“As we gear up for the spring semester, we want you to know the university remains committed to conducting in-person instruction. We will keep our current health and safety protocols in place, and we will continue monitoring the impact of the COVID-19 Omicron variant and hospitalization rates. For our new and returning Cardinals, please remember the following key aspects of our COVID-19 response:

• are still required in public, indoor settings on campus. The university will be providing up to two masks (KN95/N95 or equivalent) to all Cardinals who would like to have them. Masks will be made available in high-traffic areas around campus by Monday, Jan. 10.Ěý More information will soon follow.
• Regular testing is still mandatory for unvaccinated Cardinals. The next required testing period begins Jan. 10. Click to schedule a testing appointment. Anyone who would like to get tested, not just those who are required to do so, may make an appointment.
• Quarantine and isolation protocols are required when Cardinals are exposed or test positive for COVID-19. We have implemented the CDC’s newly published guidelines that shortened the number of days required for quarantine and isolation depending on vaccination type and booster status. The updated protocols can be found .
• Booster and vaccination clinics will continue to be offered by Campus Health. Click for time and location details.
• For questions and concerns about the university’s COVID-19 response, review the on the COVID-19 website or contact the .
• Lastly, university leadership continues to monitor all federal and state regulations and related litigation concerning COVID-19 vaccination and testing mandates. As decisions are made that impact our university, we will inform you.

We are pleased to be entering the spring 2022 semester with of 91%. We strongly encourage all Cardinals to get vaccinated and boosted. We thank you for all you have done and what you continue to do to keep our community safe and thriving.”

Of course, we’ve since learned the COVID-19 pandemic, and all of the uncertainties that come with it, remains. Still, 2021 seemed a little different. We know a little more about this virus, for example, and can make better mitigation efforts.

For UofL, that has meant a return to in-person operations while maintaining some hybrid elements. It meant masks and pop-up vaccination sites and plenty of continued mindfulness about safety. It meant a non-traditional raiseRED dance marathon, a livestreamed International Fashion Show and a Commencement ceremony at Cardinal Stadium for the first time ever.

In other words, it meant we carried on as a community – carefully, collaboratively – understanding that time doesn’t stop and neither do we. Our Cardinal spirit was on full display during 2020. In 2021, we brought that spirit to the next level – achieving records and reaching milestones while illustrating that not even a lingering global pandemic can slow us down.

Here are just a few of the highlights from the past year to instill pride and to motivate us into 2022.

Pandemic-inspired

When the COVID-19 pandemic reached the U.S., UofL went to work with an all-hands-on-deck mentality, searching for solutions, helping others and creating effective workarounds. That mentality continued in 2021 and extended to our pedagogical efforts. Our online learning programs experienced a 40% growth in the face of the pandemic, for example, while our law and dental faculty received an international award for creating a novel online teaching method in these new times.

Outside of the classroom, when vaccinations became available in late 2020, our UofL Health team was the first to step up and get the injection to prove their safety and efficacy. And when the city rolled out mass vaccinations, our medical, nursing and public health students and faculty were on the front lines.  

As new variants appear, our groundbreaking COVID-19 wastewater research continues to provide critical learnings and is now backed by a CDC grant for $8.6 million.

Our School of Medicine joined a handful of other organizations, including local activist Christopher 2X’s nonprofit Game Changers, to launch a new campaign with a goal of ensuring all children have access to a face mask.

Diversity wins

Of course, our focus extends well beyond the pandemic. During summer 2020, former president Neeli Bendapudi announced a plan for UofL to become the premier antiracist metropolitan research university in the country. Several major steps have been taken since, including new hires and courses.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. For the eighth year, UofL has been named a recipient of the Higher łÉČËÖ±˛Ą Excellence in Diversity Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, for example.Ěý

Toyota invested $1.7 million this year to increase opportunities for underrepresented students and assist them in earning engineering degrees at UofL. Further, the inaugural class of graduates from the Louisville Teacher Residency Program began their teaching careers with JCPS. The program is a collaboration between JCPS and the UofL College of łÉČËÖ±˛Ą and Human Development to recruit more teachers of color. And, our Brandeis School of Law is addressing barriers to opportunities for lawyers of color in the underrepresented environmental law niche.

Notably, UofL recently opened a new Cultural and Equity Center, which brings together several offices that provide resources and create a sense of belonging for underrepresented students. The center is home to the Office of Diversity łÉČËÖ±˛Ą and Inclusive Excellence, Cultural Center, LGBT Center, Muhammad Ali Institute for Peace and Justice and the Women’s Center.  

