UTMB News

“We’ve all learned the hard way that every time there is an emergence, that triggers some sort of disorganized scramble,” UTMB's Nikos Vasilakis tells WIRED. UTMB is part of a new network to detect and respond when pathogens jump from wildlife to humans.

A roundup of news briefs in the Houston Chronicle included a mention of UTMB’s Tammy Cupit and the university’s effort to share self-care tips with employees. “Monitor your stress levels and pace yourself,” Cupit says in the piece. The story also links back to UTMB’s RISE Task Force website.

UTMB’s Shawn Nishi was asked to comment on a study on nighttime use of oxygen use in patients with COPD. This news was also reported in MDedge and The Hospitalist.

UTMB’s Susan McLellan was on Houston Public Media’s (KUHF NPR Houston) Town Square program to talk about dating and human interaction in the time of covid-19.

Researchers UTMB found that while the 30-day readmission rate for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has decreased, the mortality rate has increased. Both Daniel Puebla Neira and Gulshan Sharma were quoted in the story. This news was also reported in SOUND HEALTH and Lasting Wealth, The Medical News, Brinkwire, Science Magazine, 7thSpace, Medical Xpress

A $1 million gift from The Sealy & Smith Foundation has established the John Sealy Distinguished Chair in Innovations in Molecular Biology at The University of Texas Medical Branch. Dr. Pei-Yong Shi, a professor in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department and vice chair for Innovation and Commercialization, has been named the inaugural recipient.

“If discussions about contraception become more normalized, then improvements in the use of more effective contraceptive methods could potentially occur,” UTMB’s Jacquiline Hirth told Contemporary OB/GYN. Hirth discussed the findings of her survey on women’s choice of contraceptive including some of the surprises gleaned from the data.

When you check your heart rate, track your weight or manage your diabetes with a health app, do you know where the data goes? UTMB's Mohammed Abdullah and Joshua Belillo decided to track it down and found it could be going places you never intended. “Right now, there are no limitations on what companies can do with this data,” said Abdullah. News about their story has been reported widely including in the Sun Sentinel, The Virginian-Pilot, The Register Citizen, Journal Courier, Laredo Morning Times, Big Rapids News, CTPost, Times Union, The Hour, Midland Daily News, Midland Reporter Telegram, Manistee News, StamfordAdvocate.com, Home Health Choices, Brinkwire

UTMB’s Pei-Yong Shi is the inaugural John Sealy Distinguished Chair in Innovations in Molecular Biology. The chair was established by a $1 million gift from The Sealy & Smith Foundation.

UTMB’s Camila Fontes was featured on the front page of the Houston Chronicle on Sunday as part of a story on the effort to develop and test a covid-19 vaccine in the Houston area. UTMB’s Scott Weaver, Pei-Yong Shi, Xuping Xie were also included in the story. “I’m a realist,” Fontes told the Chronicle. “I have an opportunity to help everybody else. I want to see my mom and my dad. They’re in El Paso, and if I want to see them, we need a solution.” This news also reported in San Antonio Express-News, Laredo Morning Times, MSN.com, MSN Canada,

UTMB’s Thomas Geisbert is included in this story about second infections and long-term immunity to covid-19. So far, reinfection is not a cause for worry, Geisbert tells Nature.

UTMB’s Richard Rupp tells The Daily News that covid-19 vaccine trial volunteers in Galveston County are among tens of thousands of people participating in trials across the country. UTMB is conducting trials for two vaccines, one being developed by Moderna and another by Pfizer, Rupp said.

The Daily News reported on a UTMB study that found that people who have substance abuse disorders might be at higher risk for dangerous effects of covid-19.

“I don’t think it is avoidable. But it is preventable,” UTMB’s Nikos Vasilakis told Buzzfeed of future pandemics. Experts foresee an accelerating rate of pandemics in the years ahead driven largely by deforestation, urban crowding, and wet markets for wild game, Buzzfeed reports.

A new study by researchers from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston suggests that people with substance use disorders may be particularly vulnerable to the adverse respiratory effects of COVID-19, especially those using drugs that impair the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. The findings are currently available in Psychiatric Services.

With more than more than 100 COVID-19 vaccines, therapies, and drugs in development, there is a national shortage of monkey’s typically used for biomedical research. But UTMB’s Vineet Menachery tells The Atlantic that hamsters may actually be a better test subject. This news also reported in DNYUZ and MSN.com

“People just aren’t aware that when someone has congestive heart failure and they have high blood pressure, the effects of depression on these illnesses itself can be devastating,” UTMB’s Tammie Michael told The Daily News. Michael spoke the local newspaper about the toll social isolation can have on seniors.