University of Kentucky to receive laboratory equipment from US WorldMeds valued at $1.34 million

The University of Kentucky will receive a substantial donation of laboratory equipment from US WorldMeds, a privately held pharmaceutical company headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.

Valued at $1.34 million, the equipment includes high-value instruments and scientific supplies from a former cell-therapy facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

“Kentucky has the talent, ideas and ambition to be a leader in the life sciences—and US WorldMeds is committed to helping make that vision a reality,” said Breck Jones, Sr., CEO of US WorldMeds. “This $1 million-plus equipment and supply donation is a deliberate step toward growing the state’s biopharma infrastructure. By reinvesting directly into research and innovation infrastructure, we can help keep discoveries, jobs and expertise in the state while attracting future growth and positively impacting patients.”

UK Innovate, the university’s office for innovation, technology commercialization and industry partnerships, coordinated this multi-institutional effort with US WorldMeds. UK Innovate cataloged the equipment, gathered requests from Kentucky partners and developed an allocation plan. Kentucky partners participating in the allocation include the University of Louisville and LifeSciKY.

“This effort underscores the strength of our collaboration with US WorldMeds. By working closely with their team, we were able to coordinate a large-scale shipment of complex laboratory equipment rapidly and efficiently. This generous donation will greatly impact research capacity for Kentucky institutions, as access to advanced laboratory equipment is critical for competitive research. This will enable researchers across the Commonwealth to pursue new lines of inquiry, accelerate ongoing work and strengthen Kentucky’s position in the life sciences sector,” said Chelsea Ex-Lubeskie, R&D partnership manager for the UK College of Medicine and UK HealthCare.

This donation of high-value laboratory equipment represents a significant investment from US WorldMeds and is also an important step in a broader effort to strengthen Kentucky’s research infrastructure through strategic partnerships between industry, academia and ecosystem organizations.

“We have enjoyed a longstanding partnership with US WorldMeds, and we are grateful to them for entrusting UK Innovate to coordinate this effort alongside our Kentucky partners. It is a part of UK Innovate’s mission to drive R&D growth in Kentucky by catalyzing engagement with partners across the innovation ecosystem,” said Ian McClure, associate vice president for research, innovation and economic impact. “These R&D resources will support innovation across the Commonwealth, and this collaboration truly demonstrates what is possible when strong relationships and shared priorities come together.”