“With the goal to educate the South Texas communities we serve on what is a biobank, what role does it play in precision medicine, and how the community can partner with us in this new era of science, a video was created,”explained interim Vice President for Research Jennifer Sharpe Potter, PhD, MPH.  Dr. Potter credits her predecessor, Andrea Giuffrida, PhD., for his accomplishment of this strategic priority during his tenure.  Securing a $2.5 million gift from the J.M.R. Barker Foundation in partnership with Debbie Morrill, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, was instrumental in funding the space renovation in the Research Administration Building on the Greehey Campus.  

The Institutional Biobank is a member of the University of Texas System Health Biobank (UTSHB) Consortium, an initiative designed to bridge the gap between researchers seeking biospecimens/related data and researchers with biospecimens /related data consented for sharing. Click here to view the video.

A more localized understanding of diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) and systemic social injustice has been captured with a traveling exhibit created by renowned Hispanic national leader and artist Lionel Sosa.  From Sept. 27-Oct. 4, “Living in My Skin,” a collection of more than 30 oil paintings can be viewed at the Briscoe library. As health care professionals and scientists, you are invited to engage in a social media conversation on the impact of racial and social injustices. Stay connected by following the library’s social channels — Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The School of Dentistry ranked 34^th worldwide in the annual Academic Ranking of World Universities, also known as the ShanghaiRanking, in the category of Dentistry & Oral Sciences.  The global rankings contain comparisons in 54 subject areas and use a range of data to measure performance including research quality, research influence, international collaboration and international academic awards. The School of Dentistry’s innovative research also ranks it as the leading dental school in Texas and #13 nationally, according to the latest Blue Ridge Annual Report, which tracks National Institutes of Health funding.

The Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) launched TechNovum-GO earlier this month. This is a guided online and self-paced program designed to encourage researchers and faculty entrepreneurs to explore the full business potential of their creative biomedical research ideas. The online sessions, which can be accessed on demand, include design tool tutorials, video tips, pitch templates and much more. The self-paced modality enhances the current in-person entrepreneurship programming offered by the OTC and life science partners.

This summer, we solicited your input on the redesigned research administration website, “Navigating the Research Lifecycle,” that launched in February. We appreciate the responses, which overall were positive. Users, particularly those who used the website heavily, commented that they were experiencing a learning curve to find content now curated in a new format. New customer service functionalities, such as the help feature and scheduling a concierge appointment, were viewed as positive enhancements. Website development is an iterative process, and your suggestions will inform additional changes in the year ahead.