Research 1 Institution

UofL especially lived up to its status as a Carnegie-designated Research 1 institution this year, garnering a record-breaking $201.5 million in research funding for the fiscal year. This is more than $30 million over the previous record set a year earlier and supports work addressing some of the biggest global problems of our time. Our research literally spans the cosmos, and has yielded opportunities for education, training and policy development to address child trafficking in Kentucky; realized the health benefits of living in areas of high greenness; and turned invasive plant species that threaten local ecosystems into art.

Further, a team of UofL researchers is developing a pilot program for the city that will divert a portion of 911 calls to health, behavioral health and ancillary services. In March, the National Institutes of Health provided a $7.8 million grant to fund work at ±«´Ç´Úł˘â€™s Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, in collaboration with Medtronic, to develop and test software applications designed for spinal cord injury. Not long after that, the NIH also provided UofL with an $11.3 million grant to support research into liver-related illness.

Don’t expect anyone at UofL to rest on research laurels, either. The Louisville Automation and Robotics Research Institute (LARRI) just opened a 10,000-square-foot space dedicated to research, education and collaboration in robotics, for example.ĚýResearchers from UofL are also working with Eli Lilly and Company in a clinical trial to determine whether its monoclonal antibody treatment, bamlanivimab, can reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities.

Meanwhile, faculty in ±«´Ç´Úł˘â€™s College of łÉČËÖ±˛Ą and Human Development are conducting research to help JCPS school leaders create systems and structures that allow for equitable experiences for students and staff, and UofL and Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) are collaborating on research that will enhance travelers’ experience and airport operations through innovation.Ěý 

This focus on research is reaping plenty of reward as evidenced by UofL-born startup Talaris Therapeutics’ $150 million initial public offering earlier this year. Expect this momentum to continue, as UofL recently opened a new office, called UofL New Ventures, to help launch and grow startup companies built on university research and technologies.

Business and community

Beyond startup support, UofL has proven time and time again that we are dynamically connected to our community as a premier metropolitan university. There were plenty of supporting examples of this connection in 2021. For instance, Kosair Charities granted UofL $6.6 million to support children’s health efforts, including $5.5 million to fund the Kosair Charities Pediatric Neurorecovery Center for another 5 years.

Louisville-based Yum! Brands, one of the largest restaurant companies in the world, partnered with the UofL College of Business to create the Yum! Center for Global Franchise Excellence. The center provides education to future and existing franchising professionals, allowing underrepresented people of color and women to unlock opportunities to create generational wealth.

UofL received a five-year grant totaling $2 million to help minority-owned manufacturing businesses adopt additive manufacturing and 3D printing technology. The Plan Room, a new business accelerator created by OneWest to assist minority-owned construction companies in developing their businesses, began receiving support from the .

Further, UofL and the U.S. Department of Defense’s National Security Innovation Network entered into an agreement that solidifies collaboration among DoD end-users, UofL students and faculty and Metro Louisville’s early-stage venture community.

And, UofL is one of 32 universities nationwide participating in a U.S. Department of Energy program to help manufacturers in the region improve their energy efficiency. UofL will receive $2.2 million of a $60 million investment in the current cohort of DOE Industrial Assessment Centers program.

Student success

Our students have also proved they’re exceptionally resilient this year, creating change, contributing to innovation and generally just kicking some you-know-what. UofL continued its track record as an institution rife with prestigious scholars, for example, generating more Fulbright scholars than all Kentucky public higher education institutions combined.

In addition, the Harry S. Truman Scholarship, awarded to one college junior in Kentucky each year, went to triple-major Lexi Raikes (English, French, political science), who planned to use the $30,000 scholarship to attend Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

Ten students in Professor Chris Reitz’s Art and Activism seminar created the “Promise, Witness, Remembrance” exhibition honoring Breonna Taylor. The exhibition was featured at the Speed Art Museum in the spring.

Two Speed students, Jorge Sanchez and Mercedes Pastor, finished second at an international simulation competition, while music major Benjamin Carter’s “A Winter Night” helped earn him the 2021 Kentucky Music Educators Association Composition Award, and Sophomore Rawan Saleh was recognized as a top 20 under 20 from the Arab American Foundation for her work to end racism.

A UofL student startup aimed at fighting cancer and led by MD/PhD student Jordan Noe  won the inaugural CardStart Innovation competition. The startup is developing a new cell-based therapy for the treatment of aggressive solid tumors.

±«´Ç´Úł˘â€™s Cardinal Battalion Ranger Team finished in the top 10 at the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition. Additionally, nearly 50% of the class earned an “outstanding” ranking at Cadet Summer Training, which means they’re ranked in the top 15% of cadets in the country.

A group of UofL undergraduate students is focused on closing what it calls “the perception gap” through the launch of a new, nonpartisan online magazine. The is modeled after the Harvard Political Review.

