Dr. Thomas Curry Receives CCTS Mentor Award

The University of Kentucky Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) has received a $23.5 million, four-year award from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) at the National Institutes of Health. This is the third time the CCTS has successfully competed for the prestigious Clinical and Translational Award (CTSA), with continuous funding since 2011 totaling $65.4 million in research dollars.

“For the past 15 years, CCTS has catalyzed clinical and translational discoveries through an integrated, transformative research environment aimed at improved health, with an emphasis on Central Appalachia,” said UK President Eli Capilouto. “This continued funding is a testament to the incredible talent we have at this institution and our enduring promise to improve health outcomes in Kentucky.”

Founded in 2006 with the mission of accelerating discoveries to improve health, the CCTS is a disease-agnostic center that supports research from bench to bedside to community, with particular focus on Appalachia. The center provides a robust research infrastructure for all types of health research, including pilot funding, training and career development for the next generation of translational researchers, a full spectrum of research support services, community engagement resources, multidisciplinary mentors and connections to local and national research networks.

Dr. Thomas E. Curry, Jr. of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology was honored along with four other recipients at an awards ceremony during the University of Kentucky Center for Clinical and Translational Science's 9th Annual CCTS Spring Conference on Thursday, March 27.  The CCTS created the mentor awards as a mechanism to acknowledge the integral role that faculty serve as mentors and an opportunity for junior researchers to recognize the valuable support they receive. Two to five mentor awards are given at each annual conference, and 28 awards have been presented since the program began in 2007.These recipients received recognition for their outstanding work in helping to train young scientists. 

Dr. Curry has been a strong mentor and guide to junior faculty, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and research lab staff working to advance them in their fields towards independent research.  As the Principal Investigator of the Kentucky BIRCWH Program Dr. Curry is instrumental in helping junior investigators develop their research initiatives and establish themselves as researchers in women's health. 

Congratulations Dr. Curry on being an outstanding researcher and mentor!