Valerie awarded the Lyman T. Johnson Fellowship
Valerie has been selected for the University of Kentucky Graduate School Lyman T. Johnson Fellowship. This fellowship was named in honor of Lyman T. Johnson and recognizes incoming graduate students and supports their graduate training. The award reflects Valerie’s strong academic record and potential for impactful scholarship. Congratulations, Valerie!
BHL at Wonders of Pharmacy
BHL lab members participated in the Wonders of Pharmacy event in the College of Pharmacy, where they interacted with local middle and high school students and introduced them to research related to brain health and the blood-brain barrier. Through hands-on activities and discussions, the event provided students with an opportunity to learn more about biomedical […]
Brayden received CURE Fellowship
Brayden has been awarded the Commonwealth Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) Fellowship for summer research. This fellowship is supported by the University of Kentucky Office of Undergraduate Research and the Office of the Vice President for Research and recognizes undergraduate students engaged in mentored research addressing issues relevant to Kentucky and the Commonwealth. We look forward […]
Manekya invited to speak at the 2026 Barriers of the CNS Gordon Research Seminar
Manekya has been invited to present her research at the 2026 Barriers of the CNS Gordon Research Seminar at Colby-Sawyer College in New London, NH. She will present in the session “Dysfunction of CNS Barriers and Therapeutic Opportunities.”
Hady presents at the Trainee Research Day
Hady presented a poster on anti-amyloid antibodies and their effects on blood-brain barrier integrity at the College of Medicine Trainee Research Day. This work represents a new and timely research direction in the lab that aligns with the development of novel disease-modifying antibody therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease.
Manekya received the Peter G. Glavinos, Jr., PhD Travel Award
Manekya received the Peter G. Glavinos, Jr., PhD Travel Award to present her work at the “Barriers of the CNS” GRS/GRC. This award was established in memory of Dr. Glavinos and recognizes outstanding graduate students in Pharmaceutical Sciences and supports their participation in scientific meetings. Congratulations, Manekya!
Anika presented at the AD/PD 2026 conference
Anika presented her poster, “Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease: An Environmental Health Perspective,” at the AD/PD 2026 conference in Copenhagen. Her work highlights the intersection of environmental factors and neurodegenerative disease, contributing to ongoing efforts to better understand Alzheimer’s pathology and brain health through a multidisciplinary research approach.
BHL Team takes the Lexington Polar Plunge
We participated in the Polar Plunge to support Special Olympics Kentucky. Despite the cold conditions (outside temperature: 12°F; water temperature: 30°F), we joined other community participants to help raise funds and awareness for athletes with intellectual disabilities. The event provided an opportunity for the lab to contribute to a local cause and engage with the […]
BHL Holiday Party
The BHL Annual Holiday Party brought the team together to mark the end of the year. We shared food, spent time together, and played a white elephant gift exchange. It was a nice opportunity to connect outside the lab!
BHL Winter Retreat
We held our annual BHL Winter Retreat to reflect on our achievements in 2025 and provide an outlook on 2026. Every lab member gave a presentation, we discussed and shared ideas, and set goals for the coming months.