As part of its dedication to enhanced professionalism and law enforcement excellence in public safety and community relations, the University of Texas Medical Branch Police Department voluntarily became a Nationally Accredited Law Enforcement Agency through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) in 2012.

According to a new study, people with colorectal cancer have a higher risk of dying from heart-related problems, which may be associated both with the cancer and cancer treatment. UTMB’s Dr. Salim Hayek was not involved in the study but told Everyday Health that it could be that a younger population faces a higher risk of death because early onset colorectal cancer is more aggressive, requiring more intensive treatment that impacts the heart.

New research has overturned the scientific belief that the brain is a sterile place devoid of microbes, write Drs. Norbert Herzog and David Niesel in their weekly Medical Discovery News column. Scientists now estimate that more than 170 different bacteria and viruses could be present in the brain.

The Galveston newspaper was on hand to capture the smiles, tears and excitement as UTMB’s fourth-year medical students, joined by family and friends, opened their Match Day letters at Levin Hall.

Even low levels of daily physical activity can lead to significant improvements in fitness levels, social responsiveness, cognitive flexibility, and planning and organizing abilities in autistic adolescents, according to the latest research from UTMB’s Dr. Claudia Hilton. She discussed the findings with the GCDN.

Where a person lives can influence their recovery from a traumatic brain injury, according to a new study by UTMB’s Dr. Monique Pappadis and a team of researchers. “The intricate relationship between healthcare access and community socioeconomic factors necessitates sophisticated strategies to increase equity,” the research team concluded.

While Vitamin A has an important role in supporting the immune system, it is no substitute for a vaccine, write Drs. Megan Berman and Richard Rupp in their Vaccine Smarts column.