News

Prediabetes and diabetes are big problems in Kentucky. According to the 2019 Kentucky Diabetes Report, one in 10 Kentucky adults have been told by a medical professional that they have prediabetes. An additional 12% have diabetes, and Kentucky has the fourth highest mortality rate due to diabetes in the nation.

Two programs fostered by the University of Kentucky Office for Technology Commercialization (OTC) have been awarded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the National Science and Technology Council for creating “a more inclusive research and development innovation ecosystem for the future.”

SPARK, which was launched last year by UK’s Center for Health Equity Transformation (CHET) and Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), is a year-long community-engaged program for undergraduates focused on research related to health equity.

On-farm research helps scientists and producers gain new knowledge that improves and advances agriculture. These valuable relationships between Kentucky farmers and UK researchers work toward the goal of more efficient and profitable Kentucky farms.

Researchers at the UK developed and pilot-tested a family-centered, youth-engaged home radon testing toolkit and trained high school students as “citizen scientists” to educate their parents about the dangers of radon and how to test for it.

What do you get when you combine personal protective equipment, drones, lay health advisors and the University of Kentucky? Innovation in Appalachian Kentucky.

Applications for the 2021 James S. Brown Graduate Student Award for Research on Appalachia and applications for the 2021 UK Appalachian Center Eller & Billings Student Research Award are both due Feb. 15. 2021.

“Although the pandemic changed our plans for an in-person celebration, we are looking forward to spotlighting the initiatives that are moving our mission forward, as well as honoring the individuals who had the vision to establish the center and help lay our foundations.”

Anyone over the age of 18 is invited to complete a short survey from Wellness, Health, & You (WHY), an ongoing research project that seeks to understand how different life experiences affect wellbeing and health.

Wasp dope is a crystalline substance created by electrifying pyrethroid-containing substances – such as wasp sprays – that may give users a methamphetamine-like “rush.” Recent reports have highlighted the emergence of this new drug as an issue of concern, research into the substance is so far lacking.