INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN INFECTIONS & IMMUNITY (IHII)

BACKGROUND

The purpose of the IHII Research Transition Pilot Program is to stimulate the development of new research initiatives to facilitate the transition of research programs from areas no longer favored by federal funding agencies to topics that are newly prioritized. Proposals are especially encouraged to address the high burden of co-morbidities that occur in the lifespan of persons exposed to emerging and tropical infectious agents. There is increased focus on studies of the pathogenesis of co-morbid diseases (e.g., coagulopathy, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, renal compromise, respiratory diseases, neurological disorders) that may develop later in life due to exposure to infectious agents.

ELIGIBILITY

• Any UTMB employee eligible to submit extramural grant applications is encouraged to apply. Early-stage investigators or those developing new lines of research in alignment with NIH priorities are encouraged. Special consideration will be given to applicants who will develop collaborative, interdisciplinary/inter-departmental projects.
• An investigator may hold only one IHII research grant as PI at any time. Progress reports for past IHII grants will be reviewed to assess the PI’s productivity.
• Investigators may submit more than one application for consideration; however, no more than one IHII supported grant will be awarded to a laboratory. The PI may not have already received funding for the proposed project from other intramural or extramural sources; all related, pending proposals must be disclosed in your application.

FUNDING

• $10,000 to $50,000 to develop new research ideas are available.
• All funds must be spent by August 15, 2026. Carry-over across fiscal years is not possible due to institutional budgeting requirements.
• It is expected that, when needed, core facilities at the UTMB will be utilized. Funding of research taking place outside of the UTMB campus must be well justified. Requests for equipment and travel must be highly justified (e.g., attending scientific conference is not a justifiable expense).
• Funds may be used for up to 5% of clinical faculty salary support (including tenure-track) but this must be well justified within the project. Funds can be used to support non-tenure track salaries, but cannot be used for non-clinical, tenure-track faculty salaries or for indirect costs.

APPLICATION

I. An Office of Sponsored Programs Proposal Routing Form must accompany all intramural research grant applications.

II. Proposal Package (total 4 pages for A-C).

A. Title of the proposal. Names, affiliation, and expertise of the PI and collaborators.

B. Describe i) how the proposed project will employ useful collaborative arrangements taking advantage of the unique strengths of the scientific environment at the UTMB, and ii) allow the investigator to begin new research initiative in alignment with NIH priorities and support the development and submission of extramural grants. This section should describe iii) how the proposal is a new direction of research in the investigator’s laboratory.

C. Proposed research plan. Organize the research plan as following:

1. Specific Aims: What do you intend to do?

2. Scientific Premise and Significance: Why is the work important? What has already been done? If the aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge be advanced and improve health outcomes?

3. Innovation: Does the project employ novel concepts, approaches, or methods? Do the project challenge existing paradigms or develop new collaborations, methodologies, or technologies?

4. Approach: Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and analyses adequately developed, well integrated, and appropriate to the aims of the project? Are appropriate controls, potential problems, and alternative tactics considered? Is appropriate approach developed to perform the work and analyze/interpret the results?

D. A list of cited literature. This section is not considered in page limitations.

E. Detailed budget and budget justification for the IHII support.

F. Biosketches of PI and key personnel. Other Support indicating active and pending grants or any additional funds that are available and citing overlap with the proposed project (if any), must be included by the PI and key personnel.

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

Please name your file as “LastName_FirstName” (e.g., Smith_John) and send a single PDF file to Ms. Marcela Lopez (mblopez@utmb.edu) before October 14, 2025, at 9 AM.

APPLICATION REVIEW

The IHII Executive Committee and ad hoc reviewers will evaluate all proposals. Reviewers will be asked to consider the strengths and weaknesses of the proposal, as well as the likelihood that successful completion of the proposed project will advance the IHII’s goals and will lead to new extramural grant support.

Awards will be made (tentative date: November 1, 2025) depending on the availability of the funds and in accordance with the UTMB fiscal calendar year.

Please contact Ms. Marcela Lopez (mblopez@utmb.edu) or Dr. Nisha J. Garg (nigarg@utmb.edu) with questions or for further information.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

• Awardees agree by acceptance of funding to include the Institute for Human Infections and Immunity in their affiliations on all publications and presentations arising from the grant, and to acknowledge the Institute for Human Infections and Immunity (and collaborative partners) for financial support.
• The Principal Investigator will be responsible for monitoring the deliverables, progress of the project, and providing a final report. Reports should include status of the study, resources committed, and value created (new manuscripts, disclosures, grants, etc.). The final report will be due 45 days after the end date of the project.
• The IHII will expect the submission of a related extramural grant within six months of completing IHII pilot funding for an investigator to be eligible to apply for future IHII awards.

