Monkeypox virus

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 1, 2022) — Monkeypox has exploded into the news recently, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) closely tracking cases that have been recently reported in several countries that don’t normally have monkeypox activity, including the U.S.

Research from the lab of Ilhem Messaoudi (right) suggests asymptomatic COVID-19 could still cause adverse pregnancy outcomes.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 31, 2022) — According to a new University of Kentucky College of Medicine study, asymptomatic COVID-19 infection during pregnancy could still have potential long-term consequences for a developing baby.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 18, 2022) — The COVID-19 pandemic put a spotlight on the immune system, revealing there is still much about how it functions that is not well understood: Why do some people get severe disease and others don’t? And why can certain factors like age, or comorbidities like obesity, cause the immune system to go haywire?

University of Kentucky College of Medicine researcher Ilhem Messaoudi, Ph.D., has dedicated her career to answering these questions.

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The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is pleased to announce the faculty, staff, and learner winners of the inaugural Mission, Vision, Pillar, and Enabler Awards.

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EXINGTON, Ky. (March 11, 2022) — A small black lump, about an inch or so in width, rests­ on the bottom of a sealed plastic container. It doesn’t look like much ­­– in fact, it doesn’t look like anything. But this little black lump has untold potential, full of secrets for the researchers at Kentucky Research Alliance for Lung Disease (K-RALD) to discover about the pandemic that has ravaged the world for more than two years.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 4, 2022) — Although most cases of Lyme disease can be cured with a two-to-four-week course of antibiotics, some patients still experience lingering, debilitating effects of the disease months after they finish treatment.

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Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics is pleased to welcome Dr. Saikat Boliar from Cornell University, an MIMG Faculty Recruitment Candidate in Virology. His Seminar titled: “Role of lncRNAs in HIV-1 Persistence: New Targets for Therapy” will take place on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 in MN463 at 11:00 am. This seminar will also be live streamed via Zoom for those who wish to attend virtually: https://uky.zoom.us/j/85716255311
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Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics is pleased to welcome Dr. Nir Drayman from University of Chicago, an MIMG Faculty Recruitment Candidate in Virology. His Seminar titled: “Single Cell Virology and Drug Repurposing Efforts against SARS-CoV-2” will take place on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 in MN463 at 11:00 am. This seminar will also be live streamed via Zoom for those who wish to attend virtually: https://uky.zoom.us/j/83417117057
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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 13, 2022) — The University of Kentucky is participating in a nationwide study that seeks to understand why some people have prolonged symptoms (long COVID) or develop new or returning symptoms after an acute bout of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics is pleased to welcome Dr. Jay Vornhagen from University of Michigan, an MIMG Faculty Recruitment Candidate in Microbiome. His Seminar titled Consternation over colonization: Klebsiella pneumoniae in the gut will take place on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 in MN263 at 10:00 am. This seminar will also be live streamed via Zoom for those who wish to attend virtually. https://uky.zoom.us/j/82543019076
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Grant writing is a competitive process. Without the proper resources, staff, or expertise, faculty may struggle in gathering key funding that could benefit future research projects, and ultimately, promote innovative health discoveries.

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Dr. William Hudson from Emory University, an MIMG Faculty Recruitment Candidate in Tumor Immunology. Will be giving a Seminar, titled CD8 T cell exhaustion in human brain metastases on Wednesday December 1, 2021 at the Karpf Auditorium at 10am. This seminar will also be live streamed via Zoom for those who wish to attend virtually. https://uky.zoom.us/j/89949749015
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MIMG hosted (via Zoom) the Fall 2021 meeting of the KY-TN American Society for Microbiology Branch on November 5-6, 2021. Assistant Professor Erin Garcia and Associate Professor Sarah D’Orazio served as Co-Directors of the virtual conference. The meeting featured Keynote Seminars by two American Society for Microbiology Distinguished Lecturers. Dr. Kimberlee Musser (Lab Director, New York State Public Health Wadsworth Center David Axelrod Institute) gave a presentation entitled “Inside a Legionnaire’s Disease Outbreak Investigation” and Dr.
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The University of Kentucky College of Medicine recently welcomed Ilhem Messaoudi, PhD, as the new chair of microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics. She shares more about her work to better understand viruses and the wide range of factors affecting the immune system. She also shares how her research career led her to UK.

Q: Why did you pursue a career in research?

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Dr. Sarah D'Orazio received an Academy of Medical Educator Excellence in Medical Education Awards in Development as well as an Academy of Medical Educator Excellence in Medical Education Awards in Innovation. Dr. Brian Higgins received the First Year Distinguished Teaching Award (awarded by class of 2024) and the Second Year Distinguished Teaching Award (awarded by Class of 2023). Dr. Zach Porterfield and Dr. Subba Bondada were nominated by their trainees and recognized as Outstanding Mentors by the Office of Biomedical Education.
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The University of Kentucky College of Medicine has received the 2021 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.

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Brian Higgins, PhD, has been named one of the few medical educators across the world selected for this year’s prestigious Harvard Macy Institute Program for Educators in Health Professions.

Through the annual Harvard program, Dr. Higgins will learn evidence-based teaching strategies, tips for effective curriculum design, leadership styles, and other skills that will be useful not only for his own teaching, but for the University of Kentucky College of Medicine as a whole.

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Gabi Pugh in the Nikolajczyk Lab has received a 2-year training award from the UK Center for Clinical and Translational Science TL1 Training Program. In addition to her graduate student stipend, the grant provides partial tuition and fees to offset the cost of Gabi's graduate studies and up to $1300 for travel expenses to the annual ACTS meeting. Congratulations on your accomplishment, Gabi!
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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 20, 2021) — At a time when incidence of Lyme disease is rising across the U.S., a study led by University of Kentucky College of Medicine researcher Brian Stevenson, Ph.D., may provide a significant impact in the fight against the disease.

A new study will build upon Stevenson's three decades of research aimed at understanding Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

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As summer camp season wraps up and a new school year begins, this “Research Made Possible” podcast shares how University of Kentucky researchers across campus are targeting science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.