A Legacy of Excellence in Science & Medicine

Since 1985, six UT Southwestern faculty members have been recipients of the Nobel Prize. Their discoveries include:

• The basic mechanism of cholesterol metabolism
• Using X-ray crystallography to describe the structure of a protein involved in photosynthesis
• G proteins and the role they play in the complex processes by which cells communicate with each other
• Receptor proteins that recognize disease-causing agents and activate innate immunity
• Synaptic transmission, the process by which brain cells communicate with each other via chemical signals

Drs. Brown and Goldstein shared the 1985 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries of how the body regulates cholesterol and how diseases caused by abnormally elevated cholesterol levels in the blood can be effectively treated. They found that human cells have low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors that remove cholesterol from the blood and that when LDL receptors are not present in sufficient numbers, individuals become at risk for cholesterol-related diseases. This pioneering discovery led to the development of statins, which help regulate cholesterol, improve the quality of life for millions of people, and save lives.

Dr. Deisenhofer shared the 1988 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his use of X-ray crystallography to describe the structure of a protein involved in photosynthesis. One of the most fundamental processes of life, photosynthesis uses energy from sunlight to make sugars out of water and carbon dioxide, providing nourishment for plant life to exist. Studying bacteria, Dr. Deisenhofer and his fellow recipients discovered how energy is converted through a series of proteins that transport electrons and were then able to create a model and determine the three-dimensional structure for the photosynthetic reaction center. Their work provided unique insight into photosynthesis, helping scientists understand how energy is transferred into biological systems.

The late Dr. Gilman shared the 1994 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of G proteins and the role they play in the complex processes by which cells communicate with each other. Dr. Gilman, a Regental Professor Emeritus who died in December 2015, served in numerous leadership roles at UT Southwestern during his illustrious career, including as Chair of Pharmacology and as Provost and Dean of UT Southwestern Medical School.

Dr. Beutler shared the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of how the immune system is activated. When bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms attack the body, receptor proteins recognize such microorganisms and activate innate immunity, the first step in the body’s immune response. Through a series of experiments, Dr. Beutler revealed how cells detect infection and how the innate immune system is activated in response. His work helped open avenues for the development of therapies to treat infections, cancer, and inflammatory diseases. Dr. Beutler is currently a Regental Professor and Director of the Center for Genetics of Host Defense at UT Southwestern. He also holds the Raymond and Ellen Willie Distinguished Chair in Cancer Research, in honor of Laverne and Raymond Willie Sr. 

Dr. Südhof shared the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with two other scientists for their discoveries of how cellular transport systems work. Dr. Südhof, Adjunct Professor of Neuroscience and former Chair of the Department of Neuroscience at UT Southwestern, is now at Stanford University School of Medicine. He was recognized for his pioneering work performed at UT Southwestern on synaptic transmission, the process by which brain cells communicate with each other via chemical signals passed through the spaces, or synapses, between them.

UT Southwestern has 26 faculty who are members of the National Academy of Sciences, one of the highest honors attainable by an American scientist.

Elected to NAS in 1980: Together with Joseph Goldstein, M.D., Dr. Brown discovered the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor, which controls the level of cholesterol in blood and in cells. They showed that mutations in this receptor cause familial hypercholesterolemia, a disorder that leads to premature heart attacks in one out of every 500 people in most populations. Their discovery laid the theoretical groundwork for the development of a class of drugs called statins that block cholesterol synthesis, increase LDL receptors, lower blood cholesterol, and prevent heart attacks. Statins are taken daily by more than 20 million people worldwide, reducing their risk for cardiovascular disease and improving their quality of life. Drs. Brown and Goldstein have received many awards for their work, including the U.S. National Medal of Science and the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Elected in 1980. Together with Michael Brown, M.D., Dr. Goldstein discovered the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor, which controls the level of cholesterol in blood and in cells. Their research laid the theoretical groundwork for the development of a class of drugs called statins that block cholesterol synthesis, increase LDL receptors, lower blood cholesterol, and prevent heart attacks. Statins are taken daily by more than 20 million people worldwide, reducing their risk for cardiovascular disease and improving their quality of life. Drs. Brown and Goldstein have received many awards for their work, including the U.S. National Medal of Science and the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Elected in 1992. Dr. McKnight's research involves the regulation of gene expression in mammalian cells. In 1996, he was appointed Chair of UT Southwestern's Department of Biochemistry. He directed an active research laboratory and guided the department to substantial growth in the disciplines of chemistry, biochemistry, and biophysics. In addition to being a member of the NAS, Dr. McKnight is a member of the Institute of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Elected in 1994. Dr. Vitetta is an immunologist and the Scheryle Simmons Patigian Distinguished Chair in Cancer Immunobiology at UT Southwestern. She was the first female biomedical scientist from Texas ever elected to the National Academy of Sciences. Her research has focused on the biology of normal and malignant B cells. Her lab has most recently been involved in using monoclonal antibodies attached to toxins (immunotoxins) to target and kill malignant B cells in mice and in humans. These immunotoxins are undergoing testing in advanced clinical trials in patients with non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin lymphoma.

