight, lowering costs and increasing the adoption of sustainable solar energy worldwide.

The technology breakthrough helped increase the conversion efficiency of standard solar cells by over 50% in relative terms from 16.5% in the early 1980s to 25% in the early 2000s. Through successive improvements to cell design and fabrication, Green and his team held the record for silicon cell efficiency for 30 of the past 40 years.

PERC currently dominates solar cell production worldwide. Together with Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon) cells 鈥� first demonstrated by Green鈥檚 research group at UNSW 鈥� the cells account for more than 90% of solar cells manufactured in the world today at a sales value exceeding $100 billion USD to date.

Development of this technology also resulted in the training of a generation of students who, with Green鈥檚 support, applied their acquired skills to establish solar cell manufacturing in Asia. These achievements are unique globally in both the quantum of efficiency improvement and the share of manufacturing capacity.

Professor Green is thrilled to be awarded the Leigh Ann Conn Prize. 鈥淔rom the start of my career, I was determined to do something that would make a difference in the world. I am very proud that, through the efforts of my team and countless others, we now have low-cost solar as a means for reducing the impact of climate change while, at the same time, reducing the cost of energy generation, something not widely thought possible only a decade ago,鈥� said Green.

UNSW鈥檚 acting Vice-Chancellor and President Professor George Williams congratulated Professor Green on winning the Prize.

鈥淢artin is a brilliant engineer whose leadership and accomplishments have led to the creation and development of the world鈥檚 solar manufacturing industry. His life鈥檚 work benefits people around the globe every day and is arguably our biggest weapon to combat global warming and climate change. Everyone at UNSW is proud to celebrate this well-deserved honour with him,鈥� Williams said.

In March 2024, Green 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.

鈥淧rofessor Martin Green is a true pioneer in the field of photovoltaics,鈥� said University of Louisville President Kim Schatzel, who will confer the award. 鈥淗is work in solar cell technology is of great importance worldwide, and it is an honor to bestow upon him the Leigh Ann Conn Prize.鈥�

The UofL prize is named for the late daughter of Hank and Rebecca Conn, who were university alumni, supporters and the prize benefactors. Their vision to create a legacy in honor of Leigh Ann celebrates scientists with the fortitude, patience, and resiliency to endure renewable energy technology innovation and translation into the marketplace, where impact occurs.

Nominations for the 2025 Leigh Ann Conn Prize competition close Dec. 31, 2024. Criteria and instructions are found at . For more information, contact Andrew Marsh at 502-852-8597 or LeighAnnConnPrize@louisville.edu.

The Mid-South , backed by a four-year grant from the National Institutes of Health, spans a four-state network of Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee and Virginia. The hub is led by Vanderbilt University, with UofL leading efforts in Kentucky to transform academic discoveries into real-world products that advance human health and catalyze a medical innovation economy.听

鈥淯ofL is a top-tier, Carnegie Research-1 university, and we are proud of our strong track record as a driver of health innovation and entrepreneurship,鈥� said Kevin Gardner, executive vice president for . 鈥淲e are excited to expand that work with the Mid-South Hub, joining our partner institutions to accelerate technologies and companies that can save and improve lives, creating opportunity here and throughout our region.鈥�

NIH鈥檚 REACH program focuses on bringing basic science discoveries to market by providing entrepreneurial training for innovators on how to bring technologies to market; feedback from federal and industry experts; funding to support early-stage product definition studies; and project management support

UofL鈥檚 role in the new hub follows years of state leadership, since launching Kentucky鈥檚 first REACH program in 2015. The REACH efforts began at UofL and expanded statewide in 2019 through collaboration with KY Innovation, University of Kentucky and Kentucky Commercialization Ventures. Over nearly a decade, Kentucky REACH programs have coached more than 400 innovative faculty, staff and students across Kentucky public institutions and funded 45 technologies, leading to 18 new products and 11 patents filed.

鈥淯ofL has provided consistent leadership in driving these innovations from lab to market across the Commonwealth,鈥� said Jessica Sharon, director of innovation programs and lead for the UofL Hub program. 鈥淭hrough this new Hub, we are very excited to work with our regional partner universities to train more innovator teams, helping them learn the product development process and lens.鈥�

REACH is part of UofL鈥檚 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 鈥� and it鈥檚 the only one to receive听all听of them.

With the new Mid-South REACH Hub, UofL will expand on this programming by leveraging already strong partnerships with regional institutions. Last year, UofL partnered with Vanderbilt on a $15 million effort backed by the National Science Foundation to launch a new regional hub aimed at accelerating product innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development. The resulting NSF Mid-South听Innovation Corps听(I-Corps) Hub, one of only 10 across the U.S., is part of the operational backbone of the NSF鈥檚 , which helps translate academic research for the marketplace while expanding access and inclusion.听

鈥淒iverse perspectives are essential to turn university ideas into lifesaving tools in the hands of doctors,鈥� said Vanderbilt lead, Robert Webster. 鈥淪o many students and faculty share this vision鈥攖o their very core鈥攂ut lack the business, legal and practical insights they need to get started鈥μ齏e know what it feels like and what it takes, and we can鈥檛 wait to help others unlock the potential of their ideas鈥揳nd themselves鈥揳s innovators and entrepreneurs.鈥澨�

NIH will contribute $4 million toward the Hub over four years, with more than $8 million in additional matching funds from partnering universities, state economic development entities and public-private partnerships.听Kentucky matching funds are supported by the state Cabinet for Economic Development鈥檚 KY Innovation, UofL and UK. In addition to Vanderbilt and UofL, the other partner institutions are, Jackson State University, George Mason University and UK.