
3 minute read
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
From the PRESIDENT
Fighting Infection TEXAS BIOMED’S NORTH STAR
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sed as a noun, the word focus means “an act of concentrating interest or activity on something.” Last year, Texas Biomedical Research Institute defined its scientific area of focus as infectious diseases and hired new talent, created new science and outreach programs and launched our campus transformation projects as part of our bold, 10-year strategic plan. This focus has bolstered attention on the global challenges of infectious diseases and on the solutions Texas Biomed offers to meet these challenges. Author and businessman Zig Ziglar once said, “I don’t care how much power, brilliance or energy you have, if you don’t harness it and focus it on a specific target, and hold it there you’re never going to accomplish as much as your ability warrants.” Texas Biomed’s foundational mission calls for us to harness our power of discovery and direct it. Since its founding in 1941 by Thomas B. Slick, Jr., the Institute has been putting its energy, time,
Utalent and resources into supporting the entire research pipeline from early stage discovery through to diagnostics, therapies and cures for the benefit of mankind. This legacy continues. According to the World Health Organization, half-a-million cases of drug resistant TB are reported annually. Every minute, a teenage girl in sub-Saharan Africa gets HIV. In 2017, 210 million people were stricken with malaria; 1/3 of surgical patients get a postoperative infection; 51% can be antibiotic resistant “superbugs.” Sepsis accounts for more than 50% of hospital deaths in the United States according to a December 2018 study published in the journal “Critical Care Medicine.” We are currently suffering from the largest number of cases of measles in 25 years. Finally, we have increasing susceptible populations, especially the elderly and those with diabetes. More and more, we are finding links between infection and diseases like heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s. Texas Biomed’s mission is to innovate and share scientific breakthroughs to protect you, your families and our global community from infectious diseases. We do that by identifying
and solving these problems faster and smarter than anybody else. Our uniqueness lies in our vision, our people and our business practices. We have combined assets and expertise on one campus that can’t be found elsewhere in the world; we are vertically integrated in our approach to science from bench to bedside, and we are a nonprofit that runs much like a for profit business — nimble and fast. This approach is by design, so we can accomplish science more efficiently and effectively with greater attention on the benefit to mankind. In this year’s annual report, we outline specific programmatic resources we are dedicating to our mission, new scientists we have added to our growing research team, campus-wide renovation projects aimed at equipping our scientists with the latest and greatest assets, as well as new programs we have begun to help educate our community and the next generation of scientists. San Antonio is a unique city in which to work thanks to its pioneering spirit, its history and the generosity of the community. This community’s support is critical to our future growth and success, because the community — each of you — is why we exist. As always, we appreciate your continued partnership and backing as we execute our mission.
Science contributes to our understanding of the world around us; it provides comfort and makes life easier; it is a means to an end… better lives for generation after generation. Texas Biomed’s focus and the transformation it is undergoing underscores the commitment and dedication our team has to accomplishing the goal of enhancing lives through discovery.
Larry Schlesinger, M.D.
President and CEO
