# UKNeu-PREP: University of Kentucky Neuroscience Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY · 2024 · $433,139

## Abstract

Project Summary
Nationally, underrepresented minorities (e.g., first-generation, low income, women, people of color, and people
with disabilities) significantly and consistently lag behind non-underrepresented peers in earning life science
doctorate degrees. While the foundation for the development of biomedical Ph.D. and MD/Ph.D. graduates
primarily focuses on the recruitment of younger students, gaps in the Ph.D. or MD/Ph.D. pipeline still exists
with underrepresented populations, due to limited role models, expectations, and resources to pursue excep-
tional doctoral training. Nationally, the step between undergraduate and graduate school is often a barrier in
the biomedical doctoral degree pipeline. This barrier is exacerbated by limited access to substantive biomedi-
cal research opportunities to prepare for graduate school. To address this critical need in our region and
beyond, the University of Kentucky (UK) Neuroscience - Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program
(UKNeu- PREP) is uniquely positioned to provide access to an extensive biomedical research experience in
neuroscience, while preparing program Participants through educational and professional development oppor-
tunities to acquire the knowledge, research experience, communication skills, and confidence to successfully
navigate the admissions process into a strong, neuroscience graduate program. UKNeu-PREP will leverage
existing state, regional, and national networks to recruit Participants to become integrated into campus student
supports, active research programs, and pipeline programs. Existing pipeline programs include our associated
T32 training program “Neurobiology of CNS Injury”, the Department of Neuroscience UK START (“STEM
Through Authentic Research and Training”), and the Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center (SCo-
BIRC)- “African American Research Training Scholars” (AARTS) programs. Collectively UKNeu-PREP will train
Participants to be lifelong career scientists while creating representational diversity at all levels. UKNeu-PREP
will contribute to innovation and excellence in research environments and strengthen the entire research train-
ing enterprise.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10806167
- **Project number:** 5R25NS130963-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
- **Principal Investigator:** Luke H Bradley
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $433,139
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-03-15 → 2027-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10806167

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10806167, UKNeu-PREP: University of Kentucky Neuroscience Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (5R25NS130963-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10806167. Licensed CC0.

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