AAAS + UTMB Science Diplomacy 101 Course

Important: Digital Accessibility Scams

With the looming Title II deadline we are getting reports from the State of Texas that scammers are taking advantage of the related nervousness about the deadline and offering fake remediation services. 

Please do not contract any digital accessibility services, especially without verifying them with the Digital Accessibility team.

The John Sealy School of Medicine is recruiting faculty to teach Phase 1 medical students for Academic Year 2026–2027 — and registration closes May 1^st!

New This Year!!! PBL facilitators will receive an increased allocation of 0.025 tFTE for every 4-week PBL block, with adjustments tailored to the exact length of each course.

Opportunities Available

• Pre-clerkship small group, problem-based learning (PBL facilitation) in Years 1 and 2
  • Year 1 Courses Available: Doctoring and Clinical Skills 26 (Semesters 1 and 2), Molecules to Mechanisms, Dermatology, Musculoskeletal, and Connective Tissue, Neurobiology and Human Behavior, and Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, and Renal.
  • Year 2 Courses Available: Doctoring and Clinical Skills 25 (Semester 3), Cardiovascular/Pulmonary, Gastrointestinal and Nutrition, and Essentials of Endocrinology.

How to Apply

Faculty apply via the online survey, available February 17 (Noon)–May 1, 2026:
https://www.utmb.edu/MedEd/FacRec2627/default.asp

Recruitment Timeline

• Feb 17 (Noon)–May 1, 2026: Faculty submit preferences
• May 2, 2026: Slot confirmations begin
• May 14, 2026: All teaching assignments finalized

Additional Details

• Faculty may request a full or shared facilitation slot (note preferred co-facilitator in the survey).
• Content expertise is not required for PBL facilitation; facilitators guide the learning process.

For questions, contact Dr. Lisa Elferink (laelferi@utmb.edu) or Jennifer Earl (jsfaircl@utmb.edu).

Thank you for supporting the educational mission of JSSOM.

The Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women's Health is currently accepting applications for its K12 faculty training program, “Building Interdisciplinary Careers in Women’s Health”, for 1 new appointment that will become available on approximately August 1, 2026. This 2-year program allows scholars to devote 75% effort towards conducting research in women’s health or sex differences, and annually provides up to $100,000 in salary support and up to $50,000 for research expenditures.

Ideal candidates will have a good publication record demonstrating an interest in women's health or sex differences and a history of funding or demonstrated skills in obtaining research support. In addition, candidates must meet the following criteria:

1.       Have a PhD degree or clinical doctorate.

2.       Have completed all postgraduate training including a postdoctoral or clinical fellowship.

3.       Have no more than 8 years of research experience after their last doctoral degree. 

4.       Not be or have been a PD/PI on a Center (P50, P60, P20, P30, U54) grant or subproject of a Program Project (P01), individual career development (K-series) award, or independent research project grant awards (R01) or equivalent

5.       Hold rank of assistant professor (or be eligible to be appointed at the assistant professor level). 

6.       Be willing to spend at least 75% effort on research (50% for surgeon specialists).

7.       Be a US citizen or non-citizen permanent resident (Individuals on visas are not eligible). 

Interested candidates should visit the BIRCWH Application Process website for a full overview of the application process and instructions on how to apply. The deadline to apply is April 20, 2026.  A selection committee will review eligible applicants and invite those most qualified to interview further.

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.

All participants will be compensated for their time!

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

NOW TAKING APPOINTMENTS!

 Need help designing your research study? Assistance in generating or retrieving data?

Guidance with the analysis of your collected data? Other biostatistics, bioinformatics, or health informatics assistance?

 Highly qualified experts in these areas are available for consultation at NO COST* during the

 Institute for Translational Sciences

Biostatistics & Bioinformatics Studio

* Additional services are available; fees may apply.

 3rd Monday of each month

1:00pm-2:00pm

6.110 Research Building 6

Consultations are by appointment only.

