Rapid Response Grants 2026 awardees advance community-focused research

The Sustainable Futures Design Lab (SFDL), a founding area of UK Innovate’s TRUST Hub, selected three University of Kentucky research teams to receive the 2026 Rapid Response Grants.

The award supports community-engaged research projects that respond to emerging needs across Kentucky and help accelerate solutions with the potential for long-term impact.

“At SFDL, we believe that the most impactful research is developed with communities, not simply for them,” said Serenity Wright, Ed.D., senior executive director for innovation, community health and societal impact at UK Innovate. “These Rapid Response Grants empower researchers to engage stakeholders early, respond to emerging opportunities and accelerate the translation of research into practical solutions. As a founding focus area of the TRUST Hub, SFDL is committed to building pathways that connect discovery, innovation and community impact across Kentucky.”

Rapid Response Grants are designed to help researchers quickly pursue time-sensitive opportunities that address pressing challenges facing Kentucky communities. By providing early-stage funding, the program enables interdisciplinary teams to build partnerships, gather preliminary data and develop innovative approaches that can lead to larger research initiatives.

“Seeing applications from seven colleges across campus tells us something,” said Rebekah Radtke, co-director of SFDL and associate professor in the College of Design. “This work isn't confined to just one discipline. Community challenges are complex, and it takes all of us — engineers, social workers, legal scholars and many others — working together to respond to them. That is what makes our grants so exciting and impactful.” 

2026 Rapid Response Grant awardees:

• Jeff Seay, Ph.D. (Stanely and Karen Pigman College of Engineering), “Development of a Sustainable Thermally Modified Lumber Product for Regional Economic and Environmental Resilience”
• Carlyn Kimiecik, Ph.D. (College of Social Work), “Youth Sport, Disaster Response, and Rural Communities: Developing a Community-Based Resilience Model in Central Appalachia Kentucky”
• Zach Bray, J.D. (J. David Rosenberg College of Law), “Pathways to Protection: Addressing the Challenges of Appalachian Cemetery Preservation”

The 2026 awardees represent a range of disciplines and approaches, each focused on translating research into practical solutions that benefit communities throughout the Commonwealth.

Visit the Sustainable Futures Design Lab webpage for more information on each project.