University of Kentucky Research

University of Kentucky Research This is the official page for the University of Kentucky (UK) Research enterprise.

Researchers from the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment are studying how wild mice contribute...
09/04/2026

Researchers from the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment are studying how wild mice contribute to tick populations and the spread of tick-borne diseases across different Kentucky landscapes.

Led by Hannah Tiffin, and supported by the UK Student Sustainability Council, the project is helping establish critical baseline data on tick species, host animals and disease risks throughout the Commonwealth. The research also provides hands-on training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in ecology, wildlife management and veterinary entomology.

The team is evaluating innovative mouse nesting boxes as a potential low-labor tool for tick surveillance, with the long-term goal of supporting broader community-based monitoring efforts across Kentucky.

Read more: https://research.uky.edu/news/tick-magnets-guide-uk-ecology-research-tool-testing-and-student-learning

The UK Office of Undergraduate Research has selected 20 exceptional students to serve as Undergraduate Research Ambassad...
09/02/2026

The UK Office of Undergraduate Research has selected 20 exceptional students to serve as Undergraduate Research Ambassadors for 2026-27. šŸŽ‰

Representing eight colleges, 14 disciplines and 15 research areas, these students will play a key role in promoting undergraduate research across campus. Through presentations, advising sessions, workshops and outreach events, ambassadors help connect fellow Wildcats with opportunities to participate in mentored research and scholarly activities.

Congratulations to this yearā€™s ambassadors and thank you for helping make undergraduate research more accessible for UK students.

Read more: https://research.uky.edu/news/20-students-selected-undergraduate-research-ambassador-program

09/02/2026

Can virtual reality help students become more confident public speakers?

Research led by Brandi Frisby and a team from the University of Kentucky College of Communication and Information found that 360-degree video and VR technology can provide students with realistic, low-stakes opportunities to practice public speaking, helping reduce anxiety and build confidence.

Supported by a CURATE grant from the UK Office of the Vice President for Research, the project explores innovative ways to prepare students for academic and professional success while increasing access to hands-on learning experiences.

Read more: https://research.uky.edu/news/vr-practice-public-speaking-brandi-frisbys-curate-research

A University of Kentucky researcher is pursuing a bold new direction in Alzheimerā€™s and dementia research.Daniel Lee, of...
08/28/2026

A University of Kentucky researcher is pursuing a bold new direction in Alzheimerā€™s and dementia research.

Daniel Lee, of the UK Sanders-Brown Center on Aging has been awarded a highly competitive 2026 Tauopathy Challenge Workshop grant to study a newly recognized modification of the tau protein, a key factor in Alzheimerā€™s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. The international award will help advance research that could improve how scientists diagnose and treat tau-related diseases in the future.

Leeā€™s project will also create research tools that will be shared with scientists worldwide, helping accelerate discoveries across the field of dementia research.

Read more: https://research.uky.edu/news/uk-researcher-earns-international-award-pursue-bold-new-direction-alzheimers-dementia-research

Childhood obesity affects thousands of Kentucky families and can have lifelong consequences for heart health.UK College ...
08/27/2026

Childhood obesity affects thousands of Kentucky families and can have lifelong consequences for heart health.

UK College of Medicine researchers are leading the MODERN study, a groundbreaking clinical trial examining whether semaglutide can help reverse early signs of cardiovascular disease in adolescents with severe obesity.

Led by John Bauer and Aurelia Radulescu, the study looks beyond weight loss to measure changes in heart structure and function using advanced cardiac imaging and exercise testing. Researchers hope the findings will improve treatment options and support greater access to care for young people across the Commonwealth.

Read more: https://research.uky.edu/news/fighting-childhood-obesity-uk-researchers-study-semaglutide-adolescents

šŸŖ² A beetle smaller than 1/64th of an inch is threatening Kentucky's golf courses, but researchers at the UK are working ...
08/21/2026

šŸŖ² A beetle smaller than 1/64th of an inch is threatening Kentucky's golf courses, but researchers at the UK are working to stop it.

The annual bluegrass weevil has been a major pest in the Northeast for years, and it's now spreading into Kentucky. At the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, graduate student Grace Ferry ā€” under the guidance of Dr. Caleb Wilson ā€” is visiting golf courses across Central Kentucky each week to track ABW populations and life stages in real time.

The goal? Help golf course superintendents know exactly when to treat ā€” reducing costs, minimizing unnecessary applications, and protecting the turf that Kentucky golfers play on. šŸŒļø

Read the full story: https://research.uky.edu/news/uk-turfgrass-research-targets-annual-bluegrass-weevil-help-protect-kentuckys-golf-courses

Publishing in a leading scientific journal is a milestone for any researcher. For first-year graduate student Alexandra ...
08/18/2026

Publishing in a leading scientific journal is a milestone for any researcher. For first-year graduate student Alexandra N. Johansen, itā€™s an extraordinary achievement.

Johansen, a psychology Ph.D. student in the UK College of Arts and Sciences, led a landmark systematic review published in Pharmacological Reviews examining potential treatments for methamphetamine use disorder. Her research sheds light on critical gaps in treatment development and offers a roadmap for future discoveries that could help address a growing public health challenge in Kentucky and Appalachia.

Learn how UK is empowering the next generation of research leaders: https://research.uky.edu/news/uk-graduate-researcher-leads-landmark-methamphetamine-treatment-systematic-review

A fungus that causes laurel wilt can kill a sassafras tree in just a matter of weeks, threatening forests in Kentucky an...
08/18/2026

A fungus that causes laurel wilt can kill a sassafras tree in just a matter of weeks, threatening forests in Kentucky and beyond.

UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment researchers Ellen Crocker, Ph.D., and Josh Konkol, Ph.D., are investigating a promising approach called RNA interference (RNAi) that could help stop invasive pathogens by targeting the genes they need to survive.

The research aims to develop precise, environmentally conscious tools for protecting trees from diseases and invasive pests while minimizing impacts on beneficial organisms. The project could help shape future strategies for safeguarding forest ecosystems across the country.

Learn more: https://research.uky.edu/news/uk-researchers-explore-new-way-protect-trees-invasive-diseases

Helping young people build healthy futures starts with prevention.A UK College of Education initiative will expand evide...
08/17/2026

Helping young people build healthy futures starts with prevention.

A UK College of Education initiative will expand evidence-informed substance-use prevention programming for young people across Kentucky after receiving nearly $200,000 from the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission through the stateā€™s Office of the Attorney General.

The initiative will train local facilitators across Kentucky to deliver substance-use prevention education in schools and community settings, while also creating a statewide network focused on sharing prevention strategies and best practices.

Learn more about how UK researchers and educators are partnering with communities to support Kentucky's youth: https://research.uky.edu/news/uk-college-education-receives-grant-youth-substance-use-prevention

šŸ“šŸ”¬ Horses are helping shape the next generation of scientists at the University of Kentucky.Through the UK Martin-Gatton...
08/17/2026

šŸ“šŸ”¬ Horses are helping shape the next generation of scientists at the University of Kentucky.

Through the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment's new Stable to STEM program, undergraduate students from across the country will spend nine weeks in Lexington conducting equine research, learning laboratory and field techniques, and working alongside UK researchers and industry partners. The program is funded by a $750,000 USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant and aims to expand opportunities in science-based careers.

By combining Kentucky's rich equine heritage with hands-on research experiences, UK is creating new pathways into STEM fields and strengthening the future workforce.

Read more: https://research.uky.edu/news/new-uk-program-uses-equine-research-grow-next-generation-scientists

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