The Microbiology and Immunology Graduate Program Presents

“Mechanism of Lassa-virus induced sensorineural hearing loss”

By

Kirsten Littlefield

PhD Candidate

Mentor: Slobodan Paessler, DVM, PhD

Research Interests: Investigating pathogen and immune-mediated pathology resulting from infection with highly pathogenic viruses.

Friday, October 17, 2025

12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

HEC 3.206

BOOKS AND GIFTS AT GREAT SAVINGS!

Come out and visit Angela’s Books and Gifts.  With great titles at

unbelievable prices, you are sure to find something for everyone on your list! 

Product categories include Children’s Story Books, Cookbooks, General Interest

Books, New York Times Best Sellers, Stationery, Scrapbooking, Music Collections,

Early Learning Products, Children’s Educational Products, and gifts for all ages.

Enjoy first run, top-quality products from various world leading publishers!

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14^TH

9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.

 AND

 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15^TH  

9:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.

LEAGUE CITY CAMPUS (CLINIC SIDE) - 1^ST FLOOR

AND

LEAGUE CITY HOSPITAL ENTRYWAY

Cash, debit cards, and credit cards are all accepted.

Proceeds benefit patient and volunteer programs.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

Join us for the Holiday Style Fashion Show & Luncheon on Thursday, November 20, 2025, from 11am to 1pm at the Galveston Island Convention Center. This signature annual event benefits the UTMB School of Nursing BSN Honors Program, which attracts Texas’ brightest nursing students. Through specialty tracks in Research, Health Advocacy, and Policy & Leadership, students are prepared to make a lasting impact on patients, families and communities.

Guests will enjoy a festive afternoon featuring fashion, food, and philanthropy in celebration of the season.

Tables and individual tickets are available for purchase. If you’re unable to attend, you can still make an impact by contributing a donation in support of the BSN Honors Program.

As a sponsor of the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s, UTMB reaffirms its commitment to raising awareness and advancing research.

To celebrate this commitment, current UTMB staff and students are invited to join us for our annual Flower Flocking event on Wednesday, October 15, from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) building located at 1200 Market Street, next to the HEC.

No RSVP is needed—just stop by and show your support! Team registration will be available during the event.

The Global Health Certificate at UTMB's School of Public and Population Health equips students and professionals with the knowledge and skills to address complex health issues worldwide.

• 3 courses, fully interdisciplinary
   
• Focus on global health foundations, policy & practice, and governance & diplomacy
   
• Ideal for careers in global public health, international developments, and health policy
   
• Prepares graduates for evidence-based decision-making and policy leadership

Learn more and apply: Global Health Certificate

Greater Gulf Coast Translational Science Alliance (GGCTSA)

Request for Applications: Alliance Pilot Awards

Applications Due: December 1, 2025

Award Period: January 1, 2026 through June 30, 2026

The Greater Gulf Coast Translational Science Alliance (GGCTSA), through the Institute for Translational Sciences (ITS) at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB), will provide pilot funding for joint projects among its Alliance partners – UTMB, Houston Methodist (HM), Texas Southern University (TSU), and the University of Houston Clear Lake (UHCL). These awards will provide funding and expertise to address challenges commonly found in patients from Southeast Texas that impact overall health and well-being.

Up to two awards ($50,000 each) are available to support investigator-initiated studies. The primary goal is to use pilot funds for future extramurally funded joint collaborative projects. Priority will be given to innovative projects that address emergency preparedness, safety and effectiveness, and removal of barriers to advance clinical translational research. More specifically, the joint projects must address a translational science question so that generalizable solutions can further research. Projects must also include a plan for team science (see RFA for more information). The proposed project must be for a new pilot study and therefore must differentiate from existing funding.

Innovative solutions need to address key issues that involve public health, emergency preparedness, and removal of barriers to enhance the science of translation. The proposal needs to justify how the project will address translational science challenges. Eligible projects can include in vitro, in silico, animal studies, and clinical studies, as well as bench-top testing of new diagnostics or therapeutics.

Who should apply?

This is a collaborative project that must include Co-PIs from at least two Alliance partner institutions. Faculty from any partner institution can apply. Only one application can be submitted from the same Co-PI team. Priority will be given to projects with established working relationships, e.g., collaborative teams.

For more information and complete submission instructions, please download the RFA at:https://utmb.us/ejh. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on December 1, 2025. Late and/or incomplete applications and applications not following the specified format will not be reviewed.

Questions? Email us at CTSA@utmb.edu.

Greater Gulf Coast Translational Science Alliance (GGCTSA)

Request for Applications: Mentored Pilot Awards: CTSA Alliance

Proposals due to GGCTSA: December 1, 2025

Selected presentations: December 15, 2025

Award Period: January 1, 2026 – June 30, 2026

The Greater Gulf Coast Translational Science Alliance (GGCTSA), through the Institute for Translational Sciences (ITS) at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB), will provide pilot funding for joint projects among its Alliance partners – UTMB, Houston Methodist (HM), Texas Southern University (TSU), and the University of Houston Clear Lake (UHCL). These awards will provide funding to address challenges commonly found in patients from Southeast Texas that impact overall health and well-being.

