The University of Kentucky Bioelectronics and Nanomedicine Research Center (BNRC) will host its first symposium later this month.

The center promotes biotechnology and bioelectronics innovation at UK to create new devices, diagnostics and therapies through multidisciplinary collaboration. The goal is to address challenges in disease detection, treatment and monitoring.

BNRC’s first symposium will be 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Sept. 26, in the E.S. Good Barn’s Gorham Hall. Registration is open online.

“The Bioelectronics and Nanomedicine Research Center combines some of UK’s key strengths: materials science, engineering and biomedical research. We are excited for this first of many symposiums to bring innovative researchers in these critical fields to our campus to showcase cutting-edge research that can be leveraged to advance the health of Kentucky through our continued work,” said Chris Richards, Ph.D., BNRC director. 

The event will feature three keynote speakers:

• Jonathan Lovell, Ph.D., University at Buffalo — The State University of New York, “Nanoliposome-Displayed Protein Vaccines: Translation and Potential”

• Wei Gao, Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, “Skin-interfaced Wearable Biosensors”

• Greg Gerhardt, Ph.D., UK, “DBS+: Combining Biotechnology with Cell Therapy to Repair the Central Nervous System”

Attendees will have a chance to learn from industry leaders in a short panel discussion.

There also will be a poster contest with judging occurring online before presentations. Poster submissions can be made online, and the winners will be announced at the closing of the symposium.