For Galveston retiree, compassionate cancer care close to home is key to recovery Charles Meyer navigated his treatment plan with the support of family and his surgical oncologist Dr. Raj Vaghjiani. Read More
UTMB research cuts heart scan times by 35% By redesigning how cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is managed, researchers reduced average scan times from 94.7 minutes to 61.4 minutes. Read More
Postdoctoral training program recognized by National Postdoctoral Association The award honors the postdoctoral training program, which helps early-career scientists build leadership and professional skills, highlighting the institution's commitment to supporting postdoctoral scholars' long-term career success. Read More
UTMB News Therapy dogs lend a healing paw in teen's recovery at UTMB Health July 21, 2026 • 8:43 a.m. Following two major spinal fusion revision surgeries, 16-year-old Lilly Tucker spent six weeks at UTMB Health recovering from temporary partial paralysis. During her rehabilitation, visits from dogs in the pet therapy program provided comfort, eased anxiety, and motivated her to walk farther and faster during physical therapy. Shifts in pain management focus on safer, nonopioid treatments July 20, 2026 • 2:35 p.m. by Katherine Adams Patients seeking pain treatment are increasingly asking about alternatives to opioids. Physicians at UTMB Health emphasize personalized care that targets the source of pain through procedures, physical therapy, lifestyle changes, and psychological support. Weight loss is one battle. Keeping it off is another. July 17, 2026 • 8:33 a.m. by Katherine Adams Weight loss and weight maintenance are two different biological processes, according to UTMB endocrinologist Israa Ali, MD. While losing weight requires creating a calorie deficit, maintaining that loss requires overcoming the body’s natural responses, including a slower metabolism and increased hunger signals designed to restore lost weight. Nishi named chief of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at UTMB July 15, 2026 • 8:00 a.m. by Katherine Adams Shawn Nishi, MD, has been appointed chief of the UTMB Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine. A UTMB alumna and longtime faculty member, she aims to expand research, education, innovation, and access to specialized pulmonary care. UTMB to hold active shooter drill at Primary and Specialty Care, Town Center July 14, 2026 • 8:00 a.m. by Katherine Adams The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Police Department will conduct an active shooter drill on Saturday, July 18, at UTMB Health Primary and Specialty Care, Town Center in League City and will not affect patient services. UTMB animal research program receives recommendation for continued AAALAC accreditation July 13, 2026 • 9:47 a.m. by Margaret Battistelli Gardner The recommendation follows an extensive site visit in June that evaluated all aspects of the institution's animal research program, including veterinary care, facilities, safety programs, regulatory oversight, and research operations. For Galveston retiree, compassionate cancer care close to home is key to recovery July 10, 2026 • 8:58 a.m. by Leslie Sanderson After Charles Meyer's wife died, his grief was compounded by the diagnosis of ampullary cancer. Working with Dr. Raj Vaghjiani, a surgical oncologist at UTMB Health, Meyer completed immunotherapy and prehabilitation before undergoing the Whipple procedure, a complex surgery to remove the tumor and reconnect the digestive system. UTMB study of milder Ebola strain could hold the key to future treatments July 10, 2026 • 8:25 a.m. by Margaret Battistelli Gardner The Bombali strain caused classic Ebola symptoms in laboratory models, yet a full survival rate revealed how the body can fight back. By showing how a less lethal strain can be cleared without fatal organ failure, the findings offer a potential blueprint for future therapies. Gov. Abbott appoints UTMB Health nephrologist to Texas Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force July 9, 2026 • 11:16 a.m. by Katherine Adams Ajay Israni, MD, chief of the Division of Nephrology at UTMB, has been appointed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to the state's Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force. UTMB breakthrough cuts heart scan times by 35% July 8, 2026 • 11:21 a.m. by Margaret Battistelli Gardner By redesigning how cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is managed and streamlining the clinical workflow, average scan times dropped by 35.1% over seven months — from 94.7 minutes down to 61.4 minutes at UTMB Health. More UTMB News Search Categories Awards & Accolades Education Faculty/Staff News Health Care In The News Innovations News Releases Top News UTMB Research Contact Media Team UTMB Experts
Therapy dogs lend a healing paw in teen's recovery at UTMB Health July 21, 2026 • 8:43 a.m. Following two major spinal fusion revision surgeries, 16-year-old Lilly Tucker spent six weeks at UTMB Health recovering from temporary partial paralysis. During her rehabilitation, visits from dogs in the pet therapy program provided comfort, eased anxiety, and motivated her to walk farther and faster during physical therapy.
Shifts in pain management focus on safer, nonopioid treatments July 20, 2026 • 2:35 p.m. by Katherine Adams Patients seeking pain treatment are increasingly asking about alternatives to opioids. Physicians at UTMB Health emphasize personalized care that targets the source of pain through procedures, physical therapy, lifestyle changes, and psychological support.
Weight loss is one battle. Keeping it off is another. July 17, 2026 • 8:33 a.m. by Katherine Adams Weight loss and weight maintenance are two different biological processes, according to UTMB endocrinologist Israa Ali, MD. While losing weight requires creating a calorie deficit, maintaining that loss requires overcoming the body’s natural responses, including a slower metabolism and increased hunger signals designed to restore lost weight.
Nishi named chief of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at UTMB July 15, 2026 • 8:00 a.m. by Katherine Adams Shawn Nishi, MD, has been appointed chief of the UTMB Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine. A UTMB alumna and longtime faculty member, she aims to expand research, education, innovation, and access to specialized pulmonary care.
UTMB to hold active shooter drill at Primary and Specialty Care, Town Center July 14, 2026 • 8:00 a.m. by Katherine Adams The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Police Department will conduct an active shooter drill on Saturday, July 18, at UTMB Health Primary and Specialty Care, Town Center in League City and will not affect patient services.
UTMB animal research program receives recommendation for continued AAALAC accreditation July 13, 2026 • 9:47 a.m. by Margaret Battistelli Gardner The recommendation follows an extensive site visit in June that evaluated all aspects of the institution's animal research program, including veterinary care, facilities, safety programs, regulatory oversight, and research operations.
For Galveston retiree, compassionate cancer care close to home is key to recovery July 10, 2026 • 8:58 a.m. by Leslie Sanderson After Charles Meyer's wife died, his grief was compounded by the diagnosis of ampullary cancer. Working with Dr. Raj Vaghjiani, a surgical oncologist at UTMB Health, Meyer completed immunotherapy and prehabilitation before undergoing the Whipple procedure, a complex surgery to remove the tumor and reconnect the digestive system.
UTMB study of milder Ebola strain could hold the key to future treatments July 10, 2026 • 8:25 a.m. by Margaret Battistelli Gardner The Bombali strain caused classic Ebola symptoms in laboratory models, yet a full survival rate revealed how the body can fight back. By showing how a less lethal strain can be cleared without fatal organ failure, the findings offer a potential blueprint for future therapies.
Gov. Abbott appoints UTMB Health nephrologist to Texas Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force July 9, 2026 • 11:16 a.m. by Katherine Adams Ajay Israni, MD, chief of the Division of Nephrology at UTMB, has been appointed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to the state's Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force.
UTMB breakthrough cuts heart scan times by 35% July 8, 2026 • 11:21 a.m. by Margaret Battistelli Gardner By redesigning how cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is managed and streamlining the clinical workflow, average scan times dropped by 35.1% over seven months — from 94.7 minutes down to 61.4 minutes at UTMB Health.