Events
June 10 [VIRTUAL] San Antonio Universities Research Forum (SURF) 2021 

8 a.m. - 6 p.m. 

Free registration 

June 16 [VIRTUAL] Participant Engagement Platform (PEP): Stanford’s honest broker services for participant recruitment

11 a.m. - noon  

Free registration 

June 29 [VIRTUAL] Streamlining Early Drug Product Development for Small Molecules

Noon - 1 p.m.

Free registration

Research Stories
Briscoe Library's Image of Research Photography Competition 2021 winners

Now in its fourth year, the Briscoe Library's Image of Research Photography Competition continues to draw students, faculty and staff from across the institution.  

 

“The annual competition allows scientists to merge art and science and look at the exciting research happening on campus through different lenses, said vice president for research, Andrea Giuffrida, PhD.

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"Inside Army," 1st place, image by Raksha Parthasarathy, PhD Candidate 
"Inside Army," 1st place, image by Raksha Parthasarathy, PhD Candidate 
Podcast: Tune in as Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences students interview local biotech CEO

In 2019, entrepreneurial students at UT Health San Antonio founded a non-profit organization called, Enventure San Antonio.  Recently, PhD candidates and co-founders, Thu Duong and Jeffrey Kim, interviewed Somer Baburek, CEO of Hera Biotech, an early-stage spin-off focusing on women’s health, which licensed a revolutionary diagnostic technology invented by faculty members Bruce Nicholson, PhD and Nameer Kirma, PhD

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Photo courtesy of Enventure San Antonio
Photo courtesy of Enventure San Antonio
Researchers’ resource: Community Information Now

Community Information Now, also known as CI: Nowstarted almost two decades ago by community partnership organizations, and now serves as a repository of local data focused on health, education and demographics. The network provides valuable resources for grant applications in Bexar County and 11 surrounding counties, and offers online, interactive data tools, reports and infographics. 

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Kudos to the Robert A. Clark Frontiers of Translational Science Research Day winners
Last month, a total of 56 students, trainees and faculty presented their research posters at The Robert A. Clark Frontiers of Translational Science Research Day, which is debuting a new name in recognition of Robert A. Clark, MD, MACP. Mark Goldberg, MD, director of the Institute for the Integration of Medicine and Science, was delighted the virtual event brought researchers together to forge new opportunities for collaboration.  
 

“Having just assumed the position less than three months ago amid an epic ice storm and a pandemic, I’m in awe of the outstanding translational research being done at our institution and the faculty’s commitment to mentoring students and trainees,” Dr. Goldberg saidI want to congratulate this year’s winners for their accomplishments and perseverance, especially in these uncertain times.” 

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Research Roundup
Tell your story at The Health Cell State of the Industry

The call for presenters at the 2021 and 2022 State of the Industry is now open.  Out of an abundance of caution, this year’s event planned for Tuesday, Oct. 5, from 6-7 p.m., will be virtual. The 2021 digital event will allow presenters to share their stories with a much broader audience than in past years. Next year's event will be held in person on Thursday, March 24, 2022, at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio Hotel. 

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Technology developed at UT Health San Antonio raises $6M series A funding

Astrocyte Pharmaceuticals Inc., a start-up company licensing a technology developed by James Lechleiter, PhD, is advancing its lead compound, AST-004, to a Phase I clinical study. This Adenosine A3 receptor agonist has demonstrated excellent pharmacokinetics and blood-brain barrier permeability in pre-clinical models.

Astrocyte Pharmaceuticals has supported its pre-clinical research through Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer awards, and has been added to the company portfolio of The University of Texas System Horizon Fund portfolio, which was created 2011 by the UT System Board of Regents to provide capital to system-related startups. The Horizon Fund is one of the leading university-sponsored strategic investment vehicles in the United States. 

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Research Forums

These virtual presentations on clinical research processes and regulatory updates are held monthly on the fourth Thursday from 1-2 p.m. All sessions are recorded and can be accessed on demand. Visit the Archive of Forums for last month’s presentation by Joe Schmelz, PhD, who gave an update on Research Sponsor Monitoring using the institution’s EpicCare Link. Click here to bookmark the page to get started. You can register for upcoming forums using the online REDCap form.

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Clinical Research & Clinical Trials
Trauma experts aim to reduce death by providing blood-clotting agent

Professor Brian Eastridge, MD, led the San Antonio team of a multi-site, national research trauma study, which recently published findings in the Journal of the American Medical Association Surgery. The investigators concluded that trauma patients who received a blood-clotting drug before arriving at the hospital had a better chance of surviving than those who did not. 

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Over-eating and older women

Funding from the National Institute on Aging is supporting the research study of Lisa Kilpela, PhD, which targets elderly women who struggle with overeating. To learn more about the benefits of participating in this and other clinical trials, as well as the eligibility criteriavisit the Barshop Institute clinical trials website 

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A new approach to dementia treatment: ART-AD

Supported by the Owens Medical Research Foundation, Bess Frost, PhD, recipient of the TAMEST 2020  Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Medicine, is leading a Phase 2A clinical trial to test the efficacy of an anti-retroviral therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease (ART-AD) using an FDA-approved generic drug commonly used to treat HIV and Hepatitis B. The six-month study is currently enrolling participants. Research findings in Dr. Frost’s lab have shown promise for decreasing the neurocognitive decline of Alzheimer’s patients in the early stages of the disease.  

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Funding & Regulatory Environment
FY2021 new and renewal grant awards through May 15

Download the complete FY2021 awards report here, prepared by the Office of Sponsored Programs. 

 

Changes coming in 2022 for eRA Commons IDs to all senior/key personnel

Effective Jan. 25, 2022, multiple federal agencies, including the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Veterans Affairs, will require all individuals listed on the Research and Related Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Form to have an eRA Commons username (Commons ID).  

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Corporate and Foundation Relations provides funding resources to investigators

The Office for Institutional Advancement (OIA) at UT Health San Antonio has created a new website offering guidance, resources and services to faculty and staff when seeking  philanthropic support for their research. In partnership with the Office of Sponsored Programs, the OIA has also developed a coordinated review, approval and submission process for grants sponsored by foundations and corporations. 

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