UK UNITE Research Showcase 2026 is April 28

By Christian Honce Friday

Two circular portrait photos displayed on a dark blue background with diagonal light blue, yellow and white accents. The left photo shows a person in formal attire, and the right photo shows a person wearing a light-colored top outdoors.

Keynote addresses will be delivered by Hill Harper, J.D., and Joia Crear-Perry, M.D. Photos provided.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 6, 2026) — The University of Kentucky will host the 2026 UNITE Research Showcase Tuesday, April 28, to highlight impactful science dedicated to advancing the development of children, youth and families across the Commonwealth.

The event brings together investigators, trainees and colleges from across the university to focus on impactful research vital to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The UNITE Research Priority Area (RPA), supported by the UK Office of the Vice President for Research, is designed to foster a dynamic environment where academic discovery meets real-world community needs.

The showcase will feature sessions specifically tailored to local challenges, including breakout discussions on health disparities, economics and law, education and community advancement. These sessions provide a platform for local researchers to share work that directly informs policy and improves the lives of Kentucky residents.

Keynote addresses will be delivered by Hill Harper, J.D., and Joia Crear-Perry, M.D. Harper is a humanitarian and award-winning actor who has served as a national spokesperson for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Crear-Perry, a physician and policy expert, is the president-elect of the National Medical Association and has worked internationally to address maternal mortality through a human rights framework.

The event also includes a poster session starting 2 p.m. in Gatton Student Center Ballroom C. During this session, UK faculty, trainees and students will present ongoing research aimed at supporting Kentucky’s youth. A competition for undergraduate and postdoctoral presenters will award prizes of up to $1,250 to recognize the most promising student-led science.

The 2026 UNITE Research Showcase will run 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Members of the community and the university are invited to attend and engage with research that is shaping the future of the state.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.