Elected in 1997. Dr. Deisenhofer is Professor Emeritus at UT Southwestern. Until January 2019, he held the positions of Regental Professor and Professor in Biophysics, as well as the Virginia and Edward Linthicum Distinguished Chair in Biomolecular Science at UT Southwestern. Since 1988, his lab has studied the structural biology of integral membrane proteins, proteins involved in light signaling and energy conversion, proteins involved in immunity, and proteins involved in cholesterol homeostasis. In addition to being a member of the NAS, between 1988 and 2010 he was an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and in 1988 he won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (with Hartmut Michel and Robert Huber) for determining the three-dimensional structure of a photosynthetic reaction center.

Elected in 2000. Dr. Olson is the founding Chair of the Department of Molecular Biology at UT Southwestern. He also directs the Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine and the Wellstone Center for Muscular Dystrophy Research. He holds the Robert A. Welch Distinguished Chair in Science, the Annie and Willie Nelson Professorship in Stem Cell Research, and the Pogue Distinguished Chair in Research on Cardiac Birth Defects. He is also a member of the National Academy of Medicine. His primary research interest is in the molecular mechanisms that control cell destiny during development. His lab has studied muscle cells and discovered a series of developmental control genes that govern muscle cell identity and differentiation. Dr. Olson's most recent work has provided a new strategy for correction of Duchenne muscular dystrophy using CRISPR gene editing.

Elected in 2003. Dr. Takahashi is Chair of the Department of Neuroscience at UT Southwestern, a National Academy of Medicine member, and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator. He holds the Loyd B. Sands Distinguished Chair in Neuroscience. He pioneered the use of forward genetics and positional cloning in mice as a tool for discovery of genes underlying neurobiology and behavior, and his discovery of the mouse and human clock genes led to a description of a conserved circadian clock mechanism in animals.

Elected in 2003. Dr. Yanagisawa is now a part-time Professor of Molecular Genetics at UT Southwestern; he was a full-time faculty member for nearly a quarter century. He also is a member of the faculty at the University of Tsukuba in Japan. In 2022, Dr. Yanagisawa won the prestigious Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for his discovery of the cause of narcolepsy, in work that has led to new treatments for this condition. Dr. Yanagisawa discovered orexin in 1998, when he was a full-time UTSW faculty member. In 1999, he showed that orexin deficiency causes narcolepsy, leading to new vistas in sleep research and to a better understanding of the brain’s sleep/wake switching mechanisms. More than a decade ago, Dr. Yanagisawa launched an ambitious two-continent, large-scale forward genetics program to screen for sleep/wake abnormalities in mice. That ongoing project has led to the identification of several new genes considered of great importance in the regulation of sleep. (Photo courtesy of the University of Tsukuba.)

Elected in 2006. Dr. Cobb is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at UT Southwestern and holds the Jane and Bill Browning Jr. Chair in Medical Science. Her interests are in cellular regulatory mechanisms. Her lab studies how cells sense and respond to hormones, nutrients, stress, and developmental signals in their environment to elucidate regulatory mechanisms with a focus on protein kinase signaling pathways as the targets of these cell stimuli.

