Bjoern Bauer, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, is one of 16 University Research Professors for 2023-24. The University Research Professorships honor faculty members who have demonstrated excellence that addresses scientific, social, cultural and economic challenges in our region and around the world. 

College leadership develop criteria for excellence within their area of expertise and then nominate faculty who excelled at these criteria. Each University Research Professor receives a one-year award of $10,000. 

“It is a great honor to receive this award and a humbling experience because it is based on a nomination by my colleagues and college leadership,” said Bauer. “I would have never expected to receive such an award considering the fantastic researchers, who received it in the past that I look up to.”

Bauer’s research is focused on understanding blood-brain barrier function in health and diseases including epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease and brain cancer. The goal of his research is to find therapeutic targets to repair barrier dysfunction in these diseases.

Throughout the last 18 years, Bauer has worked on identifying the signaling pathways through which epileptic seizures lead to barrier dysfunction. He and other researchers have now identified several targets that have FDA-approved drugs for and have patented the repurposing of these drugs for their use to repair barrier dysfunction. Bauer and others recently obtained a College of Pharmacy Team Science Pilot Award where the goal is to establish a bench-to-bedside pipeline so they can translate their research into the clinic for the benefit of patients.

“I thank my long-term collaborator and wife Anika Hartz and our three daughters, who patiently accept all the science talk in our house. I also thank my current and past team members, my wonderful past and current collaborators I have had over the years both here at UK and outside UK, and all of the great mentors I have had throughout my career,” said Bauer. “I love coming to work every day and that is in great part due to all the people who I have worked with along the way.”