The UAB Strategic Investment Fund committee has announced its 2025 awardees.
The SIF backs interdisciplinary projects — designed and led by UAB faculty and staff — that bring together multiple colleges, schools or programs and align with the university's strategic plan, Forging Ahead. This year’s SIF project awardees are:
- UAB eSports Initiative
- BLADE – Blazer Launchpad for Advanced Design and Engineering
- Makerspace for Research and Education in Arts, Sciences and Engineering
SIF funding will continue for these multi-year projects, which were selected during the 2024 award cycle:
- Developing a “Data-Driven Decision-Making” Environment at UAB
- Empowered Care Forging Ahead in Health and Wellness for Individuals With Disabilities
- Forging Ahead Through Sustainability at UAB
- Live HealthSmart Alabama
- Rural Reach Mobile Health for Maternal and Child Care
- Seed Funding To Establish the Alabama Public Service Training Initiative
- UAB Multidisciplinary Driving Simulator Lab
This year’s SIF committee includes Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Janet Woodruff-Borden, Ph.D. (co-chair); Senior Vice President for Advancement and Strategic Initiatives Tom Brannan (co-chair); Vice President for Research Chris Brown, Ph.D.; Professor and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Kecia Thomas, Ph.D.; and Professor in the School of Dentistry and Chair of the Faculty Senate Dan Givans, Ph.D.
UAB eSports Initiative
The UAB eSports Initiative funds the establishment of two eSports facilities: a recreational gaming space in the UAB Campus Recreation Center and an instructional/research lab in the Education and Engineering Complex. The projects are supported by leaders from the School of Education and Human Sciences, Collat School of Business, and College of Arts and Sciences, as well as the Office of Enrollment and Student Success and Student Affairs.
Supporting the new academic program in the SEHS — eSports Performance Management and Coaching — as well as interdisciplinary research, recreation and student wellness, the new facilities offer a range of activities in competitive gameplay and team performance. According to project leaders, “these spaces will support recruitment, retention and belongingness while enabling interdisciplinary research in AI, human performance and digital media. This initiative supports student recruitment and retention across UAB in an increasingly competitive market.”
BLADE – Blazer Launchpad for Advanced Design and Engineering
Blazer Launchpad for Advanced Design and Engineering, or BLADE, aims to formalize a rapid innovation pipeline by bridging the gap between clinical/research ideas and engineered solutions. Partnering with UAB’s Engineering and Innovative Technology Development group, BLADE will accelerate the translation of discoveries into commercial products.
This initiative has support from leaders in the School of Engineering, the Heersink School of Medicine, the UAB Health System, and the Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
According to project leaders, “by transforming novel concepts into functional prototypes, BLADE will significantly enhance UAB’s intellectual property portfolio, catalyze startup formation and drive economic growth, directly advancing the Forging Ahead strategic plan.”
Makerspace for Research and Education in Arts, Sciences and Engineering
Makerspace for Research and Education in Arts, Sciences and Engineering allows for the enhancement of 3D printing and additive manufacturing of advanced materials in the recently completed Science and Engineering Complex.
The funding will support the acquisition of a 3D metal printer to strengthen UAB’s Center for Additively Manufactured Complex Systems under Extremes, known as CAMCSE, and catalyze new educational initiatives. The undergraduate courses supported by this facility would include Digital Design Foundation and New Media and Sculpture Series (Art and Art History), Senior Design and Manufacturing Processes (Mechanical and Materials Engineering), and Nanoscale Science and Applications and Instrumentation for Scientists (Physics).
Project leadership includes leaders from the School of Engineering, the College of Arts and Sciences, and several centers across UAB.
“The Strategic Investment Fund builds on the strong collaborative spirit we have here at UAB, enabling faculty, staff and students to go even further in supporting our mission,” said Janet Woodruff-Borden, Ph.D., senior vice president for Academic Affairs and provost. “This year, project leaders are transforming learning environments and accelerating groundbreaking discoveries. I look forward to seeing their impact on our strategic path forward.”
Edited by Toree Billingsley