The University of Kentucky has set the date for its seventh annual Substance Use Research Event (SURE) and registration is currently open.

SURE will be held Feb. 5, 2025, in the UK Gatton Student Center from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. This free event showcases translational research conducted at UK focusing on substance use and substance use disorder.

“This event brings together scholars from all career stages and disciplines alongside practitioners to focus on the complex issue of substance use. It provides an opportunity to network, generate new ideas across our UK research community and build connections with community partners to help address substance use disorders,” said Carrie Oser, Ph.D., a professor in the UK College of Medicine serving as the organizing committee chair for the event.

Speakers and their speech topics will include:

• Faye Taxman, Ph.D., University Professor at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University and director of the Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence (ACE!)
  “Can We Use Science to Improve Practice and Policies? The Role of Translational Science.”

• Matthew Hill, Ph.D., professor in the Departments of Cell Biology and Anatomy and Psychiatry at the University of Calgary’s Hotchkiss Brain Institute
  “Translationally Relevant Models of Cannabis Administration to Rodents.”

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Matthew Hill and Dr. Faye Taxman to SURE and look forward to learning about their contributions to science. Dr. Taxman will be giving the inaugural Robert Straus Substance Use Translational Science Lectureship, made possible by a generous charitable donation,” Oser said.

There will also be five breakout sessions for attendees:

• Topic 1: T32 Data blitz

• Topic 2: Intersection of infectious diseases and drug use

• Topic 3: Vapor drug exposures — Translational studies

• Topic 4: Neuroimmune consequences and drivers of drug use

• Topic 5: AppalTRuST — Lessons learned from engaging in tobacco regulatory science in rural communities

The Poster Award Competition, supported by the Substance Use Priority Research Area (SUPRA), will accept posters, and enter them into competitions of the following categories: staff, undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral and community members.  

The free event is open to all members of UK and the greater Lexington community who are interested in the field. Attendees must register in advance here. Registration closes on Jan. 2, 2025.

SURE 2025 is sponsored by the UK Office of the Vice President for Research, SUPRA, UK HealthCare CECentral and the UK Cannabis Center. For more information, visit UK Research.