The University of Kentucky College of Medicine continues to solidify its reputation as a hub for groundbreaking biomedical research. In December, the UK CNS-Met (central nervous system-metabolism) Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE), a program funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), hosted its inaugural research symposium.
The event was organized by Lance Johnson, PhD (Physiology and the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging), Shannon Macauley, PhD (Physiology, Neuroscience, and the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging), and CNS-Met COBRE director, Patrick Sullivan, PhD (Neuroscience and the Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center).
This symposium showcased the university’s robust research efforts in this discipline, and brought together a dynamic community of scientists dedicated to understanding and addressing the metabolic underpinnings of neurological diseases. The event drew more than 100 registrants from 10 universities and 18 UK departments and centers. UK trainees were also notably present and engaged at the symposium, with graduate students and postdoctoral scholars from 17 different UK labs presenting research posters, and over 40 trainees in attendance.
Roberta Brinton, PhD, director of the Center for Innovation in Brain Science at the University of Arizona Health Sciences delivered the event’s keynote address. Dr. Brinton’s presentation on the effects of menopause on brain metabolism and cognition resonated deeply with the symposium’s theme, underscoring the importance of metabolic health across the lifespan.
A standout feature of the symposium was the inclusion of ATP Scholars, a cohort of early-career CNS-Met researchers from institutions across the U.S. These scholars, including Drs. Martina Chiacchiaretta (Tufts University, Boston, MA), Juan Pablo Palavicini (University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX), Shubham Singh (Memorial Sloan Kettering, New York, New York), and Ana-Caroline Raulin (Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL) brought fresh perspectives and innovative research programs to the event, addressing topics such as lipid metabolism, sleep, and Alzheimer’s disease.
The symposium also highlighted the accomplishments of CNS-Met COBRE’s early-career Research Project Leaders, who are junior investigators conducting cutting-edge studies on topics ranging from neurodegenerative diseases and traumatic brain injury to movement disorders and infection. Current RPLs include Brad Hubbard, PhD, (Physiology), Maj-Linda Selenica, PhD, (Biochemistry; Sanders Brown), Tritia Yamasaki, PhD, (Neurology), and Amelia Pinto, PhD (Microbiology & Immunology). These four junior investigators updated attendees on the newest developments in their respective research programs.
The symposium marked the beginning of what is poised to become a signature annual event at UK, fostering continued collaboration and attracting promising researchers to the university.
“Our inaugural symposium was a resounding success,” noted Dr. Macauley. “The breadth of collaborative, cutting edge research on brain metabolism and neurodegenerative diseases was inspiring.”
As the CNS-Met COBRE progresses, its goals of advancing research, mentoring early-career scientists, and creating a sustainable framework for collaborative research will undoubtedly position UK as a leader in the field. More importantly, it will continue to nurture the problem-solvers of tomorrow, ensuring that breakthroughs in science and medicine pave the way for healthier, brighter futures.
