Exploratory Pilot Study Engages Community Health Workers to Test Drone-Based Package Delivery System for Personal Protective Equipment in High-Risk Appalachia Population.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, high-risk clients' and caregivers' access to essential personal protective equipment (PPE) was limited especially in many remote areas of Appalachia. A multidisciplinary team of community and university partners explored how to coordinate the use of community health workers (CHWs) and drone technologies to increase access to PPE in rural and remote Appalachian regions. CHWs recruited 10 Homeplace clients in an exploratory study of drone-based package delivery of PPE to assess importance and effectiveness of PPE self-efficacy related to PPE use, use of PPE, and ease and acceptability of drone delivery (following delivery only).

The Community Leadership Institute of Kentucky (CLIK): A Collaborative Workforce and Leadership Development Program.

Background: The Community Leadership Institute of Kentucky (CLIK), a workforce development and leadership program within the Community Engagement and Research Core of the University of Kentucky's Center for Clinical and Translational Science (UK CCTS), was developed to enhance community members' capacity to address pernicious rural health inequities.

Objectives/methods: In this article, we describe the development, implementation, and results of the program, examining program and project completion rates, quantitative and qualitative evaluations from participants, and professional achievements.

Results: Based on existing models from other Clinical and Translational Science Awards Programs (CTSAs), CLIK provides diverse programming in a local, supportive setting and supports mentors/academic partners through education and networking.

Six2 is required for suppression of nephrogenesis and progenitor renewal in the developing kidney.

During kidney development and in response to inductive signals, the metanephric mesenchyme aggregates, becomes polarized, and generates much of the epithelia of the nephron. As such, the metanephric mesenchyme is a renal progenitor cell population that must be replenished as epithelial derivatives are continuously generated. The molecular mechanisms that maintain the undifferentiated state of the metanephric mesenchymal precursor cells have not yet been identified.