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Prioritizing the Future of Our People & Commonwealth

Established in 2018 and funded by the UK Office of the Vice President for Research, the following eight areas are designated Research Priority Areas: cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes & obesity, energy, materials science, neuroscience, substance use disorders, and uniting communities (UNITE). These areas were chosen based on local relevance to Kentucky, existing funding strength, sustainability and disciplinary scholarly diversity.

Cancer

Cardiovascular Disease

Diabetes & Obesity

Energy

Materials Science

Neuroscience

Substance Use Disorder

UNITE

Why these priorities? 

RPA octagon

RPA Program Impact FY23*

  • $4.02 million in expenditures 

  • Recruitment of six research-active faculty

  • $1.2 million committed to pilot/seed projects

  • $440,000 committed to research start-up funds

  • $110,000 retention package

  • $518,000 in equipment and core facilities support

  • $331,000 in trainee and student research support

*Estimates based on submitted FY23 Annual RPA Reports

Research Awards by Priority Area

Awards by RPA FY 23
$71 million

Cancer research awards in FY23

$27 million

Cardiovascular research awards in FY23

$49 million

Diabetes & Obesity research awards in FY23

$34 million

Energy research awards in FY23

$29 million

Materials Science research awards in FY23

$75 million

Neuroscience research awards in FY23

$74 million

Substance Use Disorder research awards in FY23

$63 million

UNITE research awards in FY23


RPA Events