David Feola: 2025-26 University Research Professor Q&A

UKNow is highlighting the University of Kentucky’s 2025-26 University Research Professors. Established by the Board of Trustees in 1976, the professorship program recognizes excellence across the full spectrum of research at UK and is sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Research.  

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 24, 2025) — David Feola, Pharm.D., Ph.D., professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science in the UK College of Pharmacy, has been honored as a 2025-26 University Research Professor.

Feola completed residencies in pharmacy practice and infectious diseases pharmacotherapy. His research focuses on using macrophages — a type of immune cell that fights bacteria and viruses — to impact diseases where inflammation affects the body.

His primary focus has been bacterial pneumonia, but at UK, Feola’s studies have expanded to include heart attacks and spinal cord injuries. His team’s work on heart attacks has led to new, patented drug formulations paving the way for potential novel therapies to treat patients.

Feola joined the faculty at UK in 2005. Since 2016, he has served as the director of graduate studies for the Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program, which trains the next generation of pharmaceutical scientists across five specialty areas.

Feola is also involved with the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and his leadership has helped create new graduate education initiatives.

Feola spoke with UKNow about his latest honor as a University Research Professor in this Q&A.

UKNow: What does it mean to you to be recognized as a University Research Professor?

Feola: It is quite an honor to be named a University Research Professor. Any success that I have had is really a testament to my training, which I received here at UK, my amazing collaborators at the College of Pharmacy and across our university, and the incredible support given to us that makes research programs at UK thrive.

UKNow: How will the professorships program advance your research?

Feola: The recognition has given me confidence, and the financial support will provide a unique source of funding that will allow me to support my research in ways that other funds cannot, including supporting trainees as they grow in our program.

UKNow: What inspired your focus on this area of research?

Feola: I have always found the immune system the most fascinating component of human biology. Immune cells play a role in almost every disease that impacts us. My start was in infectious diseases pharmacotherapy, which led me to become interested in how the immune response can be regulated so that inflammation-driven tissue damage could be decreased.

UKNow: How does your research impact Kentucky?

Feola: Our team has formed a company and is attempting to develop a drug formulation that would reverse part of the damaging inflammation that occurs after a heart attack. If we are successful, this therapy could significantly decrease the amount of heart tissue that is affected, thereby decreasing the severity of heart failure later in life for Kentuckians who are impacted by heart disease.

About the University Research Professors
Each year, the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees approves a cohort of faculty as University Research Professors. The distinction recognizes excellence in work that addresses scientific, social, cultural and economic challenges in Kentucky and the world.

College leadership developed criteria for excellence within their area of expertise and then nominated faculty who excelled at these criteria. Each University Research Professor receives a one-year award of $10,000.