UTMB News Articles

UTMB’s Dr. Scott Weaver spoke to the Daily News about the millions in federal research funding that have been cut and the impacts to the university. UTMB has appealed some of the grant cuts and is working with elected officials to reverse the losses.

“I just always thought that was intriguing to work with viruses that were that deadly and try to come up with ways to stop them,” Dr. Thomas Geisbert tells The Scientist for an article about how scientists prepare to fight new and emerging pathogens.

UTMB received nearly $5 million in research grants from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas as well as another $2 million to recruit a cancer research expert to the university. The research funding will help create more opportunities for HPV vaccinations, advance research in how small changes in proteins, fats and other molecules in the body to help find diseases early, and research new ways to treat some lymphomas that do not respond well to current treatments.

Drs. Norbert Herzog and David Niesel explore the possibility that unique genes are responsible for our complex vocal communication in their latest Medical Discovery News column.

UTMB’s Dr. Gregory Gray spoke about the threat of bird flu for this story on how the virus is affecting peregrine falcons. Even with vaccines, though, "we may not be able to put out this fire," Gray said. "It appears, to many of us, that these viruses are going to be endemic, or we say 'enzootic,' for a long time."

Dr. Jochen Reiser, president and CEO of UTMB Health, tells the Houston Business Journal that UTMB will need to look for new revenue models to fund research but that cuts “won’t reduce the excitement we have for research.”

There are numerous studies that highlight the benefit of getting morning sunlight, writes Dr. Samuel Mathis in his latest column. Sunlight can affect our mood, immune system and circadian rhythm, Mathis writes.

Becker’s spoke to UTMB’s Nathan Vo, Senior Pharmacy Manager of Revenue Integrity, and Michael Eagon, Senior Pharmacy Manager of Ambulatory Pharmacy, about changing workforce strategies. “At The University of Texas Medical Branch, our workforce is evolving to meet the demands of a more complex and patient-centered healthcare landscape,” Eagon said.

“Being present and mindful of the amazing natural world around us is a sure path to relieving pain, improving mood, immunity and reducing risks of heart disease and cancer,” writes Dr. Victor S. Sierpina in his column for the Daily News.

Dr. Jochen Reiser recently participated in a two-day meeting on brain health that brought together business and policy leaders to discuss brain health initiatives. “Investing in brain capital means protecting our cognitive health, boosting economic growth and securing a future-ready workforce – goals that we believe Texans will rally behind,” Reiser said.

Drug and alcohol references in popular music not only correlate with use, but also provide opportunities for engaging young patients, according to a UTMB study. “Music — it’s part of our daily lives, whether we notice it or not, from hearing a song on the radio and listening to it on the way to work, to scrolling through TikTok and getting that one hook stuck in your head,” Benita Lalani, UTMB student and one of the study authors, told attendees at the recent American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting.

“On average, one infected person may infect about 15 other people,” UTMB’s Dr. Scott Weaver tells the Associated Press. “There’s only a few viruses that even come close to that.” Measles continues to spread across the U.S. with more than 1,000 cases across 30 states, the AP reports. This news was also shared by MedicalXpress, KUSI News, and ABC News.

Adding plants to our homes helps to improve our health in several ways, writes Dr. Samuel Mathis in his latest column. Among other benefits, Mathis writes about how plants can help purify the air, help decrease symptoms associated with dry air and even improve our mood and cognition.

UTMB is among the top spine and neurosurgery research hospitals in the nation according to a report by Avang-garde Health.

Copper intrauterine devices are associated with an increased risk for several sexually transmitted infections and other vaginal conditions than IUDs containing levonorgestrel, according to a retrospective chart review presented at a recent conference. Medscape quotes UTMB medical student Celese Traub and colleagues saying “Most prior research focuses on bacterial vaginosis and pelvic inflammatory disease risk in IUD users. Limited data exist regarding the broader impact of IUDs on other common reproductive tract infections.”

The common treatments for pain have not changed in years write Drs. Norbert Herzog and David Niesel but good news may be on the horizon. Scientists have found an entirely new class of pain drugs based on the sodium ion channels related to pain transmission, they write.

Drs. Norbert Herzog and David Niesel explore the science and scientists who study the bubbles that make champagne fizzy, in their latest column.