More than 500 leaders converged at the Texas Medical Center to explore a powerful idea: that investing in brain health can transform not only lives, but economies. From workforce resilience to healthy aging, the Texas Brain Economy Summit is sparking conversations that could redefine Texas’ future.

The inaugural issue of UTMB Magazine, a new flagship publication that launched on June 9, looks beyond the headlines, offering readers an in-depth view of the work and lives that define UTMB.

UTMB will add 40 credit hours of nutrition education to its medical curriculum at the John Sealy School of Medicine beginning in fall 2026, aligning with federal recommendations to better prepare physicians for prevention and chronic disease care.

At The University of Texas Medical Branch, a 24/7 Access Center and specialized maritime team coordinates global care for cruise ships and Antarctic stations, supporting providers with expert consults.

Early studies show a Bundibugyo Ebola vaccine candidate protected nonhuman primates, supporting preparedness as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries work to contain cases.

The link between early neuronal damage and the brain’s immune response is poorly understood, but the significance of concussive injury has become a topic of public interest over the last few years, especially in the context of sports injuries. In this study, UTMB researchers were interested in the type of concussion that occurs when impact does not penetrate the brain but causes it to move inside the skull, resulting in injury.

Sarah Dang, a first-year medical student at UTMB, balances rigorous studies in anatomy with a passion for contortion, a discipline she discovered through childhood curiosity and later developed through international training, including time in France and Mongolia.

As food pantries face rising demand, UTMB is expanding a St. Vincent’s House vegetable garden through UTMB President’s Cabinet grants. The project grows fresh produce for pantry shelves while giving students hands-on training in community nutrition.

UTMB scientists identified two SARS-CoV-2 proteins that suppress early immune defenses, advancing understanding of COVID-19 infection and informing future antiviral and vaccine strategies.

Researchers are increasingly linking age-related changes in the intestinal microbiome to chronic inflammation, liver dysfunction, and higher cancer risk, suggesting gut health plays a key role in long-term disease prevention.