Four awards of $25,000 each are available to support a mentor and mentee at each Alliance partner institution. Priority will be given to projects that address emergency preparedness, safety and effectiveness, and removal of barriers to advance clinical translational research. More specifically, projects must address a translational science question so that generalizable solutions can further research and must also include a plan for team science (see RFA for more information). The proposed project must be for a new pilot study and therefore must differentiate from any existing funding.

Innovative solutions need to address key issues that involve public health, emergency preparedness, and removal of barriers to enhance the science of translation. The proposal needs to justify how the project will address translational science challenges. Eligible projects can include in vitro, in silico, animal studies, and clinical studies, as well as bench-top testing of new diagnostics or therapeutics.

Who should apply?

This is a pilot award for faculty who are new investigators (defined as having not received a R01 or equivalent award) interested in pursuing translational science. Faculty investigators (mentee) must identify a mentor and a co-mentor (note: co-mentors should be from a different Alliance partner institution). Only one application can be submitted from the same mentor-mentee team. Priority will be given to projects with established working relationships, e.g., previous relationships with a mentor.

For more information and complete submission instructions, please download the RFA at: https://utmb.us/eji. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on December 1, 2025. Late and/or incomplete applications and applications not following the specified format will not be reviewed.

Questions? Email us at CTSA@utmb.edu.

The purpose of the study is to investigate the effects of a non-invasive, low-intensity brain stimulation, called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on locomotor skill learning and training. We wish to look at how tDCS impacts learning and overall motor function in people with chronic stroke.

We are looking for adults who had a stroke at least 6 months and can walk safely with or without an assistive device (ex. cane) for more than 100 feet.

PI: Shih-Chiao Tseng, PT, PhD shtseng@utmb.edu 409-772-9555

UTMB is a Proud Sponsor of the 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer’s - Bay Area/Galveston County

Walk Day is Saturday, Oct. 18    8am     Stewart Beach, Galveston

People with Alzheimer’s and other dementia and their family caregivers come to our campuses every day looking for hope and help.  UTMB’s amazing physicians, nurses and staff offer their best care and support for those already diagnosed, while our research teams explore new ways to prevent or cure this devastating disease.

14 UTMB Teams have already registered for this year’s Walk.  Let’s meet the challenge of having 20 teams in 2025!

Start a new Team, Join a Team OR Donate to a Team TODAY!  Go to https://utmb.us/eej or a Team link below to show your support.  

UTMB TEAM ELLEVEN

UTMB Administrative Professional Association

End Alz with Holcomb - UTMB

UTMB Neurology/Mitchell Center

Memories in Motion: UTMB Pediatrics & miRcore

Moody Brain Health Institute at UTMB

UTMB SCOA/Geriatrics

UTMB PAS Walkin' to ENDALZ

The Forget-Me-Nots - UTMB Student Volunteers

UTMB Physical Therapy

UTMB SON

UTMB SPPH

UTMB Volunteers

UTMB Psychiatry

Let’s get ALL 4 UTMB campuses to participate and show our patients and our community that  Together, We Are Fighting For A Different Future!

The Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's is the world's largest fundraiser for Alzheimer's care, support and research.  The Walk is non-competitive and family and dog friendly. 

Our next journal club meeting will be Monday, October 13, from 11 AM to 12 PM.

Paper: “'Thinking in Comics': Representing Autism Spectrum Disorder in Autobiographical Graphic Narrative” by Elizabeth "Biz" Nijdam

Discussion Leader: Evelyn Lamb, graduate student in Bioethics and Health Humanities

Email Xiang Yu at xiayu@utmb.edu for a PDF of the article. We'll meet at the big conference room outside of SPPH (University Health Clinics 4.108), but there is also an option to join via Teams. Sign up here if you would like to volunteer to discuss a paper of your choice at a future meeting. 

Email me if you’d like to be added to the mailing list and be kept in the loop about future meetings.

The Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences-Clinical Trials Program is seeking parents of infants possibly interested in participating in a clinical trial for a new multivalent pneumococcal investigational vaccine.

Participants must be healthy babies between 42 and 89 days old who have not yet had any of their pneumonia vaccines.

This clinical trial will study whether the investigational vaccine may provide additional protection to the standard recommended pneumococcal vaccine currently available.

Participating families will be compensated for their time and travel to appointments.

This study will have at least 6 in person visits and lasts approximately 19 months.

Please contact:

Milta Gilmore, LVN at (409)772-5278 email: mjgilmor@utmb.edu

Or scan the QR code below for a questionnaire: