Vol. 63 | October 2026 – 8 minute read

Masashi Yanagisawa, M.D., Ph.D., received the 2026 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award for the discovery of orexin, a brain peptide that maintains wakefulness, and demonstration that the absence of its action is responsible for narcolepsy, a profound disorder of sleep. 

Dr. Yanagisawa was a full-time member of the UT Southwestern faculty for more than 20 years, during which time he conducted the prize-winning research. He is now a part-time Professor of Molecular Genetics at UTSW as well as Director of the International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine at the University of Tsukuba in Japan, a primary appointment he has held since 2014. 

This recognition marks the third consecutive year and sixth time that a UTSW scientist has earned a Lasker Award, following Steven McKnight, Ph.D. (2025), Professor of Biochemistry, Zhijian “James” Chen, Ph.D. (2024), Professor of Molecular Biology and Director of the Center for Inflammation Research, and Nobel Laureates Alfred Gilman, M.D., Ph.D. (1989), Michael Brown, M.D., Professor of Molecular Genetics and Director of the Erik Jonsson Center for Research in Molecular Genetics and Human Disease, (1985), and Joseph Goldstein, M.D., Chair of Molecular Genetics (1985).

Dr. Yanagisawa shares the award with Emmanuel Mignot, M.D., Ph.D., the Craig Reynolds Professor of Sleep Medicine at Stanford University. Watch the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation’s animated video explaining the groundbreaking research led by Drs. Yanagisawa and Mignot and listen to their respective acceptance speeches.

The Office of Faculty Affairs and Career Development uses a two-year cadence to survey faculty about our institution’s strengths and the opportunities that deserve our attention.

Today, you will receive the StandPoint Faculty Engagement Survey from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) via email. The survey will take about 15 minutes to complete.

We encourage you to share your perspective on job satisfaction, contribution, and effort.

The survey closes on Nov. 10. UTSW will receive results in January. Debrief sessions will be scheduled by department and large divisions in the spring.

Dr. Spong Named Associate Dean of Clinical Research

Catherine Y. Spong, M.D., has been appointed Associate Dean of Clinical Research, transitioning from her role as Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology to assume this broader institutional leadership position.

Over the course of her career, Dr. Spong has established herself as a leading clinical investigator with extensive experience in multicenter clinical trials, research leadership, and the translation of evidence into clinical practice – expertise that will help further enhance the breadth and depth of our clinical research enterprise.

Dr. Spong began her career at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). During her 23-year career at NICHD, she served in numerous scientific and leadership roles. For over a decade, she led the NICHD Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network, a 16-site national multicenter clinical trials network whose studies have helped define standards of obstetric care. Her work included developing and overseeing large clinical trials and managing the challenges of recruitment, enrollment, and retention across diverse clinical sites. She also led major research initiatives. Dr. Spong joined UTSW in 2018 as Professor and Vice Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology and in 2021 was appointed Department Chair. She was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2023.

Working closely with Eric Peterson, M.D., M.P.H., Vice Provost and Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Research, Dr. Spong – with her compelling background and expertise – will elevate UTSW as a national hub for clinical research. Read more.

Search Committee for Ob/Gyn Chair

As Dr. Spong transitions to her new role, Deborah Diercks, M.D., Chair and Professor of Emergency Medicine, will serve as Chair of the committee that will conduct a national search for the next Chair of Ob/Gyn. Other members of the committee are:

• Aditee Ambardekar, M.D., Professor of Anesthesiology & Pain Management
• Lina Chalak, M.D., M.S.C.S., Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry
• Carlos Girod, M.D., Associate Vice President for Parkland Health and Hospital System Affairs and Professor of Internal Medicine
• Melissa Kirkwood, M.D., Professor of Surgery
• W. Lee Kraus, Ph.D., Professor and Director of the Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences
• Gary Lemack, M.D., Professor of Urology and Neurology
• Sarah Messiah, Ph.D., M.P.H.,  Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Epidemiology in the Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health
• David Schneider, M.D., Chair and Professor of Family and Community Medicine
• Maeve Sheehan, M.D., M.B.A., Associate Vice President, Pediatric Group Practice, and Professor of Pediatrics
• Tian Zhang, M.D., M.H.S., Professor of Internal Medicine and Associate Director of Clinical Research in the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Eric Peterson, M.D., M.P.H., Vice Provost and Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Research – ex officio

Dr. Tambar Receives Haberecht Wildhare-Idea Research Grant

Uttam Tambar, Ph.D., Professor of Biochemistry, was awarded the 2026 Haberecht Wildhare-Idea Research Grant for investigating how a therapy’s biological target could assist in producing its own drug.

