University of Kentucky

Project Summary (2005-2008)

Note: As of the most recent reissue of the Superfund Hazardous Substance Research and Training Program Request for Applications (RFA-ES-18-002), research translation in these multiproject center grants is now part of the Administrative Core. The research translation efforts are now facilitated by the Administrative Core and led by the Research Translation Coordinator.

The University of Kentucky Superfund Research Center (UK SRC) focuses on a prevention and intervention paradigm with an overarching goal to promote healthy lifestyles (i.e., healthful nutrition and increased physical activity) to reduce disease risks associated with exposure to a subclass of persistent halogenated chemicals. As part of providing an optimal support environment and the requisite infrastructure to accomplish the Center’s goal, the core promotes bidirectional communication, partnerships, and technology transfer.

Bidirectional communication with other SRP centers and agency scientists and research translation to other stakeholders are fully integrated within the Administrative Core and overseen by a dedicated Research Translation Coordinator with support from a communications director. The core effectively facilities investigator-initiated research translation and technology transfer functions by leveraging a new integrated Data Management and Analysis Core along with multidirectional internal and external partnerships.

The Administrative Core of the UK SRC promotes problem-based, solution-oriented research by using an innovative transdisciplinary research approach that brings together biomedical and environmental scientists, engineers, and trainees. The Administrative Core ensures the continued relevance of the proposed research through bidirectional communication with the SRP and SRP staff, academia, the general public and relevant federal and state communities of practice as well as communities of impact in Appalachia.