好色先生

Renowned biochemist Xiaoqi Liu, Ph.D., has been named chair of the University of Kentucky Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology.

Liu鈥檚 research involves the molecular mechanisms that cause cancer with the goal of using this information to create new avenues for cancer therapy. His work specifically focuses on an enzyme known as Polo-like kinase 1, which plays a central role in controlling cell division and exists at abnormally high levels in many types of cancers, including prostate, pancreatic, melanoma and lung cancers.

A former professor of biochemistry at Purdue University, Dr. Liu is a graduate of Peking University in Beijing and received his doctorate from Washington State University.

Congratulations, Andrew Hitron, who successfully defended his Ph.D. dissertation this afternoon. Congratulations to the committee members Drs. St Clair, HS Yang, and Luo for their guidance throughout Andrew鈥檚 training.

We are pleased to congratulate Chontida Yarana who successfully defended her Ph.D. dissertation. Congratulations Dr. Yarana and congratulations to Dr. Daret St Clair for her excellent mentorship and the committee members for their guidance throughout Chontida鈥檚 training.

Congratulations to Stephanie Bryant on being awarded the new College of Medicine Fellowship for Excellence in Graduate Research! Stephanie was one of six awardees for the upcoming academic year.

We are pleased to congratulate Dustin Carroll who successfully defended his Ph.D. dissertation. Congratulations to Dr. Carroll and Dr. Daret St Clair for her excellent mentorship and the committee members for their guidance throughout Dustin鈥檚 training.

Congratulations to James Sledziona who successfully defended his Ph.D. Congratulations, Dr. Vivek Rangnekar for his excellent mentorship and guidance throughout his training.

For Carrigan Wasilchenko 鈥� and so many others hailing from Eastern Kentucky 鈥� cancer is not just a public health issue. It's also a problem that hits far too close to home. 

"I don't think I know one person who doesn't know someone who's been affected by cancer in some way," said Wasilchenko, whose mother and grandmother both had cancer. "It's very personal."

We welcome David Kirk to the department as an Administrative Staff Officer. He received a Master of Public Health from The University of Tennessee and a Master of Business Administration from Wright State University. Prior to joining us, he worked as a Research Administrator in the Office of Sponsored Projects Administration at the University of Kentucky. He also has prior research administration experience at Michigan State University in the Department of Agricultural, Food, & Resource Economics and the College of Nursing. Please stop by Room 306 to welcome David to our team!

The 2017 departmental holiday party was held on Monday, December 11th.  Photos from this event can be viewed here.

Congratulations to Lu Dai and Christina Wicker who successfully defended their Ph.D. Congratulations to both! A Graduation Reception was held on Friday, December 15th in their honor!

Congratulations to Lu Dai who successfully defended her Ph.D. Congratulations Dr. Dai! And congratulations to Dr. Gang Chen for his excellent mentorship and Lu鈥檚 committee members for their guidance through her training.

Congratulations to Diane Begemann on successfully passing her doctoral qualifying exam today. Congratulations Diane! Congratulations to her mentor Dr. Natasha Kyprianou and her committee members for guiding her through this important milestone.

Congratulations to Jazmyne Jackson Barney on successfully passing her doctoral qualifying exam today. Congratulations Jazmyne! Congratulations to her mentors Dr. Hennig and Dr. Morris and her committee members for guiding her through this important milestone.

Congratulations to Christina Wicker who successfully defended her Ph.D. dissertation this week. Congratulations Dr. Wicker! And congratulations to Dr. Izumi for his excellent mentorship and Christina鈥檚 committee members for their guidance through her training.

Of the 14 million cancer survivors in the United States, a significant number experience a serious side effect called chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI). While easily recognized, little is known about the etiology of this condition, also known informally as 鈥渃hemo brain.鈥� CICI can significantly reduce patients鈥� quality of life with serious, even devastating, symptoms such as memory lapses, difficulty concentrating, negative impacts on multitasking, confusion and fatigue.

A new book co-written by Nathan Vanderford, University of Kentucky assistant professor in the Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, guides STEM graduate and postdoctoral students in their career planning by evaluating goals and finding the steps to be taken to achieve them.

Six University of Kentucky educators were named recipients of the 好色先生 Alumni Association 2017 Great Teacher Award Tuesday night.

The recipients are: