INNOVATION INSIDER

November 2025

UK LAUNCHES CAMPUS-WIDE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INITIATIVE

This month, University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto today announced the launch of CATS AI, an initiative designed to coordinate and advance artificial intelligence efforts and expertise across the UK campus and throughout the Commonwealth.  

A steering committee of university leaders will oversee five subcommittees focused on education, research, student experience, health care and workplace administration. Initially, the CATS AI hub will be led by interim co-directors Ian McClure, UK vice president for innovation, and Heath Price, associate vice president for partnerships. A search for a permanent director will begin soon. 

‘I AM A UK INNOVATOR’: COLLEGE OF SOCIAL WORK'S JULIE CEREL 

Innovation is a new way of thinking that can often lead to transformative breakthroughs. Research Communications partnered with UK Innovate to spotlight faculty innovators with pioneering ideas at the University of Kentucky.

Julie Cerel, Ph.D., is a professor in the UK’s College of Social Work and director of the Suicide Prevention & Exposure Lab. In this Q&A, Cerel discusses her work on CODE RED Safety Planning — a proactive crisis planning intervention. CODE RED stands for “COntact,” “DElay decisions,” “RElax” and “Distract.”

This approach encourages open dialogue and helps individuals to create a simple, personalized safety plan they can use during a crisis. 

UK NAMES LOCKHEED MARTIN AND TURNER CONSTRUCTION AS NEW ONEUK PARTNERS

The University of Kentucky announced Nov. 17 that Lockheed Martin and Turner Construction Co. have joined its OneUK strategic collaboration program. OneUK provides long-term coordinated engagement between UK and select businesses to strengthen work in talent development, innovation and economic growth.

Lockheed Martin — which employs more than 1,500 people in Kentucky and has partnered with the Commonwealth for more than 15 years — brings expertise in engineering, manufacturing and global mission solutions. Turner Construction, a leading U.S. construction management firm, has completed more than 30 projects on UK’s campus, including major health care and agriculture facilities.

Together, the new partners are expected to bolster UK’s talent pipeline, advance innovation, support economic growth in Kentucky and benefit both the university and its collaborators.

TECHNOLOGY SPOTLIGHT

BREAKTHROUGH MYC INHIBITOR SHOWS PROMISE IN CANCER TREATMENT (2908))

Researchers at the University of Kentucky have developed a groundbreaking small molecule that targets one of cancer’s most elusive drivers: MYC. Roughly 70% of human cancers involve dysregulation of MYC, long considered “undruggable” because of its complex structure.

The UK team synthesized a novel compound, MY05, built on a dihydropyrazolo pyridinone scaffold that selectively disrupts the MYC–MAX interaction, a key mechanism in tumor growth and survival. In preclinical studies, MY05 has reduced MYC protein levels, promoted cancer cell death and significantly slowed tumor growth in aggressive triple-negative breast cancer models, all while being well tolerated in mice.

This approach could represent a major advancement in developing targeted therapies for one of oncology’s most challenging molecular pathways.

NEW STAFF MEMBER: CARL AGNER

Carl Agner joins UK Innovate as marketing and communications manager. He will lead the development of a comprehensive communications and marketing strategy supporting the UK Innovate brand and its affiliated programs. Agner will oversee all marketing and communications efforts, including websites, social media, articles and events.

NEW STAFF MEMBER: ALEC LEWIS

Alec Lewis joins UK Innovate as its new technology development director. He will lead cross-functional projects for the Health Care Innovation team. Alec's work will focus on identifying unmet clinical and operational needs, turning them into scalable solutions that streamline processes and strengthen patient care.

LICENSES AND OPTIONS

OCTOBER 2025

Nicky Hewitt 

Innovator: Nora Warshawsky

West Virginia United Health System, Inc. 

Innovators: Todd Burus, Pamela Hull, Lee Park 

2025 Midea America Small Appliances Innovation Competition

The 2025 Midea America Small Appliances Innovation Competition is seeking groundbreaking ideas in small appliance design with a focus on innovation, emerging technologies, connectivity and energy efficiency.

Competition Prizes

Qualifier Round: Eight finalists will receive $250 each and advance to the final round.

Final Round:

• 1st Place – $3,000

• 2nd Place – $2,000

• 3rd Place – $1,000

Submission deadline: December 1, 2025

For more details and official rules, visit the competition website.

Applications for the UAccel and I-Corps programs are now open. These programs provide researchers with a structured way to explore how their findings can move beyond the lab and create real-world value.

David Eaton, a program manager at the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research, previously completed the program and used the experience to evaluate the real world potential of his team’s research. He later served as a technical lead with the National Science Foundation I Corps program, contributing to the continued growth of Kentucky’s energy innovation community. 

UAccel and I Corps provide the support and guidance researchers need to turn discoveries into practical impact. 



Applications close December 19, 2025.

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