By Josh Shepherd

Faculty from the UK Departments of Surgery and Biomedical Engineering provided general reviews of past and ongoing collaborative research initiatives at a special Surgery Grand Rounds presentation in November.

Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics is pleased to welcome Dr. Jay Vornhagen from University of Michigan, an MIMG Faculty Recruitment Candidate in Microbiome. His Seminar titled Consternation over colonization: Klebsiella pneumoniae in the gut will take place on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 in MN263 at 10:00 am. This seminar will also be live streamed via Zoom for those who wish to attend virtually. https://uky.zoom.us/j/82543019076

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 8, 2021)- University of Kentucky entomology researchers have found that skin triglycerides, or lipids, prevent bed bugs from staying very long on human hosts. Their finding could lead to new management strategies for this important human pest.

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.

On Monday, December 6, 2021, Courtney Kloske successfully defended her dissertation and earned her doctoral degree. Congratulations, Dr. Kloske!

UNCOVERING THE KEY ROLE OF APOE4 ON ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE-RELATED NEUROINFLAMMATION

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — The University of Kentucky was awarded a multimillion-dollar grant by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to test wastewater for COVID-19, and a group of students has found a way to expand the research into rural Kentucky.

UK researchers started collecting wastewater and testing it for traces of COVID-19 RNA in September 2020.

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.