The University of Louisville Research Foundation (ULRF), Inc. is a non-profit corporation affiliated with the University of Louisville and incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky for the performance of charitable, educational, and scientific purposes including carrying out and supporting projects relating to the educational, scientific, literary, artistic, health care, and public service missions of UofL.

The ULRF was created to:

• Promote, encourage, facilitate, foster and develop such projects and activities for the benefit of students, faculty, staff and trustees of the University of Louisville and the state as a whole;
• Foster the transfer and development of technology, patents, and research information useful to the public by means of publication, commercialization, licensing, cooperative agreements and other arrangements designed to bring new and useful ideas to the marketplace; and to
• Obtain and administer grants, contracts and gifts in support of research, educational and public service activities, directly or as intermediary or fiscal agent for the University of Louisville or related organizations.

The ULRF is governed by a Board of Directors composed of the members of the Board of Trustees of the University of Louisville, the term of each director being coterminous with service as a trustee.  The officers of the ULRF are a Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary.  Additionally, the president of the university serves as Chief Executive Officer of the ULRF; and the chief financial officer, chief academic officer, and chief research officer of UofL serve as Vice Presidents of the foundation.  See ULRF bylaws.