A UofL-based Unified Sports basketball team has been selected to represent the state as part of Team Kentucky at the 2022 Special Olympics Games in June. The team combines traditional Special Olympics athletes with teammates who do not have an intellectual disability. It is the first unified team that Special Olympics Kentucky has ever sent to a USA Games.

Our student-athletes achieved a 91% graduation rate this year, matching the Cardinals’ best mark in the Graduation Success Rate report developed 17 years ago by the NCAA. Outside of the classroom, we sent 10 athletes to the Tokyo Olympic Games; Catcher Henry Davis became overall draft pick in the Major League Baseball Draft; our spirit squad won its seventh consecutive national title; and our volleyball team has been ranked No. 1 for much of the season while remaining unbeaten and headed to the Final Four. Further, six of our student-athletes earned a Top 6 for Service award for their community service efforts and our entire athletics department finished second among all Division I NCAA institutions for the Team Works Service Challenge.

Accolades

The accolades certainly didn’t stop on the athletic field. In 2021, UofL was named one of the most “transfer-friendly” schools in the U.S., for example.Ěý

±«´Ç´Úł˘â€™s fully online programs were also acknowledged by U.S. News & World Report to be among some of the top education opportunities for online students in 2021 across the following categories: Online Bachelor’s, Online Bachelor’s Psychology, Online Graduate Criminal Justice, Online Graduate łÉČËÖ±˛Ą and Online Graduate Engineering.Ěý

For the 12th consecutive year, UofL was recognized for its commitment to serving military-connected students by earning “2021-2022 Military Friendly” institution designation. UofL was one of only 29 Carnegie Designated Tier 1 Research institutions in the nation to earn the designation.

And in September, UofL once again held onto its spot as the top-ranked Kentucky college or university in Sierra Magazine’s 15^th Annual “Cool Schools” rankings.

A bright future ahead

If we’re able to accomplish all of this in a global pandemic, imagine what’s next for UofL. The future is undoubtedly bright, particularly as the Belknap Campus continues its transformation and prepares for new residence halls to open soon. Designed with input from student advisors, the halls create a modern experience aimed at helping students achieve success and providing them with a great place to learn.

We’re also positioned well as a great place in which to invest. Raise Some L, ±«´Ç´Úł˘â€™s annual day of giving, drew support this year from a record number of donors, including Cardinal fans in all 50 states for the first time. Together, these donors have pledged to fund education, research and community engagement efforts throughout the university.

And we’ve put in the work to ensure we’re a great place to work. UofL recently launched a new Employee Success Center, providing employees with professional development opportunities, onboarding, mentoring, workshops and other engaging initiatives and programs.

Bendapudi announced Dec. 9 that she was leaving to take the same role at Penn State University. Provost Lori Gonzalez has been named interim president, while Josh Heird has been named interim athletic director. We are starting the new year with new leadership and with that comes new opportunities. And, as we’ve especially proven these past two years, nothing can stop us.

This decision is based on the CDC’s recommendation for areas with substantial and high levels of transmission to begin masking again, regardless of vaccination status. The decision has been vetted by university health experts and multiple campus committees and groups who have been helping to shape the university’s COVID-19 response plans since the beginning of the pandemic.

What we know  

Jefferson County has been identified as an area with a substantial level of transmission and our county has a low level of vaccinated individuals. Based on the Kentucky immunization registry, we know that at least 30% of students and 67.7% of faculty and staff are fully vaccinated. Campus Health does not have access to out-of-state vaccination records. Please to upload yours if you were vaccinated outside of Kentucky.

Our HSC students and our student-athletes are leading the way with increasing our student vaccination rate; 85% of our student-athletes and 82% of our dentistry students are already vaccinated.

Get vaccinated, help us reach 80%

It’s simple and easy to . All three of the vaccines available in the United States are safe and effective and are approved for use by the Food and Drug Association. Unless the CDC changes its recommendation, we plan to suspend our mask requirement when we reach an 80% vaccination rate in both our student and employee populations.Ěý

A vaccination dashboard will be available soon as a tab on the current and we will send out updates throughout the semester via UofL Today on what the current vaccination rates are.Ěý

Guidance and reminders for fall

Our fall guidance and protocols are being updated on the university . Visit the Faculty tab, Employees tab, and FAQs for classroom and procedural guidance. Here are the highlights: 

