The University of Kentucky’s Substance Use Priority Research Area (SUPRA) will host the Rising Stars Symposium to showcase innovative research and new findings on substance use disorders.

The symposium will be 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Thursday, April 17, in room 150 of the Healthy Kentucky Research Building. Registration for the symposium is online.

This symposium will feature two early-career addiction researchers from outside UK: Brittany Kuhn, Ph.D., an assistant research professor at Medical University of South Carolina; and Kate Brynildsen, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in the Complex Systems Labs at the University of Pennsylvania.

Kuhn’s research focuses on cellular, genetic and circuitry dynamics underlying opioid addiction-like behaviors. She will present “Biological contributors to individual variation to heroin vulnerability and resiliency.”

Brynildsen’s most recent work focuses on brain metabolism changes during alcohol withdrawal. She hopes to develop models that improve brain behavior in response to addiction-related disruptions. Her presentation is titled “Control of brain network dynamics in alcohol withdrawal.”

“We look forward to introducing Dr. Kuhn and Dr. Brynildsen to our research community,” said William W. Stoops, Ph.D., SUPRA associate director for clinical research and associate vice president for research integrity. “Their work highlights the goal of the Rising Stars Symposium — to recognize the pivotal role of innovation from early-career researchers in understanding and combating addiction. Ultimately, this research helps pave the way for healthier futures while offering pathways to resilience and recovery.”

The symposium also allows invited researchers to examine the various programs in the College of Medicine, Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, Department of Behavioral Science and Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences.

You can register and find more information online.