Letter From Leadership
UT Southwestern ❘ Discovery@UTSW 2026 ❘ P3 Letter from Leadership
This edition of Discovery at UT Southwestern highlights advances in biomedical and clinical research made possible by the skill and dedication of our scientists.
For the second year in a row, we open our report with a profile on our most recent Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award winner. One of the most esteemed honors in science, the Lasker is a testament to the level of fundamental research that takes place at our institution.
Our scientists are unveiling how an FDA-designated orphan drug may enhance the response to radiotherapy for lung cancer patients; studying how interconnected circuits in a critical region of the songbird brain offer a viable model for better understanding how humans learn to speak and what goes wrong in communication disorders such as autism; and preparing to launch a large-scale whole-exome sequencing program for patients in our Health System.
Multidisciplinary collaborations are at the heart of the discoveries taking place at UT Southwestern. A story on an 18-year scientific partnership between a biomedical engineer and a head and neck surgeon illustrates how basic scientists and clinicians work together to find solutions to clinical challenges.
Pushing the boundaries of what’s known, our faculty are also exploring how improved access to technologies can enhance postpartum care and developing artificial intelligence tools to increase the efficiency and accuracy of medical student performance evaluations.
We are proud of our faculty, postdoctoral fellows, students, and staff who are diligently using their talents to bring our institution’s mission – to promote health and a healthy society that enables individuals to achieve their full potential – to life.
Sincerely,
W. P. Andrew Lee, M.D.
Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Provost, and Dean, UT Southwestern Medical School
Joan W. Conaway, Ph.D.
Vice Provost and Dean for Basic Science
Alyssa H. Hasty, Ph.D.
Vice Provost and Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Career Development
Sherry C. Huang, M.D.
Vice Provost and Senior Associate Dean for Education
Eric Peterson, M.D., M.P.H.
Vice Provost and Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Research