Two UTSW Researchers Named Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators
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Vincent Tagliabracci, Ph.D.
Benjamin Tu, Ph.D.
Vincent Tagliabracci, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Molecular Biology, and Benjamin Tu, Ph.D., Professor of Biochemistry, both members of UTSW’s Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, were among 33 distinguished scientists nationwide – and the only Texas scientists – named in 2021 as Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Investigators. Dr. Tagliabracci is working to unravel the mysteries of a novel family of enzymes called pseudokinases and their relevance to human health. Dr. Tu’s work linking cellular metabolism to critical cell functions is leading to a better understanding of a variety of diseases, including cancer. Each investigator will receive about $9 million over a seven-year term, which is renewable pending a scientific review by HHMI, a philanthropic organization created to advance basic biomedical research and science education for the benefit of humanity.
Dr. Tagliabracci is a Michael L. Rosenberg Scholar in Medical Research.
Dr. Tu holds the Martha Steiner Professorship in Medical Research and is a UT Southwestern Presidential Scholar and W.W. Caruth, Jr. Scholar in Biomedical Research.
