Greg Gerhardt, PhD, is a professor of neuroscience and researcher with the Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center (SCoBIRC) and Brain Restoration Center, as well as advisor for the MD/PhD program. He currently serves as co-principal investigator for the Brain Restoration Alliance in Neurodegeneration (BRAIN). In the following Q&A, Dr. Gerhardt shares more about his current projects.

Q: Why did you want to pursue a career in neuroscience research?

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 13, 2021) — As the University of Kentucky nears the end of the Fall 2021 semester, COVID-19 infection rates have once again started to rise across the state. Now, a new variant, omicron, creates new set of challenges for the Commonwealth, country and world.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 13, 2021) — As the University of Kentucky nears the end of the Fall 2021 semester, COVID-19 infection rates have once again started to rise across the state. Now, a new variant, omicron, creates new set of challenges for the Commonwealth, country and world.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 9, 2021) — Appalachian Kentucky high school and undergraduate students enrolled at the University of Kentucky who are interested in pursuing a cancer-focused career have the opportunity to gain cancer research, clinical, outreach and education experiences.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 9, 2021) — Spiny mice, known for their unique ability to regrow lost skin, may also be able to preserve injured cardiac tissue according to a new study conducted by a research team from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and College of Arts and Sciences.

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.

A new year will bring forth an exciting new career opportunity for Elizabeth Rhodus, PhD, OTR/L.

In November, she accepted a position as assistant professor in the UK College of Medicine Department of Behavioral Science and Sanders-Brown Center on Aging which will begin in January 2022.

“This is such an exciting time in my career,” Dr. Rhodus said. “Joining as faculty means having greater opportunities to make an impact for older adults in our state and beyond. I’m thrilled to get started.”

Lindsay Ragsdale, MD, FAAP, FAAHPM, is an associate professor of pediatrics at the UK College of Medicine. For UK HealthCare, she is division chief of pediatric palliative care, program officer for provider experience, and was recently named interim chief medical officer at Kentucky Children’s Hospital (KCH).

In this Q&A, she shares her experience working with her team to build a successful pediatric vaccine clinic at UK, why she feels so connected to Kentucky, and what she cherishes about being a physician and educator.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 6, 2021) — Hillary Thompson’s interest in science comes from a personal place — the desire to help others.

“From a young age, I’ve always been interested in science — I like digging into how the body works,” said Thompson, a junior at Frederick Douglass High School in Lexington. “I think what sparked my interest is really trying to help people — helping them get over their sickness.”

The College of Medicine is excited to announce the appointment of the next chair of the department of internal medicine after a comprehensive national search. Darwin L. Conwell, MD, MS, FACG, has accepted the position and will officially join our faculty on April 4, 2022.

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.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 3, 2021) — About one year ago, Lowell ‘Tom’ Coots Jr. was experiencing debilitating tremors and episodes of confusion. Because of his health issues, the former accountant was forced to end his career.

“I had to retire. I had to sell my practice,” he said. “I had 420 clients and there was no way my wife, Linda, could pick up all those clients.”

He didn’t know it at the time, but a medication meant to help a sudden medical condition was actually causing him more harm than good.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 1, 2021) — Work by a group of researchers at the University of Kentucky’s Sanders-Brown Center on Aging was recently published in Genes. The article looks at the use of data mining and machine learning in research.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 30, 2021) — The UK HealthCare/Norton Healthcare – Stroke Care Network (SCN) is announcing its 37th affiliate as Mercy Health – Marcum and Wallace Hospital joins the system.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 30, 2021) — Recently published research from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and UK HealthCare Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center found high rates of traumatic exposure and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in a group of pediatric patients living with Type 1 diabetes.

By the time she became a faculty member at the UK College of Medicine, Susanne Arnold, MD, was arguably more prepared than anyone to treat Kentuckians and educate future physicians.

She was introduced to the medical field early and was surrounded by it. She recalls taking a preserved human brain to show and tell when she was in grade school (which she jokes wouldn’t happen now, though her classmates thought it was pretty cool). In high school, she shadowed physicians in a clinic, and she gained clinical experience observing autopsies before she even started medical school.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 29, 2021) — For this “UK at the Half,” Lisa Cassis, vice president for research at the University of Kentucky, shares how leaders across campus came together to find a path forward for research during the COVID-19 pandemic.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 23, 2021) — For this “UK at the Half,” Kathleen O’Connor, Ph.D., researcher and associate director of cancer education and mentoring at the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center, and current UK senior and program participant, Daniela Nakinoja, discuss the value of the Markey STRONG Scholars program to foster diversity in cancer research.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 22, 2021) — What makes UK the university of, for and with Kentucky? 

The answer is our people.  

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 19, 2021) — A new training program at the University of Kentucky will help develop the next generation of scientists needed to reduce Kentucky’s burden of high cancer incidence and mortality rates.