Nagaraj Kerur, a post-doctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Jayakrishna Ambati, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, has received a prestigious K99/R00 award from the National Eye Institute (NEI). This Pathway to Independence award is one of only four given by the NEI in the nation annually.
The award will provide up to five years of support consisting of two phases. The initial mentored phase will provide support for up to two years for the most promising and exceptionally talented new investigators.
When Premi Haynes was growing up in Pune, India, she attended Stella Maris High School, an English language convent school founded by Swiss nuns. Her second grade singing class used a book of English songs. One of the songs was "My Old Kentucky Home." At that time, Haynes had never heard of Kentucky, had no idea where it was, and had no particular ambition to go there.
Some 20 years and a twist of fate later, today Haynes is defending her Ph.D.
While the world watched coverage of the Winter Olympics last month, a group of University of Kentucky medical students were vying for medals in an Olympic-style competition for future doctors.
For the first time, a team of eight UK medical students participated in the 5th Annual Ultrasound Challenge at Ohio State University on Feb. 15. During the challenge, students from UK and The Ohio State University tested their knowledge, technique and accuracy scanning ultrasound images of specific systems in the human body.
In addition to providing high quality health care, the University of Kentucky is also committed to finding new treatments, tests, and cures for diseases. Now, patients at UK can contribute to that effort by agreeing to participate in the Research Registry and Specimen Bank, or the "biobank."
When you have a medical procedure that involves, for example, drawing blood or sampling tissue, there is often material left over from the testing process that would otherwise be thrown away.
Nearly 700 researchers, students, policymakers and community members will gather at the Lexington Convention Center March 27 to share research, mentor junior faculty, and enhance collaborations in clinical and translational science, with special focus on addressing health disparities in Appalachia.
UK HealthCare pediatricians Dr. Aftab S. Chishti and Dr. Stefan G. Kiessling, have edited a new textbook that provides in-depth clinical instruction about the treatment of kidney and urinary tract diseases in newborns.
Published in January, "Kidney and Urinary Tract Disease in Newborns" provides doctors with comprehensive, practical knowledge for the diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases in babies younger than a year old. The textbook includes contributions from more than 20 experts in the field of pediatric nephrology.
Ann L. Coker, professor at the University of Kentucky College of Public Health and College of Medicine, is the recipient of a Visionary Voice Award, a national award that recognizes the creativity and hard work of individuals who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to end sexual violence. The award is sponsored by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.
The award was presented to Coker by the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs (KASAP) at their Sexual Assault Awareness Month Awards Dinner on Feb. 26, 2014.
Leadership from the UK HealthCare's stroke team has been invited to assist The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association in a "prep visit" to the Cleveland Clinic as their stroke center applies for Comprehensive Stroke Center (CSC) designation from The Joint Commission.
Kelley Elkins, UK HealthCare Stroke program coordinator, and Lisa Bellamy, director of education and quality for the UK HealthCare/Norton Healthcare-Stroke Care Network, will travel to Cleveland to share their experience with the CSC application process, which UK HealthCare completed late last year.
The prep vi
A recent study suggests that self-reported memory complaints might predict clinical memory impairment later in life.
Erin Abner, an assistant professor at the University of Kentucky's Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, asked 3,701 men aged 60 and higher a simple question: "Have you noticed any change in your memory since you last came in?"
That question led to some interesting results. "It seems that subjective memory complaint can be predictive of clinical memory impairment," Abner said.
Dr. Meriem Bensalem-Owen, associate professor of neurology, anatomy and neurobiology and director of UK HealthCare's Epilepsy Program, has been named a fellow of the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society (ACNS), a professional association dedicated to fostering excellence in clinical neurophysiology.
In addition to serving on the society's program committee, the Committee for Continuing Medical Education, and the Website/Social Media Committee, Dr. Bensalem-Owen will co-chair the Mentoring Program of the ACNS.
"This is a great honor for Dr.
UK HealthCare has been designated a Comprehensive Stroke Center by The Joint Commission (TJC) and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.
UK HealthCare is one of 63 U.S. institutions and the only in Lexington to be awarded this designation, which is the highest honor The Joint Commission awards to stroke centers.
University of Kentucky College of Medicine student Melanie Pleiss has received the PhRMA Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellowship in Pharmacology/Toxicology.
The fellowship is a two year award that provides recipients with an annual stipend of $20,000 to support the research activities of a doctoral program.
"The application process is extremely competitive, with just one applicant per institution allowed to apply and only a certain number of awards given to U.S. schools of medicine, pharmacy, dentistry or veterinary medicine," said Dr.
The University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center has become one of the first cancer centers in the country to offer the latest model of the Varian TrueBeam for its patients.
The Varian TrueBeam is an advanced radiotherapy system from Varian Medical Systems, designed to deliver powerful cancer treatments with pinpoint accuracy and precision.
For junior faculty with clinical and/or teaching responsibilities, it's difficult to find enough time to prioritize their own research. On top of time constraints, junior faculty members often have limited experience in the precise art of writing successful federal grant applications and managing large grants. It takes time, training, and funding to accelerate a research career. The KL2 Career Development Program provides these resources to investigators to do just that.
A new study led by University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center researcher Peter Zhou shows that targeting Twist, a nuclear protein that is an accelerant of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program in human cells, may provide an effective approach for treating triple-negative breast cancer.
Triple-negative breast cancer has an activated EMT program, which is a process that provides cells with the increased plasticity (or flexibility) to adapt to stressed environments during embryonic development, wound healing, tissue fibrosis and metastasis.
A career in emergency medicine requires a commitment to helping patients in the most critical situations. For demonstrating her passion for this field, University of Kentucky medical student Jennifer Cotton has received a $500 scholarship from the American Academy of Emergency Medicine/Resident and Student Association (AAEM/RSA).
As part of the honor, Cotton was invited to be recognized during the 20th Annual AAEM Scentific Assembly in New York, on Feb. 12. Nominations for the AAEM/RSA Student Scholarship were accepted in the fall of 2013.
UK HealthCare has announced plans to lease and renovate the former Dillard's location at Turfland Mall on Harrodsburg Road for consolidation and relocation of some of its primary care and specialty outpatient clinics.
UK HealthCare will be the anchor tenant for the first floor of the building utilizing approximately 85,000 square feet, officials said.
Ardis Dee Hoven, President of the American Medical Association (AMA), will provide a special guest lecture as part of the UK College of Pharmacy’s Advocacy Day at noon on February 5, 2014 in room 124 of the BioPharm Complex.
Dr. Hoven, who became the 168th president of the AMA in June 2013, will deliver her talk “The AMA, Pharmacists and the Future of Healthcare,” addressing the importance of physician-pharmacist collaboration and pharmacists as a crucial member of the physician-led healthcare team.
Dr.
Renowned chemist, novelist and playwright Carl Djerassi, known for his work in organic chemistry and as a father of insect and human birth control, will take part in several events being held Feb. 13-15, at the University of Kentucky.
During his visit to the Bluegrass, Djerassi will participate in three events. He will first serve as the featured speaker at a luncheon for business and academic leaders.
Letcher County community leaders and health care providers gathered in Whitesburg on Jan. 23, to celebrate a new partnership among Mountain Comprehensive Healthcare Corporation (MCHC), Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH), and UK HealthCare’s Gill Heart Institute.
Dena Sparkman, CCEO of Whitesburg ARH, welcomed more than 100 invited guests to the event held at the Pine Mountain Grill in Whitesburg. Remarks were provided by Joe Grossman, president and CEO of Appalachian Regional Healthcare; University of Kentucky Vice President for Health Affairs Dr.
