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.

The 2007 outbreak in Bundibugyo killed at least 37 people but had been contained by the end of the year. A second outbreak of the Bundibugyo virus, also relatively small, came in 2012 in Congo’s northeast. Initial cases in those outbreaks were identified early, allowing for a quick public health response, according to Dr. Tom Ksiazek, a University of Texas Medical Branch virologist who directed the group within the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that first identified the Bundibugyo virus.

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.

Preventive women’s health care isn’t just about annual checklists, it’s about catching concerns early and building care that lasts a lifetime. UTMB Health doctors explain why the appointments women delay may matter most.

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.

In his column for The Daily News, Dr. Samuel Mathis poses the question, "What if I told you that adding bananas to our smoothies may reduce the beneficial effects of this drink?"

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.

In his column for The Daily News, Dr. Samuel Mathis poses the question, "What if I told you that adding bananas to our smoothies may reduce the beneficial effects of this drink?"

Ajay Israni, M.D., division chief of nephrology at the University of Texas Medical Branch, is among four medical healthcare professionals appointed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to a chronic kidney disease task force to coordinate implementation of the state’s plan for prevention, early screening, diagnosis, and management of chronic kidney disease, and educate healthcare professionals.

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.

UTMB psychologist Kim Gushanas talks about the risks of too much screen time for children and realistic ways for families to create healthier habits this summer.

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.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention is evaluating whether to trial the only approved Ebola vaccine, called Ervebo, which was first proven effective during the 2014–16 outbreak in West Africa. The vaccine is highly effective against Ebola Zaire, but it’s unclear how well it would work against Bundibugyo virus, said Thomas Geisbert, a virologist at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. "It's kind of a coin flip," he said.

Julie Griffith, UTMB director of wellness for the academic enterprise, is reshaping workplace wellness — making healthy living accessible, social, and sustainable for faculty, staff, and students.

"Ebola Zaire is the one that got all the attention, for very good reasons," said Susan McLellan, director of the biocontainment care unit at the University of Texas Medical Branch. The development of medical countermeasures, including monoclonal antibodies and vaccines, is less advanced for Bundibugyo, she said.

A new UTMB study reveals how the enzyme ATR prevents chromosomes from breaking when DNA replication hits damaged roadblocks.