• All university members are required to mask in public, indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status. Public, indoor spaces are defined as any space inside a campus building that is not considered a private room or private office. Indoor classrooms, academic labs, common areas, libraries, hallways, elevators and restrooms are all considered public spaces that are subject to the mask requirement.  
• Testing is required for unvaccinated university members starting Aug. 17. For the full testing schedule, visit the section of the COVID-19 website. Vaccinated university members are welcome to sign up for testing if they choose.Ěý  
• Faculty guidance for classrooms this semester is posted on the of the COVID-19 website. Visit this site for information on classroom procedures, attendance expectations and more.Ěý
• Staff should continue following their department’s Return to Campus Plan and review HR’s site for policies and questions.Ěý 
• New COVID-19 Training Awareness videos are being finalized. In coming weeks, Campus Health will send out instructions for how to complete this year’s trainings.Ěý 
• If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, you should: stay home, notify your supervisor, notify Campus Health and contact your medical provider.Ěý 
• Our contact tracing team of dedicated university health professionals will continue to trace, notify, and properly advise any individuals who may have been exposed to a positive COVID-19 person. See the of the COVID-19 website for more details about exposure, isolation and quarantine.Ěý
• Physical Plant will continue conducting cleaning and disinfection of frequently occupied spaces and frequently touched surfaces, in accordance with CDC guidelines.Ěý
• If you have questions or concerns, review the updated or contact the . This team keeps us regularly informed.

Our university health experts and committees will continue to meet frequently as we closely monitor this daily evolving situation, and we will be ready to make changes to our plans and protocols should that become necessary. Please do your part and get vaccinated as soon as possible. Increasing our campus-wide vaccination rate is our best defense against the virus and its variants. The quicker we increase our vaccination rates, the quicker we can ease our restrictions.Ěý 

If you are fully vaccinated

• You no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance on campus in most settings.
• Be mindful of the specific requirements that still apply with public transportation and health care settings on campus, regardless of vaccination status. For example, Cardinals who wish to use the TARC shuttle services or health care facilities on our campuses will still need to wear a mask. Those settings are still required to abide by the state’s and the Kentucky Health Department’s masking standards, regardless of vaccination status.
• For the foreseeable future, you should continue to carry a mask with you in case you interact with university affiliates, health care facilities or other vendors that have mask requirements in place.

If you are not fully vaccinated

• Continue to wear a mask and practice physical distancing in all public, indoor settings on campus.
• . There are numerous, convenient locations available in our area and beyond.
• Remember, the vaccines are safe and effective. They are among our greatest tools for fighting the pandemic and protecting ourselves, each other and our loved ones.

Vaccine strongly encouraged, not required

At this time, we do not plan to require vaccinations for students or employees this summer or fall. We do strongly encourage all Cardinals to get vaccinated. If you have questions about the vaccine, visit the or review our for answers to frequent questions such as “Will I need a booster dose?” “Do I have to quarantine following an exposure if I’m fully vaccinated?” and more.Ěý

Thank you, again, for your continued patience as we respond to changes in CDC and state guidelines. We will continue to keep you regularly updated and remember; in addition to reviewing our FAQs, you can speak with a helpful member of our when you have questions or concerns.Ěý

Researchers at the University of Louisville are developing a new vaccine for lung cancer that’s stable and scalable, in addition proving as much as 80 to 100% effective at preventing certain tumor growth in mouse models.

Prevention is key because, while conventional treatments and therapies may kill most of the cancer, a small percentage of cells are resistant. Those are cancer stem cells, which have the ability to reproduce and sustain the cancer.

“Those cells sit there, and they have the capability of regrowing the entire tumor by themselves,” said co-inventor and assistant professor of medicine, Dr. Kavitha Yaddanapudi.

A vaccine sidesteps those cells by helping the body build immunity to cancer before it develops. So far, the UofL vaccine has been tested against lung cancer and melanoma in mice, and 80 to 100% of the vaccinated mice used in each animal trial were cancer free when compared to the non-vaccinated control group.

The research team hopes to develop the vaccine to be effective against all cancer types and is now working toward human trials. They’re working with the UofL to protect and commercialize the intellectual property.

The vaccine contains vesicles isolated from embryonic stem cells, an idea inspired by  who have had multiple children seem to be less likely to develop cancer.

“That brought up the idea that cancer cells and embryonic cells were pretty similar,” said co-inventor Dr. John Eaton, a professor emeritus in medicine, pharmacology and toxicology at UofL. “And it turns out that’s true.”

Through development, the team was able to streamline the vaccine, giving it a longer shelf life, more stability, and making it easy to make in large quantities.

“We tried to simplify, simplify, simplify,” said co-inventor and an associate professor of medicine, Dr. Chi Li.

The research to now has been primarily backed by $325,000 in grant funding from the National Institutes of Health. They’re now looking for funding to support additional research and development.

Check out more about the trials in the video below: 

Listen to the team’s.