The Texas A&M Health Institute of Biosciences and Technology (IBT) celebrated 30 years of its presence in the Texas Medical Center at the Alkek Building this month. To honor this milestone, the institute hosted a daylong seminar highlighting its research and a celebratory lunch on Oct. 13.
“We are very proud of the research and innovations that have come out of the Texas A&M Institute of Bioscience and Technology,” said Kenneth Ramos, MD, PhD, executive director of the institute. “This celebration is not only about our research but also about our students, faculty and staff who have been dedicated to making the IBT a top-tier research facility.”
Addressing critical issues in biomedicine and health care, the IBT has fostered collaboration with researchers both within the Texas A&M University System and the Texas Medical Center, including institutions such as University of Texas Health, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Houston, and Rice University. Offering seven technology core facilities, the IBT and its research partners conduct research in advanced cellular and molecular imaging, bioinformatics, epigenomics, genomics, high-throughput drug screening and analysis, molecular modeling, precision medicine, and much more with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities.
Showcasing the institute’s research, the seminar featured IBT researchers Clifford Stephan, PhD, Yubin Zhou, MD, PhD, Reid Powell, PhD, Weijia Luo, PhD, and Yun “Nancy” Huang, MD, PhD. The speakers highlighted research ranging from the development of new therapeutics to epigenetic regulation. The seminar was capped off by a roundtable discussion with guest moderator and former IBT Director Cheryl Walker, PhD, from Baylor College of Medicine, discussing the opportunities and challenges of conducting research at satellite campuses.
The celebratory lunch highlighted the past, present and future role of IBT in shaping the research landscape at the Texas Medical Center. John Sharp, chancellor of The Texas A&M University System, Greg Hartman, chief operating officer and senior vice president of Texas A&M University, Jon Mogford, chief operating officer and senior vice president of Texas A&M Health, and Isaac Middleton, chief operating officer of the Texas Medical Center, were guest speakers.
Other special guests included Alan Sams, PhD, interim provost of Texas A&M University, Robert Schwartz, PhD, former director of IBT, partners from the multi-institutional Gulf Coast Consortium and representatives from Texas A&M University Innovation Partners.
The 11-story Texas A&M Alkek building was built in the Texas Medical Center through a generous donation from the philanthropist Albert B. Alkek. Dedicated in 1992, the Alkek Building has been home to the Institute of Biosciences and Technology and established a foundation for innovation and research within Texas A&M Health.