HomeHeart Health
Community-Based Education Model for Cardiovascular Risk Reduction in Rural Appalachian Kentucky. Read more about Cardiovasular Risk...
Houseboats and Efficient Housing
Design and develop concepts, prototypes, and manufactured low-cost housing and energy efficiency housing units. Read more about houseboats...
Second Sunday
The Second Sunday initiative addresses the problem of physical inactivity of Kentuckians through reducing barriers in the local built environment. Read more about Second Sunday...
University of Kentucky Research Initiatives
Targeting Kentucky's Most Severe Problems
University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto sees UK, the state's flagship university, as the state's indispensable institution. UK's research must address the long-entrenched challenges that are holding back the state's economic and cultural progress.
"We must encourage and provide opportunities for University faculty and staff researchers - experts in their field - to identify Kentucky's priority needs and propose solutions."
Beginning in 2006, our Commonwealth Collaboratives began researching and implementing strategies to improve Kentucky's health and well-being, educational opportunities, economy, environment, natural resources, and quality of life.
"If we hope to confront today's most complex challenges, we must work collaboratively with Kentucky's human capital to build creative solutions for a better tomorrow."
Commonwealth Collaboratives is a term that describes the partnership binding UK's researchers, K-12 educators, health care providers, entrepreneurs, industries, government officials and private citizens who will participate in -- and benefit from -- these projects in and beyond Kentucky.
Our investigators report annually on their progress, and provide measurements demonstrating the actual impact on their target populations.
In 2008, 13 additional Collaboratives were added to the initial 23 initiatives -- all addressing Kentucky's priority problems and working to enhance quality of life in the Commonwealth. Two years later, 11 additional Collaboratives were added; confronting needs as diverse as heart health, the arts and physical fitness, college readiness, and restoration of the Cane Run Watershed.
To date, 47 Commonwealth Collaboratives have been designated, addressing Kentucky's priority needs and elevating the Commonwealth's quality of life. Among these is a research-based initiative in western Kentucky that has reduced pre-term birth rates from 14% to 5% and low birth weight babies from 8% to 5%. This collaboration, CenteringPregnancy Smiles, was awarded the NASULGC-Kellogg Foundation South Region Engagement Award for 2008 and is being replicated in other rural Kentucky communities.
The Clean Indoor Air Partnership has reduced Lexington's smoking rate by 32% and its asthma-related ER visits by 22%; it provides expertise on the science of second-hand smoke to the Kentucky legislature and community leaders, collects data, and works with groups across Kentucky to improve air quality and reduce lung cancer. It was designated an APLU-Kellogg Foundation Exemplary Project in 2011.
Reforesting Coal Mined Lands has developed ways to restore strip mined land to hardwood forests, creating sustainable jobs in Appalachia, reducing flash flooding and toxic runoff of heavy metals, bringing back wildlife, and partially offsetting global warming through tree planting. This initiative has been recognized by the federal government and the United Nations. It too received the APLU-Kellogg Foundation Exemplary Project designation in 2011.
A dramatically different initiative brings opera performances to elementary and middle schools across Kentucky. To date it has played to over 150,000 Kentucky students; introducing music and fine arts to students who may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience talent of this caliber. This Collaborative has been endowed and will continue in perpetuity.
The Cane Run Watershed restoration effort is researching the watershed that flows through Lexington and Georgetown and serves as Georgetown's water source. Researchers are recommending changes to enhance water quality, reduce water-borne illness, and restore Kentucky streams.