UTMB News

  • The billion-dollar question every pharmacy executive will face in 2025

    “I think a billion-dollar question is: how can we sustainably balance rising drug costs, access to high-cost therapies, and evolving reimbursement models, while maintaining clinical excellence and financial viability?” UTMB’s Michael Eagon tells Becker’s. Eagon was one of 14 executives featured in the article.

  • UTMB students in white coats stand in the gallery of the Texas Senate as they are recognized by the senators on the floor

    UTMB students visit Texas Capitol

    More than seventy University of Texas Medical Branch students from all five schools recently made the nearly four-hour drive to the Texas State Capitol in Austin for UTMB Student Day. They were there to talk to elected officials and learn the ins-and-outs of the policymaking process.

  • Yellow Jack: a modern threat to Asia-Pacific countries?

    A new study coauthored by UTMB researchers Dr. Scott Weaver and Dr. Nikos Vasilakis says yellow fever could be the next big global health scare—especially in Asia. A century after public health pioneer H.R. Carter first warned of yellow fever spreading to Asia, this recent study published in Nature, outlines how rapid urbanization, low vaccination rates, and global travel could set the stage for a yellow fever outbreak in the Asia-Pacific region.

  • The effects of marijuana use on your DNA

    Despite growing legalization and widespread use, marijuana has been shown to cause changes in the human epigenome—chemical modifications to DNA that can influence gene activity and be passed down through generations. In this week’s Medical Discovery News column, Drs. Norbert Herzog and David Niesel explain recent findings on how cannabis use can alter the human epigenome—chemical changes to DNA that may impact health and be passed to future generations.

  • 9 Houston universities make U.S. News' 2025 list of top grad schools

    The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston is named No. 5 best Doctor of Nursing Practice program in Texas: No. 76 nationally. U.S. News & World Report published its annual national "Best Graduate Schools" rankings on April 8. They look at several programs including business, education, engineering, fine arts, health, and many others. Several graduate programs also appeared among the top 10 in a Texas-wide comparison.

  • What you need to know about Covid boosters this spring

    Think you’re done with Covid vaccines? Think again, write Drs. Richard Rupp and Megan Berman. There is moderate Covid activity in the South and now is a good time for those 65 or older or people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised to get a booster.

  • How petroleum byproducts may be fueling our health crisis

    As chronic diseases surge across the country, it’s worth asking: Could this deep-rooted dependency on petrochemicals be a silent contributor, asks Dr. Hasan Yasin in this column for the Daily News.

  • A vaccine for lung cancer, wouldn't that be great?

    A new vaccine is being tested to treat lung cancer not involving infectious agents., write Drs. Norbert Herzog and David Niesel in their weekly Medical Discovery News column. The new vaccine teaches the immune system to recognize and attack lung cancer cells.

  • These STIs can increase your risk of dementia

    The virus responsible for herpes can potentially increasing the risk of dementia, reported Australia’s Herald Sun. Dr. Giulio Taglialatela spoke to the Herald Sun about a recent UTMB study on the topic and emphasized the need for more research.

  • UTMB earns national recognition for antimicrobial program

    “Being one of the first members of this program, it is rewarding to have all the hard work and accomplishments of our antimicrobial stewardship program recognized as a Center of Excellence,” said UTMB’s Scott Ferren, Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Pharmacy Leader. UTMB’s Antimicrobial Stewardship Program won national recognition for its work.

  • Long-term measles health risks include immune amnesia, brain swelling and hearing loss

    Dr. Susan McLellan spoke to the Dallas Morning News about the long-term health risks of measles. After a measles infection, McLellan said, the body is at risk for severe infections from bacteria and viruses such as streptococcus; Haemophilus influenza type b, which primarily affect children age five and younger; and adenoviruses, which typically cause respiratory illnesses like the common cold. This news was also shared by the Seattle Times.

  • Leonard Wang, UTMB MD/MPH student selected as a 2025 Medical Fellow for the Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics

    UTMB MD/MPH Student Selected for Prestigious Ethics Fellowship

    University of Texas Medical Branch MD/MPH student Leonard Wang has been selected as a 2025 Medical Fellow for the Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics, joining a distinguished cohort of medical, clergy, and journalism professionals for an intensive summer program in Germany and Poland.

  • Kennedy draws from misinformation playbook by touting an inhaled steroid to treat measles

    “It is very understandable that people want to grasp onto a hopeful remedy,” Dr. Susan McLellan tells NBC News for this story on misinformation about how to prevent and treat measles. “It is unfortunate when trusted providers of advice, such as those in higher levels of our government, are not very clearly stating what is upheld by scientific evidence and what is not.”

  • What are the health benefits of lavender?

    “While lavender is typically touted for its scent and used in soaps, candles, lotions and diffusers, it actually has some wonderful health benefits as well,” writes Dr. Samuel Mathis in his latest column. From helping reduce stress and anxiety to sleep benefits and even pain reduction, lavender has numerous uses, Mathis writes.