The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Research Institute’s Center for Urban Informatics and Progress has secured a $500,000 grant to lead two innovative transportation safety projects, further solidifying the city’s role as a national leader in smart mobility and urban innovation.
The grant, awarded through the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD)’s Transportation Network Growth Opportunity (TNGO) program, will fund two technology-driven initiatives aimed at improving traffic safety and pedestrian mobility in Chattanooga.
One project, developed in collaboration with global automotive technology leader DENSO, will use artificial intelligence to both predict potential vehicle collisions and detect accidents in real time. By leveraging AI-powered analytics, the system will provide early warnings to help prevent crashes and improve emergency response time when accidents occur.
The second initiative, in partnership with LG CNS, will bring the country’s first smart crosswalk system to Chattanooga. This system will use real-time sensors and AI technology to extend pedestrian signal times and increase visibility at crosswalks – especially for vulnerable populations such as children, seniors and people with disabilities. The goal is to reduce accidents and make urban navigation safer and more equitable.
University and state leaders hail the announcement as another milestone in Tennessee’s growing status as a hub for research and innovation.
The TNGO initiative was created by the Tennessee General Assembly to support transportation and mobility-related research and development by fostering partnerships between higher education institutions and industry. Administered by TNECD, the program has already backed nine collaborative projects across the state, including the two CUIP-led efforts announced this week.
UT System President Randy Boyd emphasizes the importance of university-industry collaboration in advancing technological innovation and economic development.
“Growing university and industry collaboration is a top priority across the UT System, and why we worked to advocate strongly for the creation of TNGO,” Boyd says. “Our recipients – UT Chattanooga and UT Knoxville – are partnering with global Tennessee brands to discover and create new technologies, underscoring our commitment to help make Tennessee the top state for research and development, engineering and innovation.”
The new funding builds on a series of multimillion-dollar federal and state investments in CUIP’s work. In 2023, CUIP was awarded $1.1 million by the Federal Highway Administration to improve pedestrian and cyclist detection along Chattanooga’s Smart City Corridor using thermal imaging and sensor fusion technologies.
In another major boost last year, CUIP and the City of Chattanooga received a $2 million SMART grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to deploy Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything and Intelligent Transportation Systems at high-risk mid-block crossings. These projects aim to enhance pedestrian safety and guide infrastructure improvements across the city.
With continued investment from both the public and private sectors, Chattanooga is becoming a national testbed for next-generation urban mobility solutions, offering not only improved safety but also a significant economic and technological advantage for the region.
CHI opens cardiac amyloidosis care center
The Chattanooga Heart Institute (CHI) has opened the Martin Cardiac Amyloidosis Center of Excellence, the region’s first dedicated facility for the diagnosis, treatment and management of cardiac amyloidosis. The new facility is named in honor of Dr. Henry Cheng, who also serves as the center’s director.
Cardiac amyloidosis is a rare but serious disease caused by the buildup of abnormal protein deposits – called amyloid – in the heart tissue. These deposits interfere with the heart’s ability to function properly and often leading to heart failure if left untreated.
Due to its slow progression and vague symptoms, which often resemble those of more common conditions such as arthritis or general fatigue, the disease is frequently undiagnosed or misdiagnosed until its later stages.
The Martin Cardiac Amyloidosis Center aims to tackle this problem head-on by increasing awareness, promoting early detection and offering the latest in diagnostic and treatment strategies.
“Early detection of cardiac amyloidosis significantly improves outcomes,” says Cheng. “By identifying the disease in its early stages, we can implement treatment strategies to slow its progression and prevent further damage to the heart.”
To achieve this, the center is equipped with advanced diagnostic tools, including the Technetium-99m Pyrophosphate scan – a specialized nuclear imaging technique that detects amyloid protein deposits in the heart.
The center also provides genetic testing for patients and their families, helping identify hereditary forms of the disease and enabling earlier intervention.
In addition to its diagnostic capabilities, the center will offer treatments designed to manage symptoms and slow disease progression. While there is currently no cure for cardiac amyloidosis, medications such as oral stabilizers and injectable therapies that suppress protein production in the liver can significantly improve a patient’s quality of life and overall prognosis.
The opening of the Martin Cardiac Amyloidosis Center was made possible through a significant philanthropic effort. A $2.5 million gift from Robert Martin was the cornerstone of the project, with additional funding from The Kennedy Family Foundation, which contributed $1 million, along with several other donors who made five- and six-figure contributions.
The center is one of six major initiatives being funded through CHI Memorial Foundation’s ongoing Invest in the Best capital campaign, a $21 million effort to enhance health care services across the region. The campaign focuses on five key areas: cardiac care, emergency services, interventional pulmonology, stroke and neuroscience, and oncology.