New Visiting Scholar Program Shares Expertise Between UK, Indiana University

A new program between the University of Kentucky Center for Clinical and Translational Science(CCTS) and the Indiana Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) aims to share research expertise between the two institutions. Through a Visiting Scholar program, researchers in each institution’s KL2 Career Development program present their work at the partnering school, with the goal of enhancing trainee experience, building their portfolio for promotion and tenure, and encouraging cross-institutional collaboration.

On Monday, Nov. 13, Kyle S. Minor, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, will present his research, “A Window into Psychosis: Designing Ecologically-Valid Assessments and Treatments” at UK. The presentation will be held in MN363 (Medical Science Building) from noon to 1 p.m.  Lunch will be provided; please RSVP by Nov. 10 to ccts@uky.edu. 

Sally Ellingson, Ph.D., assistant professor in the UK College of Medicine Department of Biomedical Informatics, will present her research at the Indiana CTSI on Nov. 28 – 29.

Ellingson and Minor are both scholars in their respective institution’s KL2 program, a research training and funding opportunity for junior faculty to foster a career in clinical and translational research. Through didactic coursework, mentored research and multidisciplinary teamwork, KL2 Scholars develop the necessary skills for a well-funded, collaborative research career. The goal of the program is to help awardees ultimately obtain an individual career development award or an independent investigator.

Through the KL2 Visiting Scholars initiative, which was first piloted in May 2017, the hosting institution matches each visiting scholar with faculty in their research area who they wish to meet with, and the visiting scholars give presentations of their research. Two scholars participated in spring 2017, and two are participating this fall.

The UK CCTS and Indiana CTSI are both funded by a Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA), with a mission of advancing discoveries that improve health and training the next generation of translational science researchers.  Discussions are currently underway to potentially develop cross-institutional KL2 pilot studies, as well as expand the Visiting Scholars program to other nearby CTSA institutions.