CE260036

University of Kentucky acquisition of laboratory research equipment - The proposed University of Kentucky acquisition of laboratory research equipment project requests HRSA support to acquire movable scientific laboratory equipment for the planned Healthy Kentucky Research Building 2 (HKRB 2), a new 340,000 gross-square-foot biomedical research facility on the University of Kentucky (UK) campus.

Located within an existing health research complex, HKRB 2 will expand UK’s capacity for high-impact, collaborative research focused on chronic diseases and health conditions that impose the greatest health and economic burden on Kentuckians, including multiple chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity, cancer, infectious diseases such as Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and HIV, maternal and infant mortality, rural health care access, and substance use disorder.

These burdens are magnified in rural and Appalachian communities, where chronic diseases frequently co-occur and access to specialty care and advanced health resources is limited.

HKRB 2 will accelerate transdisciplinary convergence research by bringing together biomedical scientists, engineers, data scientists, and clinicians in an integrated environment aligned with Kentucky’s urgent health needs.

The facility will support discovery and development of therapeutics, diagnostics, devices, and interventions that can move efficiently from laboratory discovery to clinical and community benefit.

The HRSA-supported acquisition will equip critical laboratory support areas and shared research spaces essential to HKRB 2’s function and impact.

Requested movable equipment is organized around four high-priority areas: electron microscopy, bioelectronics, high-containment laboratory, and preclinical models, including equipment that supports rigorous in vivo studies and emerging new approach methodologies (NAMS).

Electron microscopy equipment will enable high-resolution imaging, three-dimensional volume reconstruction, elemental analysis, imaging of biologically sensitive specimens, and air-free transfer.

Bioelectronics equipment will support fabrication, assembly, prototype development, and testing for biomedical, biosensing, and nanobioelectronic applications.

High-containment laboratory equipment will provide safe, compliant capacity for work involving infectious biological materials.

Preclinical models equipment, including caging and related support systems, will enable translational studies while complementing NAMS that strengthen mechanistic insight, improve predictive relevance, and support efficient movement of discoveries toward prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

This project directly aligns with HRSA’s CPF/CDS purpose to improve community access to quality health care by investing in the physical infrastructure and equipment health organizations need to deliver services effectively.

By strengthening research infrastructure that underpins future health innovations, the requested equipment will enable UK investigators and collaborators to pursue rigorous, evidence-based research focused on diseases that burden medically vulnerable and underserved communities across the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

The equipment will be acquired and managed with strong fiscal stewardship, program integrity, and accountability consistent with HRSA requirements.

Through this investment, HRSA will help ensure HKRB 2 opens with the shared instrumentation and laboratory capacity needed to support collaborative, high-impact research from the outset, positioning UK teams to advance prevention, early detection, treatment, and improved health outcomes for Kentucky and beyond.

University Of Kentucky Research Foundation

NOT APPLICABLE

93.493 - Congressional Directives

HRSA Office of Federal Assistance Management (OFAM) [HHS - HRSA]

Kentucky United States

State-Wide

HRSA-26-200