At the University of Texas Medical Branch, pet therapy plays a key role in pediatric care. Certified therapy dogs visit regularly, helping young patients cope with the stress of hospitalization and offering a welcome distraction from any procedures and uncertainty.

UTMB has announced two significant leadership appointments in the John Sealy School of Medicine (JSSOM), reinforcing the institution’s commitment to clinical excellence, medical education, and research innovation.

The University of Texas Medical Branch launched its inaugural Doctor of Occupational Therapy cohort at the UT Education and Research Center at Laredo in Laredo, Texas, today. The program is the first hybrid occupational therapy program offered by a public university in Texas.

UTMB’s Clear Lake Campus has received Level II Trauma Verification from The American College of Surgeons, meaning it is equipped to deliver comprehensive trauma care, including the definitive treatment of severely injured patients.

Think about the one person you can call whether your child has a fever at 2 a.m., you need a wellness check before starting a new job, or you’re caring for an aging parent. That’s your family physician. They’re the medical professionals who know you by name, remember your history, and understand more than just your symptoms.

UTMB Health has been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best-In-State Employers for 2025.

The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) is proud to announce two major advancements in cardiovascular health: the establishment of the Sealy Heart and Vascular Institute and the launch of a new Department of Cardiovascular Medicine. Together, these initiatives represent a bold and unified commitment to elevating cardiovascular care, research and education for the region and beyond.

In response to a growing need for skilled pharmacy professionals and a desire to shape the future of the profession, the University of Texas Medical Branch launched a new internship program this past summer to prepare students for careers in pharmacy.

UTMB scientists have been awarded up to $6.4 million in funding to support an international research consortium working to determine which immune responses protect people against Lassa fever, the Daily News reports. “Once we can measure protection in a blood test instead of a prolonged clinical efficacy trial, we can deliver vaccines to impacted communities much faster,” said UTMB’s Dr. Courtney B. Woolsey.

Scientists at the University of Texas Medical Branch’s Galveston National Laboratory have been awarded up to $6.4 million in funding to support an international research consortium to crack one of the toughest problems in infectious disease science: determining which immune responses protect people against Lassa fever.

Dr. Hasan Yasin writes about the health benefits of turkey tail mushrooms. Turkey tail mushrooms show real promise for immune and gut health, with the strongest evidence for their use as a complementary therapy under medical guidance for certain cancers, Yasin writes.

Drs. Norbert Herzog and David Niesel discuss the differences between human brains and those of our closest primate relatives in their latest Medical Discover News column. In addition to the larger size of the brain and the higher number of neurons, the ability to connect regions of the brain appears to be a defining characteristic that distinguishes the human brain from those of our primate cousins, they write.

A new study from UTMB shows that different strains of Hendra virus can cause markedly different disease outcomes, reports Global Biodefense. The results of the study will inform vaccine and therapeutic development, potentially enabling targeted strategies depending on the genotype detected in an outbreak, the outlet states.

"This research could introduce a new perspective to the discussion of preventing and mitigating the devastating effects of stroke and related brain injuries," says Dr. Matias Costa in this Newsweek story on studies that find that weight loss drugs like Ozempic also protect the brain from stroke damage. This news was also reported in Consumer Affairs and Pharmacy Times.

Becker’s followed up on a CNN story that reports that health care experts are calling for the end of routine use of diphenhydramine citing safety concerns that outweigh benefits. UTMB’s Dr. Manuel Murray said the medication should not be used lightly and “should always be used under the guidance of a medical professional, and it is only indicated to treat allergic reactions and motion sickness.”

Drs. Megan Berman and Ricard Rupp write about a new and improved pneumococcal vaccine for their Vaccine Smarts column. Capvaxive covers up to 85 percent of the strains that cause the most severe forms of pneumococcal disease in adults, they write.

The Daily News reported on Blue Zones Ignites interest in partnering with UTMB to work on increasing lifespans through healthier environments, new policy and strong social connections. UTMB’s Dr. Jochen Reiser joined Blue Zones representatives to discuss the potential partnership at a recent community meeting.

Certain mushrooms with psychoactive compounds as such as psilocybin offer documented benefits in difficult psychiatric conditions, writes Dr. Victor S. Sierpina. Future studies, including those at the VA and Hopkins will hopefully provide better clarity, decriminalization, and protocols for psychedelic assisted therapy, he writes.

Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that helps heal damaged tissues and fight infections, write Drs. Norbert Herzog and David Niesel in their latest Medical Discover News column. New results have found that they have another skill: they can form a “Band-Aid” around a wound to protect it from invading microbes and foreign molecules.

“Starting at 45 to 50, you could gain as much as 10 years of healthy life and this study just shows the truth of that at a cellular level,” UTMB’s Dr. Thomas Blackwell tells USA Today in his comments about a Chinese Academy of Sciences study on proteins taken from about 70 people ages 14 to 68.