To schedule: https://utmb.us/8e2

Greater Gulf Coast Translational Science Alliance (GGCTSA)

Request for Applications: Alliance Pilot Awards

Applications Due: May 20, 2026

Award Period: July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027

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 here. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on May 20, 2026. 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

Applications Due: May 20, 2026

Award Period: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027

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 here. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on May 20, 2026. Late and/or incomplete applications and applications not following the specified format will not be reviewed.

Questions? Email us at CTSA@utmb.edu.

Humanities Methods for Patient-Centered Health AI

Speaker:

Kirsten Ostherr, PhD, MPH

Gladys Louise Fox Professor of English and Director, Medical Humanities Research Institute

School of Humanities and Arts

Rice University

April 16, 2026

Noon to 1:00p.m. presentation

Lunch on a first come first serve basis

Location: HEC 3.206

Abstract: Much health humanities work has focused on the ways that narratives and texts can illuminate silenced or marginalized aspects of health and illness experiences. Scholars have emphasized the importance of historicized, contextually-grounded details that can be understood through qualitative analysis to give meaning to quantitative health data. With the rapid adoption of large language models (LLMs), narratives have suddenly taken on an outsized role in data-driven healthcare, without critical frameworks to contextualize their meaning. This moment presents a new urgency and opportunity for research at the intersection of computational and humanities-based methods. NLP-based AI tool developers can learn from scholarship in the digital health humanities that draws on the affordances of large-scale, distant data mining techniques, while also engaging practitioners of narrative medicine that utilize the analytic, interpretive, close and deep reading tools of the humanities. The challenges of bridging from the patient to the dataset - or from the large language model to the personal health narrative - require new interdisciplinary methods with substantive grounding in radically different epistemologies. This lecture will present a case for understanding digital health humanities as a timely and necessary response to the emergence of health AI. 

The UTMB Department of Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation will hold our third annual Orthopaedic Research Forum on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at Levin Hall on the Galveston Campus. 

We invite anyone conducting musculoskeletal-related research to submit an abstract for consideration. Authors of selected abstracts will be invited to present their research at the event.

The person submitting the abstract must be the presenting author. There is no registration fee. For abstract submission instructions and application: https://forms.office.com/r/MM3tDQL1eC.

 The submission deadline is April 20, 2026.

What is the purpose of the study?

Aim 1: The purpose of this study is to compare the diagnostic accuracy of a novel maternal biomarker for placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) compared to standard (history and imaging based) methodology.

Aim 2: Measure the resiliency of patients with PAS compared to patients without PAS during the pregnancy and postpartum period.

Inclusion criteria

• 18 years of age or older
• Viable singleton gestation
• Between16.0 to < 31.6 weeks’ gestation
• Ultrasound diagnosis of
  •  Anterior placenta previa (anterior placenta covering or abutting the internal cervical os)

OR

• Low-lying placenta (anterior placenta within 2cm of the internal cervical os)
• Able and willing to provide written, informed consent
• Plans to deliver at UTMB Galveston
• English/Spanish Speaker

Exclusion criteria

• Multiple gestation
• Unable to consent or deliver at UTMB Galveston

Please contact the study team at obgynrsu@utmb.edu or research coordinators: gaybarra@utmb.edu

The UTMB Faculty Excellence Awards and Lifetime Achievement Awards provide a special opportunity to honor our faculty members.

The Faculty Excellence Awards recognize faculty excellence in four categories: 

• Excellence in Clinical Service 
• Excellence in Education 
• Excellence in Mentoring 
• Excellence in Research 

Beyond recognizing excellence in specific areas, we also honor those whose enduring dedication and lasting contributions have shaped UTMB and their fields over the course of their careers.

The Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates faculty whose longstanding impact, leadership, and commitment have left an indelible mark on our institution and beyond. The Lifetime Achievement Awards recognize faculty in three categories:  

• Clinical Service 
• Education 
• Research 

Details, nomination forms, and criteria are available on the Office of Faculty Affairs web page. Carefully review all items prior to submission. The deadline for submissions is April 24, 2026, by 12 p.m. [CDT].

