The Kentucky Health Education Rural Outreach Scientists (KY - H.E.R.O.S.), funded by a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), National Institutes of Health (NIH), was created by the Louisville Science Center in partnership with local scientists from the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky.

The KY - H.E.R.O.S. program showcases biomedical researchers, who perform work that ultimately touches the life of every citizen in Kentucky. Spinal cord injuries, Parkinson's disease, organ transplants, heart disease, cancer, obesity and gum disease are a few of the "villains" the KY - H.E.R.O.S. battle.

Educational programming based on the scientists' research fields is presented to Science Center visitors in the BioLab and to rural teachers and school groups through our distance learning programs. Rotating exhibits in the Breakthrough Gallery display information about the scientists, their research and science topics related to their field of study. These scientists also make frequent appearances to groups at the Science Center to educate the public about their area of research.

Since 2001 when the Science Center received this award, over 49,632 persons have participated in BioLabs, demonstrations and professional development programs, over 4,995 persons have participated in Distance Learning programs and over 972,476 persons have seen the KY - H.E.R.O.S. exhibit in the Breakthrough Gallery.

Featured Kentucky H.E.R.O.S.
2005-2007

• Denis Kinane, B.D.S., Ph.D., F.D.S., R.C.P.S, F.D.S., R.C.S.
  from the University of Louisville Dental School
  Research Area: Gum disease and its relation to systemic disease
• Jody Clasey, Ph.D. of the University of Kentucky and Kent Adams, Ph.D. of the University of Louisville
  Research Area: Obesity
• Henry Kaplan, M.D.
  of the Kentucky Lions Eye Center at the University of Louisville
  Research Area: Macular degeneration 

2003-2005

• Greg Gerhardt, Ph.D.
  of the Center for Sensor Technology at the University of Kentucky
  Research Area: Parkinson's Disease and Brain Mapping
• Scott Whittemore, Ph.D. and Christopher Shields, M.D.
  of the Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center at the University of Louisville
  Research Area: Spinal Cord Injury
• Donald Miller, M.D., Ph.D.
  of the James Graham Brown Cancer Center at the University of Louisville
  Research Area: Cancer

2001-2003

• Suzanne Ildstad, M.D.
  of the Institute for Cellular Therapeutics at the University of Louisville
  Research Area: Immunology
• Laman Gray, M.D. and Robert Dowling, M.D.
  of Jewish Hospital
  Research Area: Cardiovascular
• Adam Matheny, Ph.D.
  of the Louisville Twin Study at the University of Louisville
  Research Area: Genetics

BioLab Advisory Committee

The KY - H.E.R.O.S. Program is governed by the BioLab Advisory Committee. One-third of the committee is comprised of NIH-funded Principle Investigators with research interests in fields such as ophthalmology, genetics, cardiology and molecular biology. Educators who participate are from a broad range of grade levels from kindergarten to grade 12 through post-graduate. Representatives of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health Services specializing in adult and child health and epidemiology bring public health expertise to the committee. The Jefferson County Health Department and Jefferson County Medical Society are also represented. 

This committee is responsible for choosing the KY - H.E.R.O.S. teams, providing content suggestions, reviewing proposals, reviewing the formal evaluations of the exhibits and educational programs and making recommendations to the Science Center for updates accordingly. 

The members of the BioLab Advisory Committee are as follows:

• Michael Auslander, D.V.M.
• Patricia A. Calico, Ph.D.
• Bonnie Ciarroccki
• Richard D. Clover, M.D.
• Robert D. Dowling, M.D.
• Pamela W. Feldhoff, Ph.D.
• Laman A. Gray Jr., M.D.
• Stuart Horowitz, Ph.D.
• Suzanne T. Ildstad, M.D.
• Irving Joshua, Ph.D.
• Beth MacCracken
• Barbara J. McLaughlin, Ph.D.
• Phyllis A. Skonicki
• David L. Wiegman, Ph.D.
• Carolyn A. Williams, Ph.D.
• Kathryn M. Mershon, M.S.N., R.N., C.N.A.A., F.A.A.N, Emeritus Member

       

The Kentucky Health Education Rural Outreach Scientists (KY - H.E.R.O.S.) program is supported by a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) from the National Center of Research Resources (NCRR) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Breakthrough Gallery, BioLabs and health science Distance Learning labs are components of the KY - H.E.R.O.S. educational programming.