THE ALLIANCE RESEARCH INITIATIVE: PROMOTING COLLABORATION AND MENTORSHIP FOR GROUNDBREAKING DISCOVERIES
20 | UKMedicine
Nearly two years ago, with funding from UK HealthCare and the vice president for research, the College of Medicine launched the Alliance Research Initiative. It has a mission, Vice Dean for Research Rebecca Dutch, PhD, explained, “to help spur on transdisciplinary research by pairing clinical and basic scientists together to answer new questions in new ways.” The project began with three groups and now includes 21 teams focusing on the diseases and health conditions that most challenge Kentucky and the nation. The Alliance Research Initiative investment is already paying off. “It’s been very effective,” said Dr. Dutch. “There’s seed money to get things started, and it’s been exciting to watch that progress.” Mentorship for Early-career Faculty Eighteen months ago, Matthew Bush, MD, PhD, MBA, professor of otolaryngology, joined colleagues to form Translations of Research Interventions in Practice, Populations, and Policy Leadership (TRIPPPLe) to gather scientists from across campus for collaboration in interventional studies. Since then, TRIPPPLe has welcomed eight colleges, 25 departments, and 65 members to its group.
