Department of Medicine

Research And Other Scholarly Activities

picture from Department
Research Day Oral presentations

 

The discovery of new knowledge through programs of basic and clinical research is an exceedingly high priority for the Department of Medicine. The Department of Medicine Research Day, held each year in May, features >100 posters presented by trainees and junior faculty, selected oral presentations, a roundtable discussion of selected issues in clinical research, and a featured scientific presentation by a nationally prominent guest investigator.

 

A major strength of our research programs is their broad scope, which includes basic, translational, clinical, and epidemiologic studies. There is a predominant emphasis on human disease-related themes, as well as a focus on South Texas and border region problems and minority health issues. Among our particularly strong disease-related research activities are those dealing specifically with cancer biology and treatment, bone cell biology and diseases of bone, diabetes, immunology and host responses to infectious and inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular disease and stroke, mechanisms and diseases of aging, clinical epidemiology and genetics, and health care delivery and clinical outcomes.

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Research Day winners

 

The hard work and dedication of our faculty sustains our competitive position for grant support, which totals nearly $50 million. Our major sources of funding continue to be the National Institutes of Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, non-federal agencies, and industry. The South Texas Veterans Health Care System ranks in the top ten VA centers nationally for research grants. Department of Medicine faculty and trainees publish approximately 500 peer-reviewed papers annually in the scientific literature. Major research centers directed by Medicine faculty include: Cancer Therapy and Research Center @ UTHSCSA, Institute for Drug Development, Veterans Evidence-based Research, Dissemination and Implementation Center, General Clinical Research Center, Institute for Integration of Medicine and Science, VA HIV/AIDS Center, and San Antonio Center for Medical Microbiology.

 

We believe strongly that our research programs have outstanding future potential. Our research portfolio has a superb mix of projects and our faculty have accepted the challenge of competing with the best institutions nationally for an increasing share of available research support. The department's cadre of established physician and PhD scientists, along with many talented and promising young investigators help to insure our continuing success in the research arena.

Robert A. Clark, MD, MACP
Associate Chair for Research