The grant supports speculative ideas that if proven would be the basis for a significant step forward in biomedical research. It was founded by and honors the life and legacy of the late Rolf Haberecht, Ph.D., M.B.A., a Southwestern Medical Foundation Trustee and longtime supporter of UTSW.

Dr. Tambar’s unconventional approach to drug discovery was selected for funding by an ad hoc faculty committee from among 32 submissions by UTSW faculty members, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students. 

His lab will receive $30,000 from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Read more.

Faculty members are invited to self-nominate to serve on the Institutional Library Advisory Committee.

Tasked with helping integrate the library services into the educational and research efforts of our campus and supporting a more coordinated and effective planning process, the committee is chaired by Sherry C. Huang, M.D., Vice Provost and Senior Associate Dean for Education, and reports to President Daniel K. Podolsky, M.D. Through its work, the committee seeks to maximize the use of institutional resources, determine journal subscription selections, and enhance support for education and scholarship.

Committee members will bring the perspectives of their schools, programs, and professional networks to ensure that library services remain responsive to the evolving needs of the UTSW community.

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the federal government from implementing its new Duration of Status rule. The rule, which was scheduled to take effect on Sept. 15, would have replaced Duration of Status for individuals in F and J status with fixed periods of admission. The preliminary injunction means that the rule will not take effect while the legal challenge continues.

The Office of International Affairs will continue to share the latest immigration news updates on its website and communicate directly with affected students, scholars, departments, and sponsoring units. 

The 2026 State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC) – the only authorized workplace giving campaign for state agency and higher education employees in Texas – ends Oct. 31.

Visit the SECC website to learn more about how your contribution can help improve lives, find a cause that matters to you, decide the most convenient way to donate, and make plans to attend a campus event.

While you are on the site, don’t miss a special message from Tia, the facility dog at Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Next month, an all-campus celebration will be held to honor this year’s recipients of the annual Leaders in Clinical Excellence Awards. The seven award categories celebrate clinical faculty across our many sites of service for their exceptional contributions to the care of our patients, to the education and training of the next generation of healthcare professionals, and to the advancement of UT Southwestern overall.

This is an opportunity to come together and celebrate colleagues whose exceptional patient care, mentorship, service, innovation, and humanism exemplify the very best of UTSW.

We strongly encourage you to join us Nov. 4 at 4:30 p.m. in the Tom and Lula Gooch Auditorium to recognize this year’s honorees.

Faculty Women’s Club Welcome Luncheon

The Faculty Women’s Club fosters community through interest groups, service projects, and educational and social events for its members. Learn more about the group and membership eligibility during the fall welcome luncheon. The event will also feature a presentation about the new Texas Behavioral Health Center by Kala Bailey, M.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neurological Surgery. 

• Oct. 6. Register to attend. 

Sponsored Program Administration: Research Roundup

Discuss funding agency deadlines, process changes, and general research regulatory and administrative updates among fellow research support staff and department administrators.

• Oct. 8. Register to attend.

SMART Program

The Scientific Management Accelerating Research & Tenure (SMART) program is designed to empower early career faculty on the tenure-accruing or clinical scholar tracks to accelerate their research success.

• Oct. 13. Register to attend.
  

Decoding the NIH: Navigating Today’s Funding Landscape

Join experienced investigators as they discuss current funding trends, emerging priorities, lessons learned, and practical strategies for success.

• Oct. 15. Register to attend.

Core Showcase Series

Hear from directors of the Data Science Shared Resource Center, High-Throughput Screening Core, and Flow & Mass Cytometry Core about the technologies and services available through campus core facilities.

• Oct. 19. Register to attend.

The Dr. Sharon Reimold Fall Faculty Reception Presents: Faculty Resource Showcase

Hosted by the Women In Science and Medicine Advisory Committee (WISMAC), all faculty are welcome to attend this dynamic, virtual event to connect with colleagues, explore campus resources, and discover new opportunities for engagement and professional development. 

• Oct. 21. Register to attend.

Legacy Lectures in Metabolism

This program will feature internationally recognized speakers and honor four UTSW investigators whose discoveries transformed the fields of metabolism, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and endocrine biology. 

• Oct. 22. Register to attend.

Call for Applications: IMPACT

The UTSW Innovative Mentorship Program for Academic Clinician Teachers (IMPACT) is open to early career faculty who want to take their teaching skills to the next level.

• Submit an application by Oct. 23.

The Scholar’s Edge Workshop Series

Learn about strategies and tools for advancing your scholarly work.

• Oct. 27. Complete the survey to receive the workshop registration link.