News

Special Seminar followed by Diversity Roundtable

Location: https://uky.zoom.us/j/81146001530
Friday, December 4, 2020

LEXINGTON, KY. (Oct. 27, 2020) — A $2.9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is supporting a multidisciplinary team of University of Kentucky researchers in continuing their work to find therapeutic strategies to resolve neurovascular inflammation and repair blood-brain barrier dysfunction in epilepsy.

A new study led by researchers at the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center and UK Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences demonstrates the potential benefit of using an anti-leukemic drug nilotinib – most commonly used to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia – to overcome therapy resistance in metastatic melanoma.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 2, 2020) — A new University of Kentucky College of Medicine study provides insight into how a protein called angiotensinogen (AGT) contributes to blood pressure regulation and atherosclerosis.

AGT is a member of the renin-angiotensin system, a hormone system in the human body that regulates blood pressure and fluid balance. AGT produces angiotensin II, which regulates blood pressure and contributes to atherosclerosis, or the buildup of plaque in the arteries.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an ever-changing environment requiring quick adjustment, especially in the field of research. In response to the pandemic, scientists at UK ceased non-essential research activity in the spring, and education was moved to online platforms. While these measures were necessary to ensure safety for faculty and learners, graduate students in the University of Kentucky College of Medicine Integrated Biomedical Sciences (IBS) PhD program saw their progress interrupted.

Nika Larian, a postdoctoral researcher in the University of Kentucky College of Medicine’s Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, has been awarded a Science & Technology Policy Fellowship with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships (STPF) aim to support evidence-based policymaking by leveraging the knowledge and analytical mindset of science and engineering experts, and foster leaders for a strong U.S. science and technology enterprise.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 14, 2020) — A new study by researchers at the University of Kentucky identifies a novel function of the enzyme spermine synthase (SMS) to facilitate colorectal cancer growth.

SMS is an enzyme that produces spermine from spermidine, which has been shown to be important for cell growth. However, excessive accumulation of spermidine can have harmful effects on cell viability. How cancer cells maintain a relatively high level of spermidine but below the toxic threshold to facilitate tumor growth is not well understood.

The NIH Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) on Obesity and Cardiovascular Diseases, in collaboration with the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS) announce the availability of limited funds to support pilot projects focused on research examining obesity-associated diseases.

The first NIH-wide strategic plan for nutrition research emphasizes cross-cutting, innovative opportunities to advance nutrition research across a wide range of areas, from basic science to experimental design to research training. These opportunities complement and enhance ongoing research efforts across NIH to improve health and to prevent or combat diseases and conditions affected by nutrition.

Hollie Swanson, a professor and researcher in the Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences in the College of Medicine, has been elected to serve as a faculty trustee on the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees. Under University Senate rules, Swanson was the top vote getter among three candidates in the election completed last week. "It is an honor and a privilege to be able to represent the UK faculty as their representative on the Board of Trustees,” Swanson said.

It’s widely known that when it comes to diet, fast food isn’t the healthiest choice. Expanding on this knowledge, a recent study by a researcher at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine found that the inclusion of fructose-sweetened drinks with high-fat foods might add to the negative effects on one’s body.

A collaboration among three University of Kentucky colleges has resulted in an innovative new online program. Students and health professionals looking to further their education in food as it relates to health can now earn a graduate certificate in applied nutrition and culinary medicine.

More than 4,800 women die each year from heart disease in Kentucky. Across the United States, women are dying every 80 seconds from cardiovascular disease and stroke, which they are less likely to survive than men. 

These staggering statistics are what keep two University of Kentucky faculty members pushing for more research and funding in the field of women’s heart health.

 2022 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

University of Kentucky Professor of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Nancy Webb, Ph.D., has been honored by the American Heart Association with the Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology (ATVB) Distinguished Achievement Award.

The ATVB Council engages scientists and clinicians working to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. This annual accolade recognizes a member who has made major contributions to the council and substantial professional contributions to the field.