February 2025

In this issue

Research highlights  |  Innovation spotlight  |  New awards  |  Unsung heroes
Faculty kudos  |  Recognition roundup  |  Research development  |  Nuts & bolts

Research and development expenditures spanning all University of Kansas campuses increased to $546.1 million in fiscal year 2024, surpassing the half-billion-dollar mark for the first time in university history. The reverberations of that growth extend far beyond KU to benefit people throughout the Sunflower State and beyond.

Four faculty members at two Kansas universities were named recipients of the Higuchi-KU Endowment Research Achievement Awards, the state higher education system’s most prestigious recognition for scholarly excellence. 

The Kansas Geological Survey, a state agency housed within the University of Kansas, measures the state's aquifers routinely to ensure Kansans have adequate water for drinking, agriculture, and other uses. 

A team at the Life Span Institute received a 5-year, $1.875 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to develop a program to help students with disabilities improve their writing skills. 

The 11-week treatment uses a mobile app co-created by Kelsie Forbush, professor of clinical child psychology, which helps students who face logistical barriers to care, such as not being able to drive to Kansas City clinics. Learn how federal research funding expands mental health care access for vulnerable populations and helps drive innovations that are missing from the market. 

An engineer who started her career with a National Science Foundation-funded undergraduate research experience co-developed a way to recycle refrigerants that contribute to the climate crisis. Read about how research funding jump-starts careers, retains workers in Kansas, and helps solve problems of global importance. 

KU researchers affiliated with the KU Cancer Center have uncovered the true structure of the CA125 protein, a discovery that could lead to more precise testing for ovarian cancer.

Each Feb. 11, the United States observes National Inventors' Day to honor the innovative spirit embodied by America’s past and present inventors. First declared in 1983, this date was chosen by the Reagan administration because it coincides with Thomas Edison’s birthday. Edison, recognized as one of our greatest inventors, held more than 1,000 patents throughout his lifetime. 

At the University of Kansas, our own innovators are committed to finding creative solutions for the challenges facing our world. The KU Center for Technology Commercialization thanks the entire research community for their creativity and ingenuity. We especially appreciate the innovators who disclosed new inventions to the university in 2024, whose names are listed below. Please join us in celebrating the contributions of these and all KU inventors, for the tremendous value they bring to our institution. 

2024 KU inventors

KU researchers are improving classroom engagement for Native American and rural students; studying long-duration energy storage; planning crop conversion to address climate change; identifying novel drugs to treat bone cancer, and more — all with the aid of external funding awarded in January.

Behind every successful award are teams of KU research support staff who help investigators identify opportunities, prepare and submit complicated proposals under strict deadlines, help manage finances and compliance for funded projects, and more. They are the unsung heroes of KU research, greasing the wheels of innovation and discovery.

In each issue of KU Discoveries, we shine a spotlight on a research support staff member deemed particularly outstanding by colleagues. Click the button below this month's story to nominate a deserving candidate from any unit on campus.

Suzanne Kerich | Facilities Manager | Office of Research

An often-overlooked component of research is where it takes place. Dedicated facilities managers like Suzanne Kerich maintain buildings and workplace cultures to ensure that researchers and support staff can focus on discoveries.

Kerich has worked at KU since 2018. She currently serves as the facilities manager for several buildings, including the Wakarusa Research Facility and St. Andrew’s Research Facility, where social science and behavioral research is conducted. She also stepped in to share oversight of KU’s Life Sciences Research Laboratories after the death of a colleague last year.

“Suzanne has been the Swiss Army knife of KU research facilities,” said Erik Lundquist, associate vice chancellor for research and professor of molecular biosciences. “She is considerate, prompt and conscientious about facilities and their occupants, and she always tries to help.”

Another building Kerich manages is Youngberg Hall in KU’s West District. Until recently, the building housed the Office of Research, which oversees research administration, development and integrity, among other areas. She collaborated with numerous colleagues to support a smooth transition to the office’s new spaces in Strong Hall and Carruth-O’Leary Hall. 

During KU Research’s time in Youngberg, Kerich played an integral role in onboarding staff. She coordinated with IT to ensure computer equipment was ready for incoming employees and introduced them to new colleagues during a tour of the building. Aside from hiring committee members, Kerich was often the first person a KU Research staff member would meet.

