Florida plans to eliminate school vaccine mandates for hepatitis B despite a rise in cases, reports hep. UTMB’s Dr. Scott Weaver explained that the HBV vaccine is safe and that the vaccine is "not a live, replicating virus, unlike some vaccines, so almost anybody can take it. It can be given to very young babies, and it’s very effective.”

The Democratic Republic of the Congo declared an Ebola outbreak last week, reports The Sun. In their story, The Sun reports on a therapeutic developed by UTMB scientists that “offers '100 per cent protection' against Ebola.” "We're really trying to come up with something that was more practical, easier to use, that could be used to help prevent, control, and contain outbreaks,” said UTMB’s Dr. Thomas Geisbert.

Dr. Scott Weaver spoke about the risk of eliminating the requirement for hepatitis B vaccines for infants and school-age children. “Sexually transmitted diseases, although we think that we can control them with behavior, it doesn't usually work out that way, and so vaccination is a much safer bet than hoping that your children will remain inactive sexually when they reach that age and not acquire the infection as a teenager or early stage adult,” Weaver tells WUSF.

In a major step toward supporting premature and sick infants, the University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston Campus has officially become a donor milk drop-off location for Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin, helping ensure that babies across Texas have access to life-saving nutrition.

A research paper co-authored by a team led by Dr. Alexander Bukreyev from the University of Texas Medical Branch, in collaboration with Moderna, finds that simple mRNA vaccines can be just as effective—or even more effective—than more complex ones that try to mimic a whole virus like Marburg.

“The impact of loneliness on our health is like smoking about 15 cigarettes per day,” writes Dr. Samuel Mathis in this column on the importance of community.

If you’re experiencing severe shoulder or elbow pain, there are several nonsurgical treatments available as well as surgical techniques with a successful track record.

Drs. Norbert Herzog and David Niesel write about a biotech company working to bring back extinct creatures. The company recently announced the production of “dire wolves.”

A creative new addition to UTMB Health is helping pediatric patients move beyond the confines of their hospital rooms—both physically and imaginatively.

“It’s very dangerous for public health,” Dr. Scott Weaver tells Science about Florida’s plan to end all required vaccinations, including ones that children must receive to attend public schools. Weaver pointed to the recent surge in measles cases in Texas. A drop in vaccination rates in Florida could fuel larger outbreaks. “It could be catastrophic for public health until people recognize the folly of this kind of a policy,” he said. Weaver was also featured in a story by the Florida Phoenix on the same topic.

The University of Texas Medical Branch’s Office of the Provost and Office of Faculty Affairs have announced the 2025 UTMB Faculty Excellence Award honorees.

UTMB’s Dr. Giulio Taglialatela helps the New York Post break down the causes and risk factors of Alzheimer’s and some tips for keeping dementia at bay. Blueberries, moderate exercise and wine can all be helpful, in moderation of course. “While there are well-known benefits to having a small glass of red wine with dinner (like reducing the risk of a heart attack), it’s important to limit your alcohol consumption,” Taglialatela said. “A glass of wine can help — a bottle of wine will hurt you.”

Malnutrition can affect anyone, at any age. During ASPEN Malnutrition Awareness Week™ 2025, UTMB Health is raising awareness and sharing resources to help families recognize the signs and support better nutrition for healthier lives.

The staff at David’s House in Galveston helps clients with the support they need to break through the barriers that keep them stuck in challenging situations and move forward. And now, David’s House with the help of the University of Texas Medical Branch can offer support with one of the things that can turn everything around—finding a job.

“The challenges for most folks about eating more veggies is prep time, planning, and convenience,” Dr. Victor S. Sierpina writes in his latest column. Sierpina shares tips, and his personal secret, to get more vegetables into your diet.

Drs. Megan Berman and Richard Rupp breakdown what vaccines to get this fall. The big three are Covid, RSV and flu vaccines.

Twenty-five years after measles was eliminated in the U.S., the disease is making a comeback. “The reason is quite simple,” write Drs. Norbert Herzog and David Niesel. “A decrease in vaccination rates.”

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.