The new program is a collaboration between Western Kentucky University’s Ogden College of Science and Engineering and the University of Kentucky College of Medicine-Bowling Green Campus. It will give medical students the opportunity to work alongside faculty on real-life research.
Western Kentucky University’s Ogden College of Science and Engineering and the University of Kentucky’s College of Medicine-Bowling Green Campus have come together to launch a new Biomedical Research Excellence Program. The program, dubbed BREP, will match medical students from the UK College of Medicine-Bowling Green Campus with faculty members at WKU’s Ogden College of Science and Engineering for a summer research project.
According to an article on Western Kentucky University’s website, Dr. Caroline Paul, who serves as the Associate Dean for the UK College of Medicine-Bowling Green Campus, was quoted as saying of the program, “We are thrilled to launch this cross-institutional collaboration aiming to build the lens of critical inquiry for our future physicians, advance scientific research, and emphasize the importance of basic science research in the clinical practice of our physicians. In the landscape of education for our students, this is a unique and stellar opportunity bridging the UK College of Medicine and a landmark university, Western Kentucky University. Together we aim to build our physicians and scientists for our region, our state, and beyond, to impact our patients and their communities.”
Dr. Paul worked alongside Dr. David Brown, the dean of WKU Ogden College, to formulate BREP as an extension of the two institutions; existing relationship.
Dr. Brown said of the importance of the program, "Medical students benefit from research experience. It helps them develop a questioning and evidence-based approach and builds their knowledge and intuition about the fundamental science behind medicine.”
BREP will pair students from the UK College of Medicine-Bowling Green Campus with faculty members from WKU’s Ogden College through a competitive selection process during the students’ first year of medical school. The faculty member they are paired with will be working on a research project in the student’s field of interest. The students will receive a stipend from the UK College of Medicine-Bowling Green Campus to participate in a summer research experience with supervision and mentoring from their paired faculty member.
On April 21, 2026, the two students who make up the first BREP cohort were announced. Student Nick Cummins will work with Dr. Simran Banga, a WKU Associate Professor of Biology, on a project that will examine whether prolonged inflammation increases women’s risk of developing breast cancer. Student Josiah Shackleford will work with Dr. Joseph Marquardt, an Assistant Professor in the WKU Department of Biological Sciences, to study the ability of two different species' genes to maintain cell shape regulation through genetic experimentation.
Dr. Deanna Morris, the UK College of Medicine-Bowling Green Campus Assistant Dean of Students andResearch Lead, will serve as an advisor for BREP. She said, “This program is an important investment in our medical students. It enhances their education through hands-on research and builds skills they will carry throughout their careers. I look forward to many years of continued growth and research advancement through this partnership and program.”
For more information about Western Kentucky University, visit the school’s website.