At The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio), biomedical research begins with a deep sense of responsibility and drive to uncover solutions to medicine’s most difficult questions. In the past five years, the university has conducted more than 600 clinical research projects with one goal in mind — making lives better for people in San Antonio, Texas and beyond through innovative solutions to today’s most challenging health problems.
“The groundbreaking discoveries that our investigators are making have a global impact not only on advancing scientific knowledge, but also in delivering novel solutions to human disease that at present have no cures,” said Manzoor Bhat, PhD, MS, vice dean for research and distinguished chair in neurosciences at UT Health San Antonio’s Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine.
From exploring breakthrough cancer treatments to developing a simple blood test for early Alzheimer’s detection or new tools to help manage diabetes, research at UT Health San Antonio is turning scientific discovery into real-world care. Recent discoveries in key areas of research spark hope for a world where people can live longer, healthier lives.
At the heart of health and science
In 2024 alone, UT Health San Antonio was awarded more than $436.2 million in total research funding and is a major contributor to the city’s $44.1 billion health care and biosciences industry. These research dollars translate to medications, treatments and therapies that change the lives of people in San Antonio and around the globe.
As diverse as it is impactful, the novel research conducted at UT Health San Antonio holds the promise of a healthier tomorrow in disease and health conditions that disproportionately impact our communities.
- Cancer: The Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio is advancing therapies and treatment options with clinical trials, personalized treatments and targeted drug development for various cancers. Now, together with the newly opened UT Health San Antonio Multispecialty and Research Hospital, local patients have access to cutting-edge care that’s closer to home. Research includes a phase 2 clinical trial of a novel therapeutic for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer and discovery of a potential one-size-fits-all drug target for acute myeloid leukemia.
- Alzheimer’s disease and dementia: UT Health San Antonio is home to the Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Texas’ only National Institute on Aging-designated Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Top scientists are pioneering new ways to detect, treat and manage Alzheimer’s and related neurodegenerative diseases. Their goal is simple but personal — to help people hold on to memories longer, maintain independence and enjoy more meaningful time with loved ones.
- Diabetes: One in six San Antonians lives with Type 2 diabetes. UT Health San Antonio is prioritizing research into prevention, management strategies and effective treatments for this condition with a holistic approach. Through both medical and behavioral interventions, scientists and clinicians are helping people better manage their health and prevent diabetes-related complications.
- Dentistry: Recent studies have led to advances in the regeneration of teeth and bone and the new Center for Pain Therapeutics and Addiction Research is making strides in the development of non-opioid alternatives in pain management for cancer, migraines and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disfunction.
- Substance use disorder research: UT Health San Antonio’s Be Well Institute on Substance Use and Related Disorders is at the forefront of evidence-based treatments for substance use disorders including opioids and alcohol. One of its recent studies found that using a behavioral therapy smartphone application, along with medication, reduced days of opioid use by 35%. Since its inception, Be Well and its collaborators have served over 200,000 individuals in San Antonio and across Texas.
The road ahead
“At UT Health San Antonio, our research is purposefully designed to create meaningful outcomes for the communities we serve,” said Jennifer Sharpe Potter, PhD, MPH, senior vice president for research, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and founding director of the Be Well Institute on Substance Use and Related Disorders at UT Health San Antonio.
These research breakthroughs at UT Health San Antonio are an example of what is possible when scientific excellence is paired with a deep commitment to serving others and meeting the evolving health needs of the community. The upcoming merger between UT Health San Antonio and The University of Texas at San Antonio will create the state’s third-largest research university, blending UTSA’s strengths in engineering, cyber and computer science with UT Health San Antonio’s advancements in biomedical education, research and clinical care. This partnership will drive life-changing medical breakthroughs to meet the needs of San Antonio and the South Texas region like never before.