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TEXAS BIOMED FORUM

THE WORK OF THE FORUM IS VITAL TO FUND THOSE IDEAS IN THE INCUBATOR STAGE SO THAT TEXAS BIOMED SCIENTISTS CAN CONTINUE DOWN THE PATH OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY.

In 1970, Dottie Block, Tena Gorman and Ruth Eilene Sullivan had a vision to create an organization of dedicated and like-minded women to support Texas Biomed. The cornerstone of this organization was built on ideals implemented by our founders: volunteerism, community relations and fundraising — standards of success that the Forum upholds enthusiastically today. Our unofficial mantra this year has been, “Women Supporting Science and Each Other” and what a year we have had!

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Over the course of the Forum’s storied history, the organization has raised over $3 million for Texas Biomed pilot studies via our Forum Grants program. These seed grants, the Forum’s initial investment in promising work, has returned $83 million in additional funding for Texas Biomed. We often say that what starts at the Forum plants the seed to change the world. It is one of the most rewarding aspects of serving the Forum, to see Texas Biomed scientists achieve great success after receiving one of our grants.

Thanks to our Board of Trustees, Advisors, Honorary Advisors, and general membership, we are able to impact the work of Texas Biomed in a variety of ways. Forum membership dues help fund our general needs such as operating expenses, administrative costs and most importantly, our Science Education Awards Program for teachers. Membership in the Forum is open to all women 21 years of age and over interested in promoting the work of the Forum and Texas Biomed. Our membership campaign kicks offs every summer and membership can be initiated or renewed online at any time. Community relations took on many dynamics this year, with our Lecture Luncheons, Cocktails with Scientists Roundtable, Cheers to Chairity, and our student outreach efforts via our student tours program and Science Education Awards.

We began this year with our Fall Lecture Luncheon, a hallmark of our outreach efforts. Dr. Joanne Turner, Texas Biomedical Research Institute’s Vice President for Research and a previous Forum Grant recipient, discussed her career, professional goals and the role of women in science and executive leadership positions. This was followed by our Cocktails with Scientists Roundtable program which allowed our members and guests to interact with multiple scientists in one evening.

In the fall, we hosted our Past Presidents at a luncheon generously sponsored by Texas Biomed at The Argyle. We honored the legacy of the outstanding women who have guided this organization for more than 40 years and celebrated the strong future that lies ahead for the Forum. We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing support from our esteemed group of Past Presidents. They have and continue to shape our organization in many ways.

In February, the Forum hosted our second Cheers to Chairity event in which 12 talented local designers reimagined dining chairs generously donated by The Argyle after the recent renovation projects. This beautiful event was another successful Forum fundraiser.

We welcomed spring with our second lecture luncheon of the year where Texas Biomed President and CEO, Larry Schlesinger, M.D. discussed, “You, Your Loved Ones and Infection: The Impact of Infection on Our Daily Lives.” At this event, we also recognized the winners of our 25th annual Science Education Awards. This beloved program was founded by former Forum Trustee Valerie Guenther and former Forum President Jerilyn Blanchard. Our ongoing partnership with Mrs. Guenther and the V.H. McNutt Memorial Foundation allows the Forum to recognize outstanding local high school science teachers who are developing innovative, hands-on science curriculum. This year’s winners presented outstanding projects that spanned several science genres and

represented Saint Mary’s Hall, Cornerstone Christian School and Earl Warren High School. Throughout the year, Forum Trustees also serve as ambassadors for local high school science classes touring the Texas Biomed campus. This year’s participants included students from Saint Mary’s Hall, Southside High School, Lee High School’s STEM program, La Vernia High School and Natalia High School. The hallmark of the Forum year is always our annual Gala, held the first Saturday of May. One of the most highly anticipated social events of the year, each Gala is thematically unique and crafted with great care by our outstanding Gala team. This talented group of volunteers executed another phenomenally successful event with, “The Night They Invented Champagne.” Funds raised at The Gala and as part of our Forum Grants efforts are utilized to fund pilot studies by Texas Biomed scientists to achieve results needed to apply for larger grants funded by national and government agencies. You may have noticed our newsletters while visiting The Argyle. These are printed three times a year and are mailed to members and made available digitally on our website. The Forum is also active on social media, including Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. These combined efforts allow the Forum to share important information about the groundbreaking work at Texas Biomed with our membership as well as an audience of potential supporters and enthusiastic volunteers.

The Forum greatly values what a treasure Texas Biomed is, and we are honored to work to educate the community about the importance of the scientific work being accomplished on campus. There is so much truth in the statement that what starts at the Forum plants the seed to change the world. The work of the Forum is vital to fund those ideas in the incubator stage so that Texas Biomed scientists can continue down the path of scientific discovery.

Thanks to our past leadership, the Forum continues to be an organization of distinction. Personally, I am grateful to all those who have invested their time and resources in this outstanding organization. It has been both a tremendous honor and a great privilege to serve as this year’s Forum President. I look forward to cheering the Forum on as the organization continues to grow and accomplish great things. With gratitude and in service,

Jody Lutz, 2018 Forum President (l to r) Denise Mosser, Chair of the 2018 Gala, presented a check for the 2018 Gala proceeds to Dr. Larry Schlesinger, Texas Biomed President/ CEO alongside Nicole McClane, Gala Co-chair and Courtney Percy, 2017-2018 President of the Forum.

The Forum awarded $251,294 in grants to scientists at Texas Biomedical Research Institute

to assist in developing preliminary data that will enable these scientists to secure future funding for novel projects. The following projects were funded in 2018.

SCIENTISTS

Andrew Hayhurst, Ph.D.

Dr. Hayhurst’s project is a proof-of-concept study to evaluate the potential of a novel process for the facile detection of pathogens in the field. Using Marburg virus as our model pathogen, his team will test the feasibility and sensitivity of the system.

Jordi Torrelles, Ph.D.

Dr. Torrelles is working to develop and test the performance of a 2nd generation TB Color Plate test with the ultimate goal of developing and implementing a faster (14 vs. 56-84 days), fieldbased, easy-to-use and inexpensive drug susceptibility testing (DST) for drug-resistant TB in high TB index rate regions. This will allow faster detection, cost reductions, and thus, significantly aid in preventing transmission of drug-resistant TB in humans.

STAFF SCIENTISTS

Varun Dwivedi, Ph.D.

Dr. Dwivedi proposes a strategy of host derived IL-10 modulation, strictly at the time of vaccination for generating a qualitatively different set of T cells resulting in sustained long-term protection against M.tb infection in mice.

POST-DOCTORAL SCIENTISTS

Chrissy Leopold Wager, Ph.D.

Macrophages are host immune cells that are critical for controlling TB. Dr. Leopold-Wager’s project focuses on the role of lipid signaling molecules known as eicosanoids on macrophage responses. We are investigating the kinetic release of eicosanoids in TB infected human macrophages and will determine the effects of eicosanoids on macrophage activation and metabolism as well as TB pathogenesis. This project will provide insight into pathways that can be targeted for novel approaches to host-directed therapy for TB.

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