The National Institutes of Health (NIH) support research at the University of Kentucky in a variety of ways — from individual grants to supports for centers and graduate students. Acting Vice President for Research Ilhem Messaoudi offers a breakdown of this support as part of a recent video campaign from Research Communications.
Greg Jicha, M.D., Ph.D., is supported by the NIH’s National Institute on Aging, which leads research on aging, the aging process and diseases and conditions associated with growing older, in order to extend the healthy, active years of life.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 28, 2025) — The University of Kentucky plays a critical role in advancing the health, well-being and future of the Commonwealth through impactful research. As Kentucky’s flagship, land-grant institution, UK focuses its resources, expertise and key partnerships to address the challenges facing our state to improve the quality of life for Kentuckians.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 24, 2025) — A comprehensive new review by researchers at the University of Kentucky sheds light on the intricate and damaging relationship between obesity and kidney disease. The review, recently published in the prestigious Nature Reviews Nephrology, details the multiple ways in which excess fat tissue disrupts kidney function and even triggers changes in the brain that further exacerbate renal damage. Conversely, when the kidneys aren’t working properly, that can also affect adipose tissue (or body fat).
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 22, 2025) – The University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center has enrolled its 10,000th patient in the Oncology Research Information Exchange Network (ORIEN) since joining the alliance in 2017. ORIEN is a national consortium of 19 leading cancer centers that collaborate by sharing anonymized patient data and tissue samples through the Total Cancer Care® (TCC) protocol. This comprehensive approach follows consented patients throughout their lifetime, allowing researchers to develop more targeted treatments and anticipate changes in patients’ conditions.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 16, 2025) — Researchers at the University of Kentucky have introduced a novel microscopy technique that could revolutionize cancer research by providing an accessible, cost-effective way to study how cancer cells adapt to treatments. The National Institutes of Health-funded study, published in Biophotonics Discovery and featured on that publication’s cover, underscores its importance and potential impact on the field of oncology. It also highlights a significant advancement in understanding treatment resistance at the single-cell level.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 10, 2025) — A team of University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center researchers have found the mechanism that grants prostate cancer resistance to enzalutamide, a frequently used drug. The article was published this month in Science Signaling, a journal from the American Association for the Advancement of Science that showcases research focused on mechanisms of cell communication and regulation.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 17, 2025) — As March Madness sweeps the nation and college basketball takes center stage, a former coach’s journey off the court is proving just as inspiring as any Cinderella story on the hardwood. Billy Kennedy, former head coach of Texas A&M, has spent his career developing game plans, mentoring players, and leading teams through the highs and lows of competition. But in 2011, he faced an unexpected opponent — Parkinson’s disease.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 13, 2025) — The University of Kentucky Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging is celebrating 40 years of groundbreaking research in the fight against dementia. From its origins in 1985 as one of the first 10 NIH-funded Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers, the center has grown into a national leader, fueled by a strong partnership with the community and a commitment to scientific innovation. It all began with a $1 million donation, backed by former Kentucky Gov. John Y. Brown Jr. and the family of Col. Harland Sanders, laying the foundation for what has become a powerhouse in dementia research.
