Impact of Biomedical Research

Research Advancing Kentucky: Finding affordable diabetes solutions

Kaval Chhabra, Ph.D., is supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Chhabra is an associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences in the UK College of Medicine and is affiliated with the Barnstable Brown Diabetes and Obesity Research Center. 

Research Advancing Kentucky: Propelling the science behind cancer care

B. Mark Evers, M.D., is the director of the UK's Markey Cancer Center, physician in chief of oncology service and a professor of surgery in the UK College of Medicine. Markey is 1 of only 72 National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the country. It’s the first and only center in Kentucky to achieve this designation. 

Research Advancing Kentucky: Providing crucial supports for researchers

Katherine Hartmann, M.D., Ph.D., is the director of the UK Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) and a professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the UK College of Medicine. CCTS’ goal is to deliver solutions for researchers across UK’s 16 colleges and UK HealthCare. It is currently funded by a prestigious award from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). 

Research Advancing Kentucky: Transforming aging and brain

Linda Van Eldik, Ph.D., is the director of the UK Sanders-Brown Center on Aging and a professor of neurology in the UK College of Medicine. An integral part of Sanders-Brown is the UK Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) — one of the original 10 centers funded by the NIH’s National Institute on Aging (NIA).  

Research Advancing Kentucky: Providing hope to pediatric cancer patients

John D’Orazio, M.D., Ph.D., is supported by the NIH’s National Cancer Institute, National Institute of General Medical Sciences and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. D’Orazio is a professor in the Department of Pediatrics in the UK College of Medicine and holds joint faculty positions in physiology, pharmacology and nutritional sciences, and toxicology. He is also the chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology – Pediatric at Kentucky Children’s Hospital.  

Research Advancing Kentucky: Restoring movement to those with spinal cord injuries

John Gensel, Ph.D., is supported by the NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Drug Abuse, and National Institute of General Medical Sciences.  

How NIH funding supports resources for UK researchers

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. 

Research Advancing Kentucky: Preserving the golden years

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. 

Research advancing Kentucky: How NIH-funded discoveries drive UK’s impact

UK study highlights harmful connection between obesity, kidney disease

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).