R Group
R Group is a Zoom-based seminar series in which Center members present environmental health sciences-related grant concepts to cross-disciplinary colleagues for feedback during the development of external grant applications. As investigators present their proposed aims and approaches, participants provide constructive feedback on key elements, including significance, innovation, approach, and opportunities for further research development.
All Center members are encouraged to participate in these interactive monthly meetings, with core and program leaders actively engaged to promote research synergy and identify opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration, translation, and development into future project applications. Through this process, the Center identifies and advances promising research ideas, strengthens collaborations—including community-academic partnerships—fosters new cross-disciplinary opportunities, and promotes the translation of research discoveries.
NEXT R GROUP:
October 9, 2026, 9:00 am ET
Interested in R Group?
Present Your Research
Share your grant concepts at an upcoming session to receive interdisciplinary feedback.
Join the Conversation
Attend our monthly Zoom meetings to participate in the development of new environmental health projects.
R Group Archive
2026
“Microplastics Composition and Impact on Human Health” with Dr. Gosia Chwatko
September 2026
Assistant Professor
University of Kentucky
College of Engineering
Department of Chemical Engineering
“Tracking the evolution & spread of infectious pathogens using hospital wastewater surveillance” with Dr. Medini Annavajhala
August 2026
Assistant Professor
Division of Infectious Diseases
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
“Establishing a Model of Obesity-driven Liver Cancer” with Dr. Robert Nate Helsley
"Natural Disaster Exposure and Health and Well-Being in Later Life" with Dr. Yeon Jin Choi
“Cockroach Exposure, Microbiome Dysbiosis, and Asthma: A Pilot Study” with Drs. Zach DeVries and Julian Porras Villamil
March 2026
Associate Professor
University of Kentucky
Department of Entomology
University of Kentucky
Postdoctoral Research Scholar
“University of Kentucky Superfund Research Center, Preventing and Reducing the impacts of EnVironmental Exposures in KeNTucky and beyond (PREVENT)” with Dr. Kelly Pennell
February 2026
Director, University of Kentucky Superfund Research Center
University of Kentucky
College of Engineering
Department of Civil Engineering
“Differential Molecular Response to Stroke in Patients from Appalachia” with Dr. Keith Pennypacker
January 2026
Professor
University of Kentucky
College of Medicine
Department of Neurology
2025
"Building Environmental Health Research Capacity in Pediatrics: A New Era at Golisano Children’s at University of Kentucky’ " with Dr. John Bauer
December 2025
"Career Enhancement in Tobacco Regulatory Science: A Translational Perspective from AppalTRUST" with Dr. Delvon Mattingly
"Household Air Pollution, Adiposity, and Cardiorenal Disease Risk in Children" with Dr. Maggie Murphy
October 2025
"The role of particulate matter in cognitive trajectory for post-thrombectomy ELVO stroke patients in Kentucky" and "Leveraging Multi-Environment Monitoring to Understand the Impact of Air Pollution on Adolescent Sleep in Rural Appalachia"
September 2025
"Upcoming R01 submissions in October" with Pearson's ViCTER Team
August 2025
Pearson's ViCTER Team
"Toxicological Assessment of Nanoplastics Using Immune Cells: Study on Polystyrene and Polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics" with Dr. Alireza Tavakolpournegari
May 2025
"The associations between personal particulate matter exposures and cognitive function among stroke patients" with Dr. Yisi Liu
April 2025
"Air Pollution’s Impact on Adolescent Sleep in Appalachian Kentucky" with Dr. Tianjun Lu
March 2025
“Environmental Health Law, Equity, and Community Engagement” with Shavonnie Carthens, JD
February 2025
“Can we link radon exposure and stem cell aging” and “Effects of Aging on Hematopoiesis” SHINE R01 with Dr. Mary Mohrin
January 2025