UTMB News

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.

Hurricane season on the Texas Gulf Coast is inevitable, making early and consistent preparation essential to reduce risks. UTMB emergency preparedness experts emphasize that even in quieter years, a single storm can cause major damage, so residents should plan ahead, build emergency kits, secure property and stay informed throughout the season.

From bold innovation to measurable impact, Jochen Reiser, MD, PhD, at UTMB is redefining what leadership looks like in modern healthcare. Learn why The Galveston County Daily News named him Business Person of the Year.

The university’s infectious disease researchers helped generate preclinical data that moved the vaccine into FDA cleared Phase 1 trials, earning national recognition for their role in a multiagency effort to counter a growing global health threat.

Having scaled five of the renowned Seven Summits, Dr. Harold Pine, UTMB Health pediatric ENT, plans to attempt the tallest one, Mount Everest, in 2027. But first, he will embark on a Mount Everest medical mission this month, providing round-the-clock medical care for conditions such as altitude-related illnesses, frostbite, and injuries.

Blaine Pogue suffered sudden cardiac arrest during a gym workout in Dickinson, and a rapid “chain of survival" — including bystander CPR, EMS response, and emergency care at UTMB Health — kept him alive after 34 minutes without a pulse. Despite low odds of survival, swift defibrillation, continuous resuscitation, and advanced hospital treatment restored his heartbeat, allowing him to recover.

A collaborative team of researchers from The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) and Stanford University has published an article in Nature Mental Health showing how MRI can guide treatment decisions for patients with depression. The precision medicine approach doubles the success rate of initial treatment.

For first-generation medical students, earning a white coat represents not only years of hard work, but also breaking new ground for their families and expanding what feels possible for those who follow. At UTMB, students like Ronaldo Tijerina and mentors like Dr. Mahwish Khan are building a supportive community that helps first-in-family students navigate challenges, find mentorship, and turn personal experiences into purpose-driven careers.