Texas Biomed Science Report 2011-2012 - Texas Biomedical ...

Letter from the
President
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
I am very pleased to share with you the 2011-12 biennial
Scientific Report for the Texas Biomedical Research Institute,
formerly known as the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical
Research. We changed our name effective February 1, 2011
to better identify what we do and to avoid confusion with
our sister institution, the Southwest Research Institute.
We hope this summary of research activities will be helpful
to other academic organizations, scientists and scientists-intraining,
pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies who may
wish to interact with our researchers or utilize our non-human
primate colonies, community leaders, federal agency personnel,
and public officials. This publication is not intended to replace
our Annual Report, which is focused on a broader audience,
but to supplement our communications with individuals,
groups and organizations who should know about our research
efforts and unique combination of scientific resources.
Texas Biomed has been an extraordinary source of intellectual
capital for seven decades. The basic and translational research
efforts here have deepened our understanding of the genetics of
complex disorders, virally-induced diseases, normal physiology
and many of the aberrations that lead to disease. All of this
work is facilitated by large colonies of non-human primates,
an extraordinary computer “ranch” of 8,000 processors that
analyze genetic data, the most secure of bio-containment
research environments, and human population studies that
every day lead to remarkable insights into the pathogenesis of a
variety of life-altering and life-threatening human illnesses.
All of these activities are undertaken in the organizational
setting of an independent, not-for-profit research institution.
This permits us to take prompt advantage of new scientific
opportunities, infusions of government and philanthropic support,
and the wonderfully collaborative environment of San Antonio.
We take our role as a pioneer in biomedical research in
this region very seriously, and I hope this Report reflects
that. When Tom Slick courageously founded this institution
in December, 1941, there was no medical school in San
Antonio, no university hospital, no University of Texas at
San Antonio. There was just one important asset, the vision
of a man who believed profoundly that basic research could
change the world and advance the interests of humankind.
Each day, we try to emulate and reinforce that vision … that
extraordinary spirit. We reach out not just to this city, this region,
or even to the United States, but to the world-at-large. Disease
outbreaks in the most remote regions of the globe can have
2011–2012 Scientific Report
“Texas Biomed has been an extraordinary source of
intellectual capital for seven decades. The basic and
translational research efforts here have deepened our
understanding of the genetics of complex disorders,
virally-induced diseases, normal physiology and
many of the aberrations that lead to disease.”
devastating impacts right here at home. Conversely, new discoveries
here can transform the lives of people far from our borders.
I invite you to read about our work and to share in our
mission. Improving the health of our global community is
not just what we stand for; it is what we do every day.
Kenneth P. Trevett, JD
San Antonio, 2012
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