Meet the Department of Biostatistics & Data Science Experts 

Meet the Experts (Series 3 of 4): 

Join us April 16th, 2026, 12pm-1pm, to meet Dr. Jiefei Wang 

Dr. Wang is a professor within The Department of Biostatistics & Data Science. He specializes in biostatistics with a focus on the development of novel statistical methods and translational research. His research interests include high-dimensional data analysis, Machine learning algorithms, and Natural language processing. Dr. Wang is actively involved in providing statistical support services to UTMB faculty, staff, and students, and he teaches graduate-level biostatistics courses. Please join us to see what we can help you with! 

Please save/add the zoom link to your calendar (Apr 16^th, 12-1PM):  

https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1613902137?pwd=vFEYqofLKHc6upYLgbQf8xzkAVsHqM.1

EMPOWERING RESEARCH THROUGH DATA-DRIVEN INNOVATION 

The Department of Biostatistics & Data Science at UTMB provides expert consulting and collaborative research in biostatistics, data science, AI, and biomedical informatics. Our faculty develop cutting-edge computational methods to transform complex health data into actionable insights, offering support in AI/ML, big data, biomedical NLP, clinical informatics, and advanced analytics. Partner with us for tailored consulting, research collaboration, and training to accelerate your discoveries. Join our seminar series to learn how you can access our services 

OUR EXPERTISE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT INCLUDES: 

· AI & ML MODEL DEVELOPMENT 

· PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS 

· BIG DATA INTEGRATION & COMPUTING 

· BIOMEDICAL NLP RESEARCH SUPPORT 

· VISUAL ANALTICS & NETWORK MODELIN 

· CLINICAL INFORMATICS & ONTOLOGY DESIGN 

· CLINICAL DATA MANAGEMENT 

Head and Neck Cancer Screening

COME OUT AND VISIT BEYOND BLING

AT THE CLEAR LAKE CAMPUS!

Beyond Bling Boutique offers lots of bling fashion jewelry ranging

from $3.00 - $25.00, including bracelets, charm necklaces, rings,

earrings, fashion headbands, bows, freshies, diffusers

(for your car), and wristlets as well.

MONDAY, APRIL 13^TH

TUESDAY, APRIL 14^TH

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15^TH

9:30 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.

1^ST FLOOR – MAIN LOBBY

Credit cards, Debit cards, Cash App, and Venmo are accepted.

Proceeds benefit Patient and Volunteer programs.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

🎗️ FREE Oral, Head & Neck Cancer Screening 🎗️

Early detection can save lives—don’t miss this important opportunity to get screened at no cost.

📅 April 15, 2026
⏰ 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

📍 UTMB – University Hospital Clinics

1005 Harborside Drive, 5th Floor

Galveston Texas 77550

Our experienced specialists will provide quick, painless screenings to detect early signs of oral, head, and neck cancer.

No appointment is needed—walk-ins are welcome!

💙 Take a step toward better health and encourage your loved ones to do the same.

A new, more modern institutional event calendar is being adopted by UTMB this month. Submissions to the current event calendar will stop being accepted on April 15; traffic to the original calendar will be redirected and the original tool will eventually be taken offline.

You can preview and post to the new calendar now. Events appear on the calendar homepage, can be embedded on other web pages, and shared through multiple channels. All UTMB community members can access the submission form, which is to be used for UTMB-sanctioned or university-related events.

Updated guidelines and user tips are now online and linked to the new calendar home page.
If you have questions about the new tool or transition, please share them with the event calendar team.

🌟 Exciting Announcement! 🌟

Indulge in a Culinary Adventure at Our Cafe!

We're thrilled to serve our latest menu offerings that promise to tantalize your taste buds and ignite your culinary curiosity! Get ready to embark on a journey of flavor exploration with the freshest ingredients and innovative culinary techniques.

Click the link below to explore our tantalizing menu options for this week:

Food & Nutrition (utmb.edu)

The Microbiology and Immunology Graduate Program Presents

“An Integrated Host-and-Pathogen Triage Strategy for Early Identification of Severe Lassa Fever”

By

Alexander Alvarado

PhD Student

Mentors: Courtney Woolsey, PhD and

Caitlin Cotter, DVM, MPH, PhD, Dipl. ACVPM

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

Levin Hall 3.320

Pilot Project Funding Opportunity – Gulf Coast Center for Precision Environmental Health (GC-CPEH, P30ES030285)

Open to GC-CPEH Members and Investigators at BCM, UTMB, and UTHealth Houston

Click Here to Submit Your LOI via REDCap - Deadline: May 8, 2026!

