LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky is seeking scholars and associates to join a prestigious research program focused on advancing women's health and addressing sex differences in medical treatment and outcomes.

The Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health (BIRCWH) program is currently accepting applications from all UK colleges for up to two scholar positions and up to two associate positions. Applications are due Tuesday, June 30, with appointments beginning Aug. 1 for one year.

According to a university announcement, the program has been consistently funded by the National Institutes of Health, most recently through the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Since its inception 26 years ago, UK's BIRCWH program has trained more than 60 early-career faculty members in women's health research.

The program stands out for its comprehensive support system. Participants receive protected research time, dedicated mentorship and resources like grant-writing workshops to help them transition into independently funded researchers. As an NIH-wide initiative, the BIRCWH program has supported more than 800 junior faculty nationwide since its creation in 2000, with the agency investing over $15 million annually across 19 active programs.

One program success story is Hend Mansoor, Pharm.D., Ph.D., an assistant professor in the UK College of Pharmacy. Mansoor's research focuses on cardiovascular disease and stroke prevention, using advanced machine learning to address the leading cause of death in Kentucky. Through the BIRCWH program, she secured funding from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology for her cardiovascular research.

"I feel deeply honored to be part of the UK BIRCWH program," Mansoor said in the announcement. "Working through BIRCWH teaches you the nature of diverse fields — from neurology to data science — and has been instrumental in fostering my growth toward becoming an independent researcher."

Thomas Curry, principal investigator and professor in the UK College of Medicine, emphasized the program's emphasis on cross-disciplinary collaboration. "By fostering collaboration across colleges like pharmacy and medicine, we tackle complex health challenges from multiple angles," Curry said.

Tenure-track assistant professors, including physician-scientists, from all UK colleges are eligible to apply. Interested faculty can find more information on the BIRCWH application page or by contacting Emily Clear at emily.clear@uky.edu.