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Dr. Pei-Yong Shi, professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, explained the work his team did that contributed to the rapid development of the first COVID-19 vaccine in humans, the research done to understand the variants and the future strategy of the vaccine.

Collaborators at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston carried out experiments that showed a strong immune response in mice given the vaccine. The mice in this experiment did not die but were “humanized,” meaning that they had an HLA molecule found in human cells.

Public school students will see a gruesome depiction of the effects of drunken and drugged driving during an interactive presentation March 10. Texas City ISD, with the help of the University of Texas Medical Branch, will stage a live production to vividly portray the devastating effects of the common occurrence, officials said.

The major allergen that triggers allergies to cats has been identified, wrote Drs. Norbert Herzog and David Niesel in Medical Discovery News. Scientists have developed alternative ways to lessen its effects.

“It may come as a surprise for some that fat is an essential food,” wrote Dr. Sally Robinson in her column. Healthy fat is critical for a child’s growth and brain development.

Maybe, wrote Drs. Megan Berman and Richard Rupp in Vaccine Smarts. “Should we worry? No, but researchers and our government need to keep an eye on the situation.”

Numerous studies show how religious involvement affects our coping skills, improves the quality of life, decreases anxiety and depression symptoms, lowers suicide risk and can even add years to your life, Dr. Samuel Mathis wrote in his column.

Dr. Cody Dodd, a child psychologist who works in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Medical Branch, spoke to The Galveston County Daily News about the pros and cons of artificial intelligence. “What we know is if you get good treatment that’s great, but what’s better is getting treatment from somebody that you feel understands you. Until we can get to the point where people can form relationships with AI, this is going to be very tough for AI to take a therapist’s job.”

Local environmental group THEA has partnered with researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch in the area both inside and outside the EPA's official boundary. “The purpose of whatever we find whether good or bad is for them to be able to utilize that in requesting any additional services from EPA if necessary,” Dr. Lance Hallberg with UTMB previously told Houston Public Media.

The article mentioned that Dr. Kathryn Cunningham, director of the University of Texas Medical Branch’s Center for Addiction Research, said Galveston County and Texas are in a fentanyl crisis and there’s no clear evidence the problem is improving.

Once a week, UTMB physical therapy student Kelcee Heflin heads to Galveston Central United Methodist Church as part of her rotations. As she gives foot baths, she collects medical histories.

“Most people would love it if vaccinations didn’t involve needles and the ouch that goes with them,” wrote Drs. Norbert Herzog and David Niesel in Medical Discovery News. “But for respiratory infections, vaccinations given into the nose or mouth may be more effective than intramuscular (IM) inoculations.”

Non-Sleep Deep Rest, also called Yoga Nidra, is a way to help the body relax and replenish dopamine levels. Dr. Samuel Mathis described how to do a simple exercise and offered his personal results after trying it.

The Texas Department of State Health Services has named the University of Texas Medical Branch’s Clear Lake Campus a Level II Neonatal Facility.

An accredited and approved Emergency Medicine Residency Program is now official at the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Muscle is extremely important for regulating whole-body metabolism, said Dr. Tray Wright, who studies animal physiology at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. “In many animals, muscle mass can make up 40 to 50 percent of their body mass, and it is a really metabolically demanding tissue. By tuning that metabolism in the muscle, you really affect a lot of animal fitness.”

Vitamin C actually makes pregnancy more likely, said Dr. Shannon Clark, a professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch’s department of obstetrics and gynecology. It can increase progesterone levels, which thickens the lining of the uterus, thus potentially making it more receptive to a fertilized egg.

Don’t take over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen before getting your booster, cautions Dr. Susan McLellan, a professor in the infectious diseases division and medical director of the Biocontainment Treatment Unit at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. These may lessen the effectiveness of the boosters.

Five years before Brown v. Board of Education desegregated public schools in the south, the first Black student was accepted into a Texas medical school. Dr. Herman Barnett applied to the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in 1949, in direct challenge to the state’s segregation laws at the time. Barnett attended UTMB on the condition that he’d later transfer to a separate medical school for Black students that the university planned to build. But that school was never built, and Barnett ended up making history.

Prior to 2020, the medical branch had more than 400 volunteers throughout its campuses. “We now have only about 150 active volunteers,” said Holly Jolin, administrative manager for Volunteer Services at UTMB. “We are looking for caring, compassionate and friendly people with a heart for helping to volunteer.”