“Suzanne does her job in a kind and friendly manner, always with a smile,” Lundquist said. “She is truly a joy to work with.”

Kerich’s role in cultivating a welcoming environment continues beyond a colleague’s first day. As an active member of the KU Research Social Committee, she helps plan events that sustain connections among office staff, most of whom are hybrid or remote workers.

“For social events, Suzanne acquires space, coordinates catering, and gets us all free event parking,” said Brad Banks, grant coordinator and chair of the social committee. “She is the champion of Youngberg Hall and goes out of her way to get KU research employees anything they need to make their jobs or lives easier.”

Kerich has dealt with her fair share of unexpected facilities challenges. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, she helped distribute IT and other office equipment to staff as they transitioned to remote work. Colleagues say her efforts allowed them to focus on adapting their support at a time when research was especially needed to help solve a problem of global importance.

“During the pandemic, she did a wonderful job of getting new computers and supplies to people who needed them. I remember she had a few standing desks available, and I went to pick one up during the height of lockdown without any trouble at all,” Banks said. “Suzanne is a generous person who really cares about us all and making KU research thrive.”

Honorific awards are an exciting and meaningful way to provide validation to researchers for their hard work and cutting-edge research that impacts society. University and external awards not only enhance researchers’ visibility and ability to garner grant funding, but they also raise awareness about research accomplishments that can lead to collaboration with colleagues at KU and other institutions.

As a faculty researcher, how can you improve your chances of being nominated for an award?

Being “award ready” expedites preparation of nomination packets, multiplying submissions and ultimately leading to a greater number of KU researchers being honored for their work. Both the scholar and the institution reap the benefits of faculty excellence.

Questions? Contact Robin Lehman, director of faculty recognition & awards.

INTERNAL FUNDING

The Kansas Consortium Intelligence Community Center of Academic Excellence Research Awards support KU faculty engaged in national security research as they prepare competitive proposals for external funding opportunities.

Congratulations to the 2025 recipients:

The awards are managed by KU’s Office of National Defense Initiatives.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Learn how Frontiers Clinical & Translational Science Institute — a partnership between local health care systems and academic institutions, including the University of Kansas — can assist you in your research. Frontiers offers education and training programs, access to resources, opportunities to collaborate with other institutions across the country, funding and more.

Frontiers Virtual Roadshow
Tuesday, March 11 | 1 – 2 p.m.
Register on Zoom

GENERAL

The Federal Research Updates webpage contains information and guidance for the KU Lawrence/Edwards research community about potential impacts of recent federal actions. Find an archive of KU messages and town hall recordings, evolving guidance for investigators, and resources to increase understanding and advocacy for indirect costs. 

RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION

KU has a duty of care for all employees traveling for business and must ensure that lodging is not only cost-effective but allows for flexible cancellation, regardless of which funding source pays for the travel.

Travelers may seek approval for an Airbnb/Vrbo booking exception by contacting:

For assistance determining whether Airbnb/VRBO will meet the financial and safety requirements to grant the approval, please consult KU’s Travel Policies & Procedures FAQs.

RESEARCH INTEGRITY

The February Final Friday Ethics session will continue the Back to Basics series and focus on the principle of respect for persons, including voluntariness of research participation and obtaining informed consent. Different types and methods of consent will be discussed, as well as requirements and regulations for consent materials.

IRB Back to Basics
Respect for Persons: Consent 
Friday, Feb. 28 | 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 
Register on Zoom

The Belmont Report, which is a set of ethical principles for research involving human subjects — Respect for Persons, Beneficence, Justice — is the foundation of the regulations designed to protect human subjects. This series will consider each principle, reviewing the regulations and requirements in place to ensure the principle is followed.

Researchers who are new to human subjects research would benefit from this in-depth review of human subjects protections. This series could also benefit seasoned researchers due to continuing changes and updates to federal and institutional requirements. The monthly series will run through May; anyone who attends all 5 sessions will receive a completion certificate.

Questions? Comments? Content suggestions?
Mindie Paget  |  Office of Research  |  mpaget@ku.edu

KU Office of Research
Strong Hall | 1450 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence, KS 66045

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