On Dec. 2, the UK College of Medicine Department of Physiology proudly recognized the recipients of the 2025 Thomas V. Getchell, PhD, Memorial Award for Excellence in Grant Writing.
This award honors the remarkable legacy of Dr. Thomas V. Getchell — a beloved professor of physiology, member of the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, and former associate dean for research and basic sciences at the UK College of Medicine. His career was defined by a passion for advancing science and mentoring the next generation of researchers.
Dr. Getchell’s vision lives on through the Grant Writing Workshop, which he founded in 2005. The program provides hands-on, personalized mentoring for medical, doctoral, and post-doctoral trainees, helping them master the art of grantsmanship, secure fellowship funding, and build successful research careers. To date, workshop participants have earned more than $2.4 million in fellowship support- a testament to the program’s impact.
Clair Ashley is a PhD candidate working in the lab of Shannon Macauley, PhD. Her work explores early metabolic adaptations in glial cells in Alzheimer's Disease, with a focus on microglial lactate metabolism and amyloid pathology. Overall, the goal is to identify novel biomarkers or therapeutic targets to facilitate early diagnosis and slow disease progression.
Samantha Radomski is part of the lab of Catalina Velez-Ortega, PhD, as a PhD candidate. She is interested in investigating the role of TRPA1 channel activity on cochlear responses (hearing sensitivity) before and after noise exposure, as well as exploring potential interplay between TRPA1 channel activity and the estrous cycle on cochlear responses.
The students honored this year embody the dedication and excellence that Dr. Getchell championed. Through their achievements, his legacy continues to inspire and empower future scientific leaders to push the boundaries of discovery.
With each award, Dr. Getchell’s vision endures — fueling innovation, fostering mentorship, and shaping the future of research.