Dear GC-CPEH Members and Investigators at BCM, UTMB, and UTHealth Houston,

We are pleased to announce the GC-CPEH Round 8 Pilot Project Awards, which offer up to $40,000 in direct costs to support innovative, one-year research projects in precision environmental health.  The projected funding period is July 15, 2026, through May 31, 2027.

This opportunity is open to faculty (Instructor level and above) at BCM, UTMB Galveston, and UTHealth Houston who are eligible to serve as PIs on federal grants.   Early-Stage Investigators (ESIs) are strongly encouraged to apply.  We also encourage you to share this opportunity with colleagues.

Projects should align with our mission to advance environmental health.  Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

·       Environmental exposure science and biomarker discovery

·       Genome and epigenome–environment interactions

·       Genomics, epigenomics, and comparative biology

·       Toxicology, epidemiology, and disease susceptibility

·       Bioinformatics, big data, and data science

·       Public and community health

·       Community Engagement Research

We especially welcome proposals led by junior investigators, interdisciplinary teams, and those that utilize the GC-CPEH Supported Facility Cores.  Center Core service costs may be covered up to 100% through the Center’s Matching Funds Core Utilization Program.

• Would you be Interested in collaborating with GC-CPEH members? Click here to view our member list.
• Would you like scientific guidance? Contact our Executive Committee Members.
• Do you have any questions about the Center's Matching Fund Core Utilization Program?  Contact @An Han, Heyreoun

Key Dates:

• LOI Deadline: Friday, May 8, 2026, by 11:00 PM CT. Click here to submit via REDCap
• In-person Oral Presentation (by invitation): June 26, 2026, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM at BCM (Up to 12 applicants will be invited to submit full proposals and present to the GC-CPEH Internal Advisory Committee)

For the full announcement and submission details, please review the attached RFA or click here to view our Center’s announcement.

If you have any questions, contact the GC-CPEH Pilot Project Team (Casey Wright, cawright@utmb.edu or Madison Tanner, mgtanner@utmb.edu)

A New Research Study at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB Health) for Adults Ages 55–70  

Tirzepatide (Zepbound) is FDA-approved for weight loss—but could it also slow aging and improve your energy, mobility, and brain health? 

We are enrolling adults 55–70 for a study testing if tirzepatide (Zepbound)—a weight-loss medication—can also slow biological aging. Get compensated. Help us shape the future of healthy aging. 

Learn more: https://utmb.us/e2b 

Thomas Blackwell, MD, FACP and Alan Landay, PhD are the Principal Investigators of this study.

Speak with a study coordinator to find out if you qualify and what to expect.

For information about eligibility and participation, contact the UTMB Clinical Research Center.

Phone: (409) 772-1218

Each week the Pastoral Care Department brings you a Moment of Hope and a weekly anchor to encourage you.

Weekly Anchor ⚓

Today’s Anchor highlights Vaisakhi, also known as Baisakhi or Mesadi or Basoa, that marks the first day of the month of Vaisakh and is traditionally celebrated annually on 13 April or 14 April. It is seen as a spring harvest celebration primarily in Punjab and Northern India. 

"May the divine light renew our spirits,bring together our communities in peace,joy, and prosperity. Let us celebrate the harvest of our efforts and walk forward with hope, compassion, and shared service to humanity. Blessings!"

Moment of Hope

🦻Listen to today's Moment of Hope entitled “A Reflection for Strength and Courage,” by Simon John, Chaplain at UTMB’s Clearlake campus. We pray it encourages you today.

