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 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 research, pharmacy, and careers in science and healthcare.
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 to working with Brayden over the summer!
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 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 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 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.
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 broader community.
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!
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.
Bjoern attended the AES Annual Meeting in Atlanta and presented a poster on the team’s findings on CBD in epilepsy. Bjoern met with former lab members and colleagues, and learned about current advances in epilepsy research and emerging therapies.
Avijit presented a poster at the UK COBRE CNS Metabolism Symposium, where he shared his work on transporter regulation in epilepsy and engaged with current research on metabolism in CNS disorders.
Congratulations to Manekya on being selected to give an oral presentation at the PUNDS Graduate Student Meeting at Purdue University. This selection recognizes her work and provides an opportunity to share her research with a broader scientific audience.
The BHL team participated at the UK Neuroscience Clinical-Translational Research Symposium, where Manekya, Hana, and Hady presented posters. Anika moderated the Research Data Blitz session, which highlighted research by early-career investigators.
Members of the BHL team presented posters at the Annual Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Markesbery Symposium. Congratulations to Hana for an Outstanding Poster Award and to Avijit for a Costume Award!
We welcomed Julia Schulz-Pauly, a former BHL PhD student and current Principal Scientist at Amgen, back to the lab and the UK College of Pharmacy for a seminar presentation. During Julia’s visit, she met with trainees and faculty to share insights from her work in industry and discuss her career path. We enjoyed reconnecting and hearing about Julia’s current work.
Anika was recently invited to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to present her latest research findings. During her visit, she met with several NIH investigators, engaging in scientific discussions that offered potential avenues for collaboration. Anika’s visit underscored the impact of her work and its relevance to the broader scientific community.
Bjoern recently participated in the 27th European Brain Barriers Meeting in Bern, Switzerland. The meeting brought together international brain barriers experts to discuss new advances and emerging challenges in the field. Bjoern gave a presentation and engaged in scientific discussions with friends and colleagues.
We are excited for Manekya to have been awarded an NIH Predoctoral T32 Fellowship. This recognition highlights her research potential and supports the next phase of her doctoral work. Congratulations to Manekya for this outstanding accomplishment!
Our BHL Summer Party brought together the team and their families for an afternoon of sunshine, laughter, and great conversations. Kids enjoyed the pool while the adults were chatting, making it a fun and memorable day. Here’s to many more!
We held our traditional summer retreat, featuring scientific presentations, project updates, and discussions that sparked new ideas. We also had a lively group discussion on Angela Duckworth’s book GRIT, reflecting on perseverance and resilience in research. We wrapped up the day with renewed motivation and a stronger sense of team spirit.
Congratulations to Makenna for a perfect Bradford assay! We celebrated this success with our traditional pizza lunch to mark this rare achievement.
Anika and Bjoern established the David S. Miller Junior Scientist Award in 2016 to honor Dr. Miller’s legacy as a mentor and to support emerging researchers in the brain barriers field. The award recognizes early-career scientists conducting innovative and impactful research. This year, Anika presented the award to Dr. Gaétan Braud of INSERM, France, in recognition of his promising work on regulating blood–CNS barrier integrity in health and disease.
Manekya, Anika, and Bjoern recently participated in the CVB2025 Meeting in Ann Arbor, MI. Manekya presented a poster on the therapeutic potential of mPGES-1 and 5-LOX inhibition to repair blood-brain barrier dysfunction in epilepsy. Anika was an invited speaker and delivered a talk on blood-brain barrier disruption in Alzheimer’s disease. Bjoern gave a short presentation on targeting endocannabinoid signaling for blood-brain barrier repair and seizure control in epilepsy.
A special summer seminar was co-organized by Anika, Bjoern, and Dr Ann Stowe, featuring guest speaker Dr. Britta Engelhardt, Director of the Theodor Kocher Institute at the University of Bern, Switzerland. Dr. Engelhardt is a globally recognized leader in immunobiology and an expert on the blood-brain barrier. She presented a seminar titled “Understanding How the Brain Barriers Orchestrate CNS Immune Privilege” on Thursday, June 26.
Congratulations to Manekya on successfully passing her PhD qualifying exam! This milestone reflects her hard work, preparation, and growing scientific expertise. With this achievement, Manekya advances to PhD candidacy and begins the next phase of her doctoral research. We are proud of her accomplishment and look forward to supporting her continued success. Congratulations, Manekya!
Manekya received a Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Student Travel Award to attend the CVB 2025 Conference in Ann Arbor, MI. This award will allow Manekya to present a poster of her research, engage with leading scientists in the field, and gain valuable insight into current trends and advances in blood-brain barrier science. Congratulations Manekya!
Bjoern has been selected as the Patrick DeLuca Endowed Professor of Pharmaceutical Technology, honoring his outstanding record of service, research excellence, and leadership within the College of Pharmacy. This prestigious appointment recognizes Bjoern’s significant contributions to pharmaceutical innovation and his dedication to advancing the field. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor, Bjoern!
Bjoern has been honored by the PY1 pharmacy students as the Outstanding PY1 Professor in the College of Pharmacy. This student-nominated award recognizes Bjoern’s commitment to excellence in teaching, mentorship, and inspiring first-year PharmD students. His engaging course delivery, supportive guidance, and unwavering dedication have left a meaningful impact on the next generation of pharmacists. Congratulations, Bjoern!
Oxidative stress contributes to blood–brain barrier leakage, renal dysfunction, and cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease. In this study, the team used 5xFAD mice to show that N-acetylcysteine (NAC) reduces Aβ-induced oxidative damage and improves cognition and organ function. Congratulations Atcharaporn and team!