Updates + Accolades
A New Era of Collaboration in Biomedical Engineering
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he recently opened Texas Instruments Biomedical Engineering and Sciences Building catalyzes a unique partnership between UT Southwestern Medical Center and UT Dallas, bringing their biomedical engineering programs together to foster innovative solutions for unmet medical needs. The 150,000-square-foot building, located on the East Campus of UT Southwestern, also houses the Biodesign Center, which includes a large assembly/design studio, a metal fabrication shop, and rooms for 3D printing. “Faculty members from the two institutions will create a collaborative research model that unites investigators with the complementary expertise and skill sets needed to improve human health and unravel the underpinnings of biological processes through technological innovations,” says Samuel Achilefu, Ph.D., Professor and inaugural Chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Nationally recognized for his expertise in molecular imaging, Dr. Achilefu is forging ambitious multidisciplinary partnerships, positioning the Department – established in 2021 – as a hub for innovation globally. “Our goal is to create an exciting and collaborative environment for researchers, teachers, and trainees – and we have gotten off to a great start,” Dr. Achilefu says.
Catherine Spong, M.D., elected to National Academy of Medicine
Samuel Achilefu, Ph.D., is Professor and inaugural Chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering. He is also Professor in the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Department of Radiology. His research interests include imageguided cancer surgery, portable imaging devices, and nanotechnology.
Pew Charitable Trust Recognizes Promising Faculty
Two UT Southwestern early-career investigators, Gerta Hoxhaj, Ph.D. (left), and Yuuki Obata, Ph.D. (right), were selected for Pew Charitable Trusts biomedical research fellowship programs in recognition of their work and service to the scientific community. Both will receive $300,000 in funding over four years.
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Dr. Hoxhaj, Assistant Professor at the Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern and of Pediatrics and Biochemistry, studies how cellular metabolism is reprogrammed in cancer. She was selected as a Pew-Stewart Scholar for Cancer Research because of the potential impact of her work. Dr. Obata, Assistant Professor of Immunology and Neuroscience, studies how the circadian clock in gut nerves regulates immunity and behavior. He was selected as a 2023 Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences and is one of five new Pew Scholars who will make up the eighth class of the Kathryn W. Davis Aging Brain Scholars.
Catherine Spong, M.D., Chair and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine in recognition of her contributions to the field of maternal-fetal medicine, her leadership in women’s health research, and her dedication to advancing health care for mothers and babies. Dr. Spong has contributed to multiple landmark clinical trials in obstetrics, gynecology, and fetal surgery that have defined the standard of care in the fields of maternal and fetal medicine and best practices in obstetrics and gynecology. She also has served as a staunch advocate for improving inclusion of pregnant and lactating women in vital clinical research. Her major research interests include the developing fetus, improving the understanding of stillbirth, fetal surgery for myelomeningocele, Zika in pregnancy, and the human placenta.
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