UT Health San Antonio is shaping the future of research and innovation
In Natural index In 2024, UT Health San Antonio ranked 32nd out of 917 nationally for research output as a health care institute. The 2024-2025 US News and World Reports The Best Global Universities rankings rank UT Health San Antonio 51st among the world’s top 1,000 universities with clinical medicine research programs. UT Health San Antonio is in the top 5% globally, demonstrating its impact and reputation on the global academic stage.
“Being ranked among the best in the world is a testament to the caliber of our research and the dedication of our faculty, students and staff. Our global reputation allows us to attract diverse talent, foster international collaborations and address the most pressing health challenges across borders,” said Jennifer Sharpe Potter, Ph.D., MPHsenior vice president for research, founding director of the university’s Be Well Institute on Substance Use and Related Disorders, and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences.
As the largest academic research institution in South Texas, UT Health San Antonio leads with a $436 million research portfolio. The university’s 1,500 researchers, working in 108 specialized research units, produce more than 2,300 scientific publications annually, advancing knowledge in critical areas such as Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, chronic pain, metabolic diseases including diabetes, mental health and military health. UT Health San Antonio is a leader in research and clinical breakthroughs, with more than 550 clinical trials currently underway.
This year’s top rankings by US News and World Report also include a listing at number 12 in the standardized citation, highlighting the influence of research produced by UT Health San Antonio scientists and the global impact of the university’s research. Additionally, the university was ranked #6 by Natural index for institutions in North America experiencing the fastest growth in research output. Natural index tracks contributions to research articles published in high-quality journals in the natural sciences and health sciences.
Among the innovative projects carried out this year and with an international scope, we can cite:
- Pei Wang, PhD, and his research team in the Department of Cellular Systems and Anatomy were able to induce normal cells to become tumorigenic, showing for the first time the genesis of a pancreatic tumor in the early stages. Their work constitutes one of the first models to study the progression of normal human pancreatic cells towards tumor cells. Uncovering this process could facilitate the development of early biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for this deadly disease.
- A pilot study led by A. Campbell Sullivan, PsyD, with the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, and other researchers at UT Health San Antonio, showed that the antiretroviral drug lamivudine, commonly used to prevent HIV, shows promise as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. disease. The antiretroviral drug, already approved by the Food and Drug Administration, showed significant improvement in neurodegeneration and inflammation.
- Nathaniel Jeske, PhD, of the School of Dentistry, led a pivotal study on how obstructive sleep apnea contributes to chronic pain. This is the first of its kind to explain the mechanism behind the persistent pain of obstructive sleep apnea.
“The groundbreaking discoveries made by our researchers have a global impact not only on advancing scientific knowledge, but also on providing new solutions to human diseases for which there are currently no cures,” said Manzoor Bhat, MS, PhDvice dean for research and distinguished chair in neuroscience at the university Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine.
In August, the UT System Board of Trustees announced that the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and the University of Texas at San Antonio would merge in 2025, pending approval of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) Commission on Colleges. The combined institution will become the third largest research university in Texas. By merging the complementary and unique strengths of each institution, Texans will have access to the best education and health care imaginable, while accelerating the university’s profound influence and impact, thereby accelerating the translation of research towards clinical practice.