Elected in 2006. Dr. Russell is Professor Emeritus of Molecular Genetics at UT Southwestern. During his four-decade career at UTSW, he served as Dean of Basic Research and also held the titles of Vice Provost and the Eugene McDermott Distinguished Chair in Molecular Genetics. Early collaborators with Dr. Russell were UTSW Nobel Laureates Michael Brown, M.D., and Joseph Goldstein, M.D., whose discoveries on the regulation of cholesterol metabolism jointly earned them the 1985 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Dr. Russell launched an independent research career investigating the biochemical pathways that mammalian cells use to degrade cholesterol and other sterols.

Elected in 2007. Dr. Hobbs is a Professor of Internal Medicine and Molecular Genetics at UT Southwestern and Director of the McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, which serves as the Center for Human Genetics at UTSW. She established the Dallas Heart Study, a longitudinal, multiethnic, population-based study of Dallas County, which is now supported by the Hoffman Family Center in Genetics and Epidemiology and by the National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS). Her work focuses on defining the genetic determinants of plasma lipid levels and cardiovascular risk. Most recently, she has identified genetic variations that confer susceptibility to fatty liver disease. Dr. Hobbs is also a member of the National Academy of Medicine and an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. In 2016, she won the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences in recognition of her transformative genetics research.

Elected in 2008. Dr. Beutler is a pioneer in the study of innate immunity, and his work in the field has isolated several key cytokines (TNFα, MIP1α, MIP1β, and others). His research led to the discovery of the elusive sensing mechanism by which host cells recognize microbial invaders, including bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and viruses. In work spanning nearly four decades, he has identified proteins central to many other biological processes, notably neurobehavioral function, metabolism, and development. His discoveries have led to therapies for crippling and life-shortening diseases that affect millions of people. His work in the innate immunity field was rewarded with a Nobel Prize in 2011, shared with Jules Hoffmann and Ralph Steinman.

Elected in 2008. Dr. Mangelsdorf is Chair and Professor of the Department of Pharmacology. He holds the Raymond and Ellen Willie Distinguished Chair in Molecular Neuropharmacology in Honor of Harold B. Crasilneck, Ph.D., and the Alfred G. Gilman Distinguished Chair in Pharmacology. In addition to being a member of the National Academy of Sciences, Dr. Mangelsdorf is also an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. His laboratory, which he runs jointly with Steven Kliewer, Ph.D., is focused on nuclear receptor regulation of metabolism, and its discoveries have uncovered potential therapeutic targets for diseases such as cholestasis, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity.

Elected in 2014. Dr. Chen is the George L. MacGregor Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Science, Director of the Inflammation Research Center, and a Professor of Molecular Biology at UT Southwestern. In 2019, he received the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for his achievements in explaining how DNA triggers immune and autoimmune responses from the interior of a cell through the discovery of the DNA-sensing enzyme cGAS. His lab has identified proteins, such as the mitochondrial protein MAVS, that are crucial to the body’s defense against RNA viruses such as influenza and Ebola. Dr. Chen and his team are currently dissecting a signaling pathway involving a novel DNA sensor that activates an interferon response that may play a role in immune defense against pathogens and malignant cells, as well as in autoimmune diseases such as lupus. Dr. Chen is also a National Academy of Medicine member and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator.

Elected in 2015. Dr. Hooper is Chair and Professor of the Department of Immunology at UT Southwestern, where she holds the Jonathan W. Uhr, M.D. Distinguished Chair in Immunology. Dr. Hooper's lab studies interactions between intestinal bacteria and host cells in the mammalian gut and is working toward obtaining a detailed understanding of how the immune system copes with enormous numbers of symbiotic intestinal bacteria. Other projects include exploring how the microbiota regulates mammalian metabolism through interactions with the circadian clock. Dr. Hooper is also an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and a member of the National Academy of Medicine.

Elected in 2015. Dr. Kliewer is a Professor of Molecular Biology and Pharmacology at UT Southwestern and holds the Diana K. and Richard C. Strauss Distinguished Chair in Developmental Biology. He runs a joint laboratory with David Mangelsdorf, Ph.D. Their research focuses on the roles of nuclear receptors and endocrine FGFs in regulating diverse aspects of physiology and pathophysiology, including metabolism and related diseases. Among their ongoing projects, they are studying how FGF19 and FGF21 regulate bile acid and energy homeostasis, respectively, and how the dafachronic acid receptor, DAF-12, regulates the infectious life cycle of parasitic nematodes.