Date:  Thursday, Apr 16, 2026

Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Place:  Rebecca Sealy 5.100

Who:  All

Speaker: Presenter: Lee Fisher, PhD
Associate Professor & Assistant Vice Chair for Research
Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
University of Pittsburgh

Summary: More than 1.5 million people in the United States have undergone a leg amputation, and many experience poor balance, frequent falls, and chronic phantom limb pain due to the loss of sensation from the missing limb. Restoring this sensation is a major challenge in improving mobility and quality of life. This talk will focus on how researchers are developing new neurotechnologies to restore sensation to people with limb amputation using spinal cord stimulation. By generating sensations that feel as if they come from the missing foot and linking them to sensors on a prosthetic limb, this approach aims to help the brain experience the prosthesis as an integral part of the body. The talk will also describe the translational pathway that combines pre-clinical animal research with human clinical trials. Animal studies are essential for understanding spinal cord anatomy, testing new electrode designs, and safely advancing these technologies. These studies highlight the critical role of animal research in developing therapies that improve balance, reduce phantom limb pain, and enhance quality of life after limb amputation.

The BRAD 2026 webinar is sponsored by Tecniplast.

RSVP: Research Education Calendar

If you are:

Allergic to ragweed pollen, peanuts, tree nuts, or not allergic to any pollen

Older than 18 years old

Men and women

Have not received allergy shots

Are not taking an antihistamine within two weeks

Have been tested for allergy (skin tests or ImmunoCAP) within 6 month, or if not tested we can test by skin test

Are willing to donate 50 mL of blood (about 3 table spoons)

You may be eligible to participate in our study.

Successful participants will be compensated for their time and effort.

If interested, please contact

Terumi Midoro-Horiuti

(409) 772 3832

tmidoro@utmb.edu

Stay tuned to the Digital Accessibility User Group on Teams for office hours throughout the week! 

Learn more and ask questions about:

• Title II
• Alt text to images
• Tips
• Resources, and more!

• Google Chrome is recommended, but any browser should work provided Flash in enabled.
• If paying by PO, select “Pay with PO#”. Please do not include taxes when paying with a PO. Please get with your department’s administrative support for assistance with submitting your PO.
• If paying online, select “Pay Online”.
• Your email address is required to receive a confirmation.
• Please note there will be a $40 late fee on all orders placed during late registration.
• Late registration opens March 30^th and closes April 19^th.

DO YOU NEED....

Guidance with a research ethics issue? Help preparing your IRB application (protocol, consent)?

Assistance with understanding an IRB deferral? Advice on handling a research integrity issue (team dynamics, power dynamics, authorship)?

The Institute for Translational Sciences Research Ethics Consultation Service (RECS) provides highly qualified experts in these areas who are available for consultation at NO COST.

All consultations are confidential.

To learn more or to request a consultation, please contact RECS@utmb.edu

Please join us for this informative seminar!

DMAC CERCIT Seminar Series: Incorporating External Data in Bayesian Clinical Trial Design Using Posterior Predictive Checks. Presented By: Dr. Evan Kwiatkowski, UT Health - April 21st, 2026

Abstract: Bayesian methods provide a natural approach for incorporating external data into the analysis of a clinical trial through an informative prior distribution. Prior-data conflict occurs when the prior primarily favors regions of the parameter space that are far from those supported by the likelihood for the current trial data. The predictive distribution based on the current trial data can be used to assess the compatibility or relevance of the external data (i.e., Box’s p-value). We determine the compatibility of a prior and the current trial data using posterior-predictive assessments and apply this to clinical trial designs for which pertinent preexisting data are available. In an application related to rare disease trials, we introduce an adaptive monitoring prior for efficacy evaluation that dynamically weighs skeptical and enthusiastic prior components based on the degree to which the trial data are consistent with a similar completed trial. In an application related to hybrid designs, we introduce a novel extension of the power prior where the discounting weights are computed separately for each external control based on compatibility with the randomized control data.

Presented By:

Dr. Evan Kwiatkowski, PhD

Assistant Professor

Department of Biostatistics, UT Health

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

12-1PM @ UHC 4.108

Virtual Seminar: Contact asbabu@utmb.edu for any additional information or queries.

CAN’T MAKE IT IN PERSON? CLICK TO REGISTER NOW:
https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_P6BTU3B9RtmZziAf3RnvIw