UTMB News

When John Davis collapsed on the basketball court, he knew he could have prevented it. He could have avoided the heart attack, the trip to the ER and the need for a stent to allow blood to once again flow freely from his heart to the rest of his body. Davis was healthy and in his twenties when doctors diagnosed him with a genetic condition that required him to take medication to lower his cholesterol. These medications, commonly known as statins, help patients avoid heart attacks and strokes by reducing bad cholesterol levels. They are some of the most commonly prescribed medications in the U.S.

Dr. Manuela Murray joined Meagan Clanahan of the Houston Moms Blog to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine, back-to-school well-checks and more.

Approved for individuals 12 years of age and older, the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is now available at all UTMB Health primary care clinics—just in time for back to school check-ups and physicals.

Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch have found SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the testes of infected hamsters. The findings, published in the journal Microorganisms, could help explain symptoms that some men with COVID-19 have reported and have important implications for men’s health.

Dr. Laith Alzweri and Dr. Ricshonda “Nickie” Milburn discuss the differences between urology and urogynecology and when it’s appropriate to see a specialist.

Learn more about heart attack warning signs, how symptoms can vary between men and women, and other heart attack facts.

The long-awaited renovation of the AB wing of John Sealy Hospital at the University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston Campus will mark its completion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 3. Approximately 220,000 square feet were renovated across five different floors, which will house services for women, infants and children.

Know the signs and symptoms of stroke.

Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston looked at over 10,000 COVID-19 patients and found that significantly more former smokers ended up in the hospital and died from COVID-19 than those who still smoked or had never smoked at all.

Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston have been awarded an $11.3 Million, multi-year grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to study immunopathogenesis of Ebola, and in particular to determine why cells infected with Ebola develop “immune system paralysis,” which inhibits immune response leads to hyper inflammation and allows the deadly infection to spread. The research will be led by Co-Principal Investigators Alexander Bukreyev, PhD., of UTMB’s Department of Pathology, and Mariano Garcia-Blanco, MD, PhD, Chair of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department.

We Americans are not good at calculating risk. Some feel that if something bad is going to happen, it will happen to them.

May is American Heart Association’s Stroke Awareness Month. Learn more about stroke, risk factors and prevention.

UTMB's own Dr. Cleavon Covington, an assistant professor who specializes in pediatric allergy and immunology, urges everyone to be vigilant of their surroundings when venturing outdoors. It's especially important to be mindful of insects that can cause harmful allergic reactions and infections including wasps, yellow jackets, bees and ticks.

The development of SARS-CoV-2 variants isn’t a surprise. The shocking thing, based on what we thought we knew about coronaviruses, is the speed at which variants developed and spread. The question remains: Should we be worried?

Diane Ugartechea is a believer in occupational therapy—and not just because it’s her chosen profession. She’s actually living proof that it works.

Annual well visits are an important check point for children of all ages.

Here are five tips for enjoying the season and avoiding those dreaded warm-weather allergies.

Whether educating tomorrow’s health care work force, making groundbreaking research discoveries, or providing excellent patient care to the communities we serve, physicians at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB Health) work together to improve the health of Texas.