Elected in 2020. Dr. Conaway is Vice Provost and Dean of Basic Research at UT Southwestern. A distinguished biomedical researcher, she holds the Cecil H. Green Distinguished Chair in Cellular and Molecular Biology. In addition to providing strategic leadership for UT Southwestern’s state-of-the-art basic biomedical research, Dr. Conaway's lab studies molecular mechanisms responsible for the regulation of RNA polymerase II transcription, a process that, when disrupted, can lead to cancer and other diseases. She has been a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences since 2002.

Elected in 2020. Dr. Morrison is Director of the Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern, where he holds the Mary McDermott Cook Chair in Pediatric Genetics and the Kathryne and Gene Bishop Distinguished Chair in Pediatric Research. The Morrison lab studies the mechanisms that maintain stem cell function in adult tissues and the ways in which cancer cells hijack these mechanisms to enable neoplastic proliferation. A better understanding of these mechanisms offers the potential to yield new regenerative medicine and cancer therapies. Dr. Morrison is also a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator and a member of the National Academy of Medicine.

Elected in 2020. Dr. Orth is a Professor of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at UT Southwestern, where she is also a W.W. Caruth Jr. Scholar in Biomedical Research and holds the Earl A. Forsythe Chair in Biomedical Science. The Orth lab is very active in elucidating mechanisms used by virulence factors expressed by bacterial pathogens. Its studies using microbial genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, and bioinformatics on effectors from Yersinia and Vibrio have uncovered many mechanisms that bacteria use to subvert host signaling pathways, including the discovery of two novel post-translational modifications: YopJ Ser/Thr Acetylation and VopS AMPylation. Dr. Orth is also an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Elected in 2020. Dr. Rosen is Chair of the Department of Biophysics at UT Southwestern and an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The Rosen lab seeks to understand the formation, regulation, and functions of enigmatic, cellular compartments termed biomolecular condensates. These evolutionarily conserved structures concentrate diverse but specific groups of molecules without a surrounding membrane. His lab uses a range of tools and techniques, including in vitro and cellular microscopy and biochemical reconstitution, to investigate phase separation in engineered and natural condensates, with the ultimate goal of understanding cell organization on scales spanning nanometers to microns.

Elected in 2021. Dr. Hilgemann is a Professor of Physiology and Internal Medicine and the Charles and Jane Pak Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research. He holds the Floyd C. Rector, Jr., M.D. Professorship in Acid-Base Regulation and the Roy and Christine Sturgis Chair in Biomedical Research. The Hilgemann lab studies sodium transporters, which are proteins on cell surfaces that move sodium ions across the cell membrane. Much of his research has been focused on the heart, and he also studies how cells regulate sodium transporters through membrane remodeling, either increasing or reducing the size of their membranes. To accomplish this goal, he and his colleagues have developed innovative electrical and optical tools.

Elected in 2021. Dr. Phillips is Chair and Professor of the Department of Biochemistry at UT Southwestern, where she has a secondary faculty appointment in the Department of Pharmacology and holds the Sam G. Winstead and F. Andrew Bell Distinguished Chair in Biochemistry. Dr. Phillips is recognized as one of the leading authorities on drug development for the treatment of malaria and parasitic diseases. In 2010, her research team won the Medicines for Malaria Venture Project of the Year Award for its efforts to discover DSM265, which kills drug-resistant malaria parasites in the blood and liver by targeting their ability to replicate. Her research focuses on biochemistry and drug discovery in parasitic protozoa. 

Elected in 2022. Dr. Cohen is a Professor of Internal Medicine in the Center for Human Nutrition and the Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development at UT Southwestern and is the C. Vincent Prothro Distinguished Chair in Human Nutrition Research. Working together with his scientific partner, Helen Hobbs, M.D., Dr. Cohen has identified genes that play major roles in the metabolism of fats, cholesterol, and triglycerides, and elucidated the biological roles of their protein products. The Hobbs-Cohen lab showed that loss-of-function mutations in PCSK9 are associated with low plasma levels of cholesterol and confer protection from coronary heart disease. The lab's research also has identified the first genetic cause of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in humans. 

