Accelerating Discoveries, Improving Health

Kentucky and Appalachia experience some of the nation's most severe health disparities: Eight of thirteen counties recently found to have a declining life expectancy are in the Commonwealth, and the region is currently the epicenter of the opioid epidemic, with overdose deaths in Kentucky hitting record highs in 2017. Through research funding, training, infrastructure, and community engagement, the University of Kentucky CCTS facilitates innovative team science across multiple campuses and states to address these and other critical health issues. We provide infrastructure, funding, and research support services to advance discoveries, and we train the upcoming generation of clinical and translational researchers.

Within UK’s role as Kentucky's flagship, land grant university, the CCTS focuses on addressing chronic health disparities in rural and underserved populations throughout the Commonwealth and the Central Appalachian region. We work closely with institutional and community partners to collaboratively identify local challenges and opportunities to improve wellbeing. As the founding member of the Appalachian Translational Research Network, we also lead a regional research platform that leverages the expertise, resources, and experiences of multiple academic and medical centers.

Leadership: 

  • Principal Investigators: Philip Kern, MD; Katherine Hartmann, MD, PhD

  • Executive Director: Gabe Harris

 

  • - KL2 Career Development Program 

    - TL1 Clinical and Translational Science Training Program

    - Professional Student Mentored Research Fellowship Program 

    - DREAM (Disparities Researchers Equalizing Access for Minorities) Scholars Program (for pre-docs, post-docs, and assistant professors) 

    - SPARK (Students Participating as Ambassadors for Research in Kentucky) Health Equity Training Program (for undergraduates) 

    - Seminar Series and Workshops  

    - Annual Conference  

  • - Graduate Certificate in Clinical and Translational Science 
     
    - Master of Science in Medical Science - Clinical and Translational Science  

    - PhD in Clinical Translational Science 

  • - Research Navigator Services 
    - All of Us Research Program 
    - Biomarker Analysis Lab 
    - Biomedical Informatics Research Consultations 
    - Biobank 
    - Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Design 
    - Clinical Research Unit (in-patient and out-patient) 
    - Community Engagement and Research Services 
    - Clinical Research Support Office (Advarra Electronic Data Capture, CTMS Calendar, Coverage Analysis) 
    - Data Extraction Consultations 
    - Data Safety Monitoring Board  
    - Dissemination and Implementation Science Consultations 
    - Drug Discovery and Development 
    - FDA Advisory Committee 
    - Fiscal Grants Management 
    - Functional Assessment & Body Composition Lab 
    - i2b2 
    - Participant Recruitment Services 
    - Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement Program 
    - Regulatory Services (Start-up, Long-term Maintenance, Close-out) 
    - Special Populations Research Consultations  
    - Survivors Union of the Bluegrass Community Advisory Board 
    - Therapeutic Advisory Panel 
    - TREE Research Development and Mentoring 
    - TriNetX 
    - Wellness, Health and You Database