Chris Richards: 2025-26 University Research Professor Q&A
Chris Richards, Ph.D., has been honored as a 2025-26 University Research Professor.
Richards is a professor in the Department of Chemistry in the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences. He also serves as the director of the Light Microscopy Core and the director of the Bioelectronics and Nanomedicine Research Center.
Richards’ lab develops novel nanoscale biomaterials that can be used to deliver treatments and monitor activity inside the brain. The lab focuses on creating advanced ways to use light to study how molecules behave, both in groups and one at a time, to better understand how complex biological systems work. Richards has recently applied this approach to study substance use disorders and develop therapeutic delivery platforms for cancer and spinal cord injury.
Richards is currently principal investigator on a National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) project that uses single-molecule tools to study how brain cells communicate. He is also a co-investigator on another NIGMS-funded project that seeks to unravel the dynamics of dysfunction associated with Cytochrome P450 enzyme disease, a rare, inherited disorder affecting hormone production.
Richards joined UK in 2012. He 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?
Richards: Receiving this professorship is a great honor. It really provides recognition for the work that my lab has done over the last decade. I appreciate the support from the chemistry department and the College of Arts and Sciences, particularly Dean Franco-Watkins and Associate Dean Meier.
UKNow: How will the professorships program advance your research?
Richards: This program will help to advance a project that focuses on novel therapeutics for cancer treatment. We have some interesting ideas centered around using bacteria as therapeutics. The professorship will not only allow us to focus resources on developing this idea, but it will increase the visibility of our research.
UKNow: What inspired your focus on this area of research?
Richards: In graduate school, my research focused on photophysical measurements of fluorescent nanoparticles which gave me great technical training but it didn’t include any biomedical research. Then I took a position as a postdoc in a neuroscience lab where I was exposed to a whole new world of research. Through this experience, I saw an opportunity to apply the analytical techniques from my Ph.D. to provide insight into complex biological problems. That has been the primary driver of my research at UK.
UKNow: How does your research impact Kentucky?
Richards: Much of my research focuses on projects directly related to health disparities in Kentucky including our work that focuses on understanding the neurophysiological mechanisms driving tobacco use and our work on developing cancer therapeutics. Additionally, graduate and undergraduate researchers in my group also receive training in a variety of technical skills preparing them to enter the workforce in Kentucky.
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.