Elected in 2023. Dr. DeBose-Boyd is a Professor of Molecular Genetics at UT Southwestern, where he holds the Beatrice and Miguel Elias Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Science. The DeBose-Boyd lab focuses on the regulation of HMG-CoA reductase, which produces mevalonate, a crucial intermediate in the synthesis of cholesterol. Inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase, collectively called statins, have revolutionized the treatment of high blood cholesterol levels, reducing the incidence of heart attacks. The research of Dr. DeBose-Boyd, who initially worked in the lab of Nobel Laureates Joseph L. Goldstein, M.D., and Michael S. Brown, M.D., provides a foundation for the development of novel therapies to enhance the effectiveness of statins.

Elected in 2023. Dr. Pan is Chair and Professor of the Department of Physiology at UT Southwestern, where he holds the Fouad A. and Val Imm Bashour Distinguished Chair in Physiology. The Pan lab identified the “Hippo” pathway of intracellular signaling, which plays important roles in the determination of organ size, tissue regeneration, and tumorigenesis. The lab also elucidated the molecular function of the Tsc1 and Tsc2 tumor suppressor genes, linking Tsc1/Tsc2 to Rheb and TOR signaling. This work provided the key molecular insight for the use of mTOR inhibitors in the treatment of tuberous sclerosis, a genetic disease that can lead to tumor development in the brain, spinal cord, and organs. Dr. Pan is also a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator.

UT Southwestern has 20 faculty members elected to the National Academy of Medicine, which was established in 1970 to advise the nation on issues of health, health care, and biomedical science and technology.

Elected in 1987. Together with Joseph Goldstein, M.D., Dr. Brown discovered the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor, which controls the level of cholesterol in blood and in cells. They showed that mutations in this receptor cause familial hypercholesterolemia, a disorder that leads to premature heart attacks in one out of every 500 people in most populations. Their pioneering discovery led to the development of statins, which help regulate cholesterol, improving the quality of life for millions of people, and saving lives. Drs. Brown and Goldstein have received many awards for their work, including the U.S. National Medal of Science and the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Dr. Brown is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences.

Elected in 1987. Together with Michael Brown, M.D., Dr. Goldstein discovered the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor, which controls the level of cholesterol in blood and in cells. Their research laid the groundwork for the development of a class of drugs called statins that block cholesterol synthesis, increase LDL receptors, lower blood cholesterol, and prevent heart attacks. Statins are taken daily by more than 20 million people worldwide, improving their quality of life. Drs. Brown and Goldstein have received many awards for their work, including the U.S. National Medal of Science and the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Dr. Brown is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences.

Elected in 1995. Dr. Grundy is Director of the Center for Human Nutrition, Chairman of the Department of Clinical Nutrition, and Director of the Clinical and Translational Research Center (CTRC) at UT Southwestern, as well as Chief of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases at the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He is also a Distinguished Professor of Internal Medicine at UTSW. Dr. Grundy's major research area is in cholesterol and lipoprotein metabolism. He has published more than 400 original papers and numerous solicited articles and chapters. His notable research achievements include the development of methods for measuring cholesterol balance and biliary lipid secretion in humans, identifying the metabolic causes of cholesterol gallstones, defining the effects of saturated and unsaturated fats, and uncovering genetic defects underlying hypercholesterolemia and other forms of dyslipidemia.

Elected in 1998. Dr. Tamminga is Chair and Professor of the Department of Psychiatry and the Chief of Translational Research in Psychosis at UT Southwestern. She also holds the Stanton Sharp Distinguished Chair in Psychiatry. Dr. Tamminga's research examines the mechanisms underlying schizophrenia, especially its most prominent symptoms, psychosis and memory dysfunction, in order to build rational treatments for the illness. She evaluates the function of the living human brain in individuals with and without schizophrenia, using brain imaging techniques, with the ultimate goal of developing novel pharmacologies for psychosis and memory dysfunction.

Elected in 1999. Dr. Wildenthal was the second President of UT Southwestern, serving from 1986 to 2008. He is now President Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Medicine. Dr. Wildenthal has been a visiting professor and conference organizer in 24 countries and has authored more than 120 scientific papers in basic research and clinical cardiology, as well as numerous articles on health and education policy issues. During Dr. Wildenthal’s administrative tenure at UT Southwestern, the institution more than quintupled in size and emerged as one of the leading medical institutions in the world. Four of its faculty won Nobel Prizes, 19 were elected members of the National Academy of Sciences, and 50 were named as presidents of national societies of their clinical and research specialties. In 2015, the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System honored him by naming the newest research building on the UT Southwestern campus the C. Kern Wildenthal Research Building.

Elected in 2001. Dr. Gant is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He is a world-renowned expert on hypertension in pregnancy and a pioneer in the study of vascular responsiveness to angiotensin II in human pregnancy. In 1977, Dr. Gant became the fourth Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology and held that position through May 1983.  During his tenure, deliveries at Parkland Memorial Hospital went from 8,620 to 11,244 and services were expanded to include genetic counseling for risks of hereditary diseases. In 1993, he succeeded James Merrill, M.D., as Executive Director of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a position he held until Dec. 31, 2009. 

Elected in 2001. Dr. Olson is the founding Chair of the Department of Molecular Biology at UT Southwestern. He also directs the Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine and the Wellstone Center for Muscular Dystrophy Research. He holds the Robert A. Welch Distinguished Chair in Science, the Annie and Willie Nelson Professorship in Stem Cell Research, and the Pogue Distinguished Chair in Research on Cardiac Birth Defects. He is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences. His primary research interest is in the molecular mechanisms that control cell destiny during development. His lab has studied muscle cells and discovered a series of developmental control genes that govern muscle cell identity and differentiation. Dr. Olson's most recent work has provided a new strategy for correction of Duchenne muscular dystrophy using CRISPR gene editing.

Elected in 2004. Dr. Hobbs is a Professor of Internal Medicine and Molecular Genetics at UT Southwestern and Director of the McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, which serves as the Center for Human Genetics at UTSW.  She established the Dallas Heart Study, a longitudinal, multiethnic, population-based study of Dallas County, which is now supported by the Hoffman Family Center in Genetics and Epidemiology and by the National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS). Her work focuses on defining the genetic determinants of plasma lipid levels and cardiovascular risk. Most recently, she has identified genetic variations that confer susceptibility to fatty liver disease. Dr. Hobbs is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences and an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. In 2016, she won the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences in recognition of her transformative genetics research.

Elected in 2005. Dr. McKnight's research involves the regulation of gene expression in mammalian cells. In 1996, he was appointed Chair of UT Southwestern's Department of Biochemistry. He directed an active research laboratory and guided the department to substantial growth in the disciplines of chemistry, biochemistry and biophysics. Dr. McKnight is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Elected in 2006. Dr. Vitetta is an immunologist and the Scheryle Simmons Patigian Distinguished Chair in Cancer Immunobiology at UT Southwestern. She was the first female biomedical scientist from Texas ever elected to the National Academy of Sciences. Her research has focused on the biology of normal and malignant B cells. Her lab has most recently been involved in using monoclonal antibodies attached to toxins (immunotoxins) to target and kill malignant B cells in mice and in humans. These immunotoxins are undergoing testing in advanced clinical trials in patients with non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin lymphoma.

2008. Dr. Beutler is a pioneer in the study of innate immunity, and his work in the field has isolated several key cytokines (TNFα, MIP1α, MIP1β, and others). His research led to discovery of the elusive sensing mechanism by which host cells recognize microbial invaders, including bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and viruses. In work spanning nearly four decades, he has identified proteins central to many other biological processes, notably neurobehavioral function, metabolism, and development. His discoveries have led to therapies for crippling and life-shortening diseases that affect millions of people. His work in the innate immunity field was rewarded with a Nobel Prize in 2011, shared with Jules Hoffmann and Ralph Steinman. He is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences.

Elected in 2009. Dr. Podolsky became the third President of UT Southwestern Medical Center on Sept. 1, 2008. He holds the Philip O’Bryan Montgomery, Jr., M.D. Distinguished Presidential Chair in Academic Administration and is also a Professor of Internal Medicine, holding the Doris and Bryan Wildenthal Distinguished Chair in Medical Science. Prior to becoming President of UT Southwestern, Dr. Podolsky was the Mallinckrodt Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, the Chief of Gastroenterology at Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Chief Academic Officer of Partners HealthCare System in Boston. Under his leadership, the GI Unit at Massachusetts General became one of the leading programs in the country, highly regarded for its dynamic research and training activities, in addition to its comprehensive program of clinical care in gastroenterology. Dr. Podolsky’s own research interests have focused on the delineation of epithelial cell function, and in 1991, he established an innovative Center for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Since arriving at UT Southwestern, he has focused on keeping the institution on the frontiers of science and on promoting a clinical transformation through a commitment to excellence and innovation in patient care.

Elected in 2014. Dr. Takahashi is Chair of the Department of Neuroscience at UT Southwestern, a National Academy of Sciences member, and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator. He holds the Loyd B. Sands Distinguished Chair in Neuroscience. He pioneered the use of forward genetics and positional cloning in mice as a tool for discovery of genes underlying neurobiology and behavior, and his discovery of the mouse and human clock genes led to a description of a conserved circadian clock mechanism in animals.

Elected in 2017: Dr. Pomper, Professor and Chair of UT Southwestern’s Department of Radiology, is a physician-scientist with an international reputation as an expert in the field of molecular imaging. Dr. Pomper came to UT Southwestern from Johns Hopkins Medicine, where he led a research group that developed molecular imaging agents to detect cancer and central nervous system disease. In addition to having a medical degree, he holds a doctorate in organic chemistry.

Elected in 2018. Dr. Morrison is Director of the Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern, where he holds the Mary McDermott Cook Chair in Pediatric Genetics and the Kathryne and Gene Bishop Distinguished Chair in Pediatric Research. The Morrison lab studies the mechanisms that maintain stem cell function in adult tissues and the ways in which cancer cells hijack these mechanisms to enable neoplastic proliferation. A better understanding of these mechanisms offers the potential to yield new regenerative medicine and cancer therapies. Dr. Morrison is also a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator and a member of the National Academy of Sciences.

Elected in 2020. Dr. DeBerardinis is Chief of Pediatric Genetics and Metabolism at UT Southwestern and Director of the Genetic and Metabolic Disease Program in the Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern (CRI). The DeBerardinis lab is interested in the role of altered metabolic states in human diseases, particularly pediatric inborn errors of metabolism and cancer. This research is tightly integrated with clinical activities in medical genetics, oncology, and radiology, providing seamless opportunities to examine the relevance of findings in patients. Dr. DeBerardinis holds the Joel B. Steinberg, M.D. Distinguished Chair in Pediatrics and is the Sowell Family Scholar in Medical Research at UTSW. He is also a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator.  

Elected in 2021. Dr. Achilefu is the inaugural Chair of UT Southwestern’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, where he is also a Professor. He also holds the Lyda Hill Distinguished University Chair in Biomedical Engineering. An inventor with 65 U.S. patents, Dr. Achilefu developed cancer-avid materials and a wearable cancer-imaging goggle system that highlights cancer cells, providing real-time guidance to surgeons in the operating room to ensure the complete removal of cancerous tissue. In addition to image-guided cancer surgery, Dr. Achilefu’s research interests include portable imaging devices and nanotechnology. His seminal work in the use of innovative fluorescent materials for cancer imaging resulted in the clinical translation of a method to identify and treat most cancer types, especially breast tumors. In 2020, he was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services to serve on the National Advisory Council for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering.

Elected in 2022. Dr. Chen is the George L. MacGregor Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Science, Director of the Inflammation Research Center, and a Professor of Molecular Biology at UT Southwestern. In 2019, he received the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for his achievements in explaining how DNA triggers immune and autoimmune responses from the interior of a cell through the discovery of the DNA-sensing enzyme cGAS. His lab has identified proteins, such as the mitochondrial protein MAVS, that are crucial to the body’s defense against RNA viruses such as influenza and Ebola. Dr. Chen and his team are currently dissecting a signaling pathway involving a novel DNA sensor