Sealy Institute for Drug DiscoveryTargeting Tomorrow
Precision medicine for a healthier world

The goal of the Sealy Institute for Drug Discovery is to translate cutting-edge scientific discoveries into tangible therapeutic solutions.

Working with a dedicated team of scientists, clinicians, drug developers, and industry partners, we strive to develop innovative approaches to diagnose, treat, and prevent kidney disease, neurodegeneration, cancer, aging, and infectious diseases. We work across all classes of drugs, including small molecules, biologics, and nucleotide-based therapeutics, to address the unmet needs of our patients.

The institute is funded by a generous gift from the Sealy & Smith Foundation, underscoring its commitment to advancing the frontiers of biotechnology and medicine in an academic setting, with the ultimate goal of improving patient outcomes.

Pitch us your idea!

We want to hear from you, UTMB! Tell us your latest ideas. We will help you move your science toward novel therapies. We also seek collaborations with industry, government, and philanthropic organizations to improve medicine and extend human lives.

Research Spotlight

Claudia Marino, PhD is a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology and the Sealy Institute for Drug Discovery, with a background in pharmacy and neuroscience. Her research investigates the biophysical, biomolecular, and physiological mechanisms behind neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, with the goal of translating those findings into novel disease-modifying therapies.

More than 459,000 Texans are living with Alzheimer's disease, supported by over 1.28 million family members and friends as caregivers. Nearly half of those affected have never received a formal diagnosis.

Source: Alzheimer's Association, Texas, 2026.

Our Space

The Sealy Institute for Drug Discovery spans ~14,000 SF of the fifth floor in Research Building 17 on the UTMB Main Campus.

SIDD comprises ~9,400 SF of programmed spaces. It includes one large open laboratory with 24 fume hoods for medicinal chemistry. Adjacent to this are support labs, consisting of an NMR Suite, LC/MS Suite, Tissue Culture, Protein Production, Assay Development, Microscopy, Chemical Storage, Fridge/Freezer Room, and a Cold Room. PI offices are located around the exterior of the building, as well as meeting rooms, a dry lab room, and a collaborative space.