News Highlights - October 6, 2026
Announcements
Rogers to Co-Lead National Effort to Advance Sepsis and Critical Care Research
Angela Rogers, M.D., Professor and Chief of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, is one of two principal investigators who will lead IMPRINT, a $41 million project within the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health’s (ARPA-H) CIRCLE initiative. The national program aims to develop new technologies and approaches to improve outcomes for critically ill patients and reduce ICU mortality.
Over five years, the IMPRINT team will enroll 1,000 critically ill patients across six medical centers, create a first-of-its-kind multi-omic biobank with serial biospecimen collection during the earliest stages of ICU care, and conduct clinical trials designed to accelerate the development of new diagnostics and therapies.
Dr. Rogers will serve as a co-team integrator with Purvesh Khatri, Ph.D., a Professor of Medicine at Stanford Medicine.
The award includes approximately $4 million for UT Southwestern and will support efforts to expand sepsis and critical care research. According to Dr. Rogers, the project will create a resource for investigators studying sepsis and immune dysfunction, including frequent biologic sampling during the earliest phase of critical illness. Because sepsis is among the leading causes of death in hospitalized patients, the project aims to leverage its extensive clinical and biological data to accelerate the development of new approaches to diagnosis and treatment.
The broader ARPA-H CIRCLE initiative is investing up to $144 million in projects designed to better understand and modulate the immune response during critical illness, with the goal of transforming care for patients in intensive care units. ■
Parkland Completes Hospital Expansion, Adding 112 Inpatient Beds
Parkland Health has completed a major expansion of Parkland Memorial Hospital, adding 112 inpatient beds to help meet the growing healthcare needs of Dallas County residents.
The project converted previously unfinished shell space into two new inpatient units, increasing the hospital’s capacity to more than 980 licensed beds and making it one of the largest hospitals in North Texas. The first 56 beds opened in June, with the remaining 56 beds added last week.
“The additional capacity is expected to improve patient flow, reduce emergency department wait times, and support care for a growing population across Dallas County,” said Vivek Patel, M.D., Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of Hospital Medicine and Chief of Hospital Medicine at Parkland Health. “Adding these beds has been a multi-year effort involving teams across Parkland, and it’s gratifying to see that work translate into additional capacity for the patients and communities that depend on us.”
The expanded capacity may also help researchers in the Division of Hospital Medicine to better understand hospitalization outcomes, care delivery, and health system performance.
“This expansion strengthens our ability to provide timely, high-quality care for patients while supporting the physicians, nurses, and care teams who serve them every day,” said Ebrahim Barkoudah, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., Associate Professor and Chief of the Division of Hospital Medicine. “As a leading safety-net hospital, Parkland provides a unique environment for studying how care is delivered across diverse patient populations and for developing evidence-based approaches that improve outcomes for the communities we serve.” ■
Kudos
Tatara to Serve on JBMR Editorial Board
Alexander Tatara, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, has been invited to serve on the editorial board of the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research (JBMR) Part B: Applied Biomaterials. The appointment recognizes his expertise at the intersection of biomaterials, medical devices, and translational research.
JBMR Part B is the official journal of the Society for Biomaterials, the oldest professional biomaterials society, founded in 1974. The journal publishes research focused on the applied aspects of biomaterials, including their development, performance, and use in medical devices and other clinical applications.
As a member of the editorial board, Dr. Tatara will help guide the peer review and evaluation of research advancing the clinical use of biomaterials and medical technologies. His appointment reflects growing recognition of his contributions to a field that supports innovation in patient care through the development and application of medical devices and biomaterial-based therapies.■
Mora Appointed to CHEST Board of Advisors
Adan (Adam) Mora Jr., M.D., Associate Professor in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, has been appointed to serve as a member of the CHEST Board of Advisors. CHEST leadership cited his expertise and background in announcing the appointment to the national leadership role.
CHEST, the American College of Chest Physicians, is a leading professional organization in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. According to Dr. Mora, the Board of Advisors serves as a steward and ambassador for CHEST philanthropy, helping develop and oversee the organization's philanthropic giving strategy, align those efforts with CHEST's strategic goals, and identify opportunities to expand its impact.
“I am particularly honored by this new opportunity because it will allow me to contribute at a broader organizational level, helping shape how philanthropic resources can advance education, patient care, professional development, and the communities CHEST serves,” Dr. Mora said. “I also hope the appointment provides another opportunity to represent UT Southwestern and our Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine within the national organization.”
Dr. Mora has established a strong record of leadership within CHEST, including service on the organization’s inaugural Health Equity Task Force and leadership roles within its LGBTQ+ Interest Group. He currently serves as Co-Chair of the group and is slated to become Chair in 2027.
His appointment reflects a career that combines clinical excellence, scholarly achievement, and national service. Dr. Mora’s research focuses on pulmonary disorders, including pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hemorrhage, and lung injury, and he has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, abstracts, presentations, and lectures. His clinical interests include critical care management of obstetric and transgender patients as well as code blue resuscitation in the intensive care unit. ■
PDA Honors Postdoctoral Researchers
Several researchers in the Department of Internal Medicine were announced by the Postdoctoral Association on Sept. 29. Travel Awards were presented to Sanam Ghazi, Ph.D., in the Division of Cardiology, Giorgio Manferdelli, Ph.D., in the Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Valentin Mons, Ph.D., in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, and Yuto Takenaka, Ph.D., in the Division of Nephrology, supporting their participation in scientific meetings and professional development opportunities.
In addition, Dustin Heiden, Ph.D., in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, was one of two winners of the PDA’s 3-Minute Research Pitch competition. Faculty judges evaluated entries on the quality, clarity, and effectiveness of the research presented. ■
Staff Members Take on New Roles
We congratulate the following staff members who recently took on new positions within the Department:
- Norberto Aguilar – Clinical Research Coordinator I, Endocrinology
- Harvey Contreras – Senior Management Analyst, Instruction Administration
- Anay Cruz – Lead Clinical Research Assistant, Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
- Joyce Francis – Clinical Research Assistant II, Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
- Kimberly Jackson – Administrative Coordinator, Hospital Medicine
- Elviche Lenou – Senior Research Scientist, Cardiology
- Saubia Mian – Clinical Research Supervisor, Endocrinology
- Audrey Moxley – Senior Program Coordinator, Hematology & Oncology
- Poornima Shreenath – Senior Research Associate, Cardiology
- Lakeisha Strachan – Clinical Research Coordinator II, Digestive & Liver Diseases
- Venkatesh Surabathula – Data Scientist II, Cardiology
- Baihui Zhao – Biostatistical Consultant I, General Internal Medicine
Research Report
Researchers Receive Grant for Aortic Exercise Study
A team led by Benjamin Levine, M.D., a Professor in the Division of Cardiology and Director of the Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, Joshua Beckman, M.D., M.S., Professor and Chief of the Division of Vascular Medicine, and Denis Wakeham, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher in the Division of Vascular Medicine, has received a one-year, $110,000 grant from the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health to study how the aorta responds to exercise in people with thoracic aortic aneurysms.
The project will directly measure pressure within the aorta during both endurance and strength exercise in patients with repaired and unrepaired ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms. Researchers say the study will generate the first data of its kind in both men and women with aortic disease and could help guide future recommendations for safe exercise.
Current exercise guidelines for people with aortic disease are largely based on expert opinion because little direct information exists about how the aorta responds during physical activity. By measuring aortic pressures during exercise, the team hopes to identify strategies that allow patients to exercise safely while improving physical activity, well-being, and confidence.
“This funding will allow us to generate the first data of its kind that can directly influence future clinical guidelines regarding exercise participation for people with aortic disease,” Dr. Levine said. “The findings from this study could have immediate impact on our recommendations for exercise in patients with aortic disease.” ■
Dr. Levine holds the Distinguished Professorship in Exercise Medicine and the S. Finley Ewing Jr. Chair for Wellness and the Harry S. Moss Heart Chair for Cardiovascular Research at Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. Dr. Beckman holds the Gayle and Paul Stoffel Distinguished Chair in Cardiology.
Study Identifies Potential New Target for Tuberculosis Therapy
A study led by Priscila C. Campos, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, has identified a protein that appears to limit the body's natural ability to control tuberculosis infection, opening a potential new avenue for treatment. The findings were published in JCI Insight.
Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, remains one of the world's leading infectious disease killers. The researchers found that a protein called SMURF2 acts as a brake on autophagy, a cellular process that helps immune cells identify and destroy invading pathogens. When SMURF2 was removed or inhibited in mouse and human macrophages, the cells were better able to restrict the growth of tuberculosis bacteria.
The team showed that reducing SMURF2 activity increased key cellular defense mechanisms and enhanced the ability of immune cells to target and clear M. tuberculosis. Pharmacologic inhibition of SMURF2 also reduced bacterial replication in human macrophages, suggesting the protein could be a promising target for host-directed therapies that strengthen a patient's immune response rather than directly attacking the bacteria.
The findings build on earlier work from UT Southwestern that identified the related protein SMURF1 as an important regulator of anti-tuberculosis immunity. By revealing how SMURF2 counteracts that protective response, the study provides new insight into the molecular pathways that govern host defense against tuberculosis. The research could ultimately contribute to the development of therapies that complement existing antibiotics, particularly as drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis become an increasing global challenge. ■
Education & Training
HIV Medicine Pathway to Launch for Residents in 2027
The Internal Medicine Residency Program is recruiting its first cohort for a new HIV Medicine Pathway led by Hayden Andrews, M.D., an Assistant Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine. Scheduled to begin in July 2027, the pathway will provide specialized training for residents interested in caring for people with HIV and related conditions while completing the standard categorical residency curriculum.
Residents will participate in a three-year program that combines longitudinal clinical experience, focused education, and career mentorship. Training includes a continuity clinic at Parkland Health’s Ryan White HIV clinic, annual rotations on the Parkland HIV service, and experiences in HIV prevention, hepatitis C, addiction medicine, psychiatry, dermatology, correctional health, and maternal-fetal medicine.
“We designed this pathway to give residents meaningful, hands-on experience caring for people with HIV while helping them explore all the different directions a career in HIV medicine can take,” Dr. Andrews said. “Our goal is to create a supportive learning environment where residents can build clinical expertise, develop lasting mentorship relationships, and make a real difference in the lives of patients.”
The pathway also includes completion of the National HIV Curriculum, leadership of an HIV faculty journal club, and a mentored capstone or quality improvement project.
“Residents will become part of a close-knit community of faculty and trainees who are passionate about HIV care and education,” Dr. Andrews said. “We’re excited to help them grow into future leaders in this field.”
Graduates of the pathway will be eligible to sit for the American Academy of HIV Medicine HIV Specialist certification examination, preparing them for careers that address the evolving needs of people living with HIV. ■