Krishna Vyas has been named associate editor of The SAGE Encyclopedia of Stem Cell Research, Second Edition, a 3-volume reference of emerging concepts in stem cell developmental biology, research, and therapy, and ethics. Authored by international experts and scholars, The SAGE Encyclopedia of Stem Cell Research, Second Edition references emerging concepts in stem cell developmental biology, research, and therapy, in addition to the ethics, religion, politics and challenges of the field. The reference series is scheduled to be published in print and electronic editions in 2015.

Frederick Schmitt, a professor in the University of Kentucky Department of Neurology and the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, has received the 2014 Mary Carter Award from Down Syndrome of Louisville. The award recognizes outstanding service and contributions that result in improved quality of life for people with Down syndrome. Schmitt's research interests focus on understanding the basic mechanisms in brain aging and dementia. While Schmitt's name is the only one on the award, he is enthusiastic about sharing credit with others.

A community's physical environment and social dynamics, such as the amount of green space for exercise and access to health education, are all underlying factors that impact the health of its citizens. To better understand how community influences health, a new division at UK HealthCare will examine the world around the patient. Dr. Roberto Cardarelli is leading an effort to develop a national model for community medicine and outreach at UK HealthCare.

The University of Kentucky Chapter of the International Federation of Medical Student Associations (IFMSA) will host the 10th annual Art of Healing silent auction on Wednesday, April 2. The auction will be held in Biological and Biomedical Sciences Research Building (BBSRB) atrium from noon to 5 p.m. Winning bidders may pick up their art from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The auction items feature the handiwork of local and international artists and current students, including pottery, paintings, wood carvings, and accessories.

University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto today announced a $7 million combined gift commitment from Lexington businesswoman and UK graduate, Joan D. Kincaid, and Central Bank for two critical campus improvement projects focused on business education and health care. The gift commitment, which was accepted by the UK Board of Trustees at its meeting today, will fund a new auditorium in the Gatton College of Business and Economics as part of its building redesign and expansion as well as a project to be determined in the A.B.

The University of Kentucky Sanders-Brown Center on Aging recently welcomed two new faculty members: Anika Hartz, Ph.D., and Ai-Ling Lin, Ph.D. “These talented individuals will contribute significantly to our knowledge of age-related disorders,” said Linda Van Eldik, director of the Sanders-Brown Center for Aging. "We are delighted to have them as part of our team." Hartz, an associate professor with a dual appointment in the College of Medicine, comes to Sanders-Brown from the University of Minnesota.

We all know that exercise is good for us — it can help us lower blood pressure and cholesterol, maintain a healthy weight, and even improve mood and sleep. But can exercise improve the brain, especially as we age? A multidisciplinary group of University of Kentucky researchers is working to answer that question.

Dr. Jacqueline (Jackie) Noonan, long-time faculty member at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and former chair of the Department of Pediatrics, has been named the "Gifted Educator" for 2014 by the American College of Cardiology. The award recognizes someone who has demonstrated innovative, outstanding teaching characteristics that contribute significantly to the field of cardiovascular medicine. "This honor is well-deserved and places Dr. Noonan in rare company.

Translational research — the process of moving a laboratory discovery into clinical applications — is a long and complex process requiring diverse expertise, ranging from basic science and regulatory affairs to participant recruitment and rclinical application. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), it can take more than a decade for a lab discovery to result in a new treatment, medical device, or prevention method.

Some University of Kentucky medical students pumped their fists while others unleashed tears of relief. Some took the opportunity to thank professors, parents, spouses and friends. A few pulled baseball caps out of bags as if they were selected in the NBA draft. And one bold student danced his way to the podium, taking a "selfie" with his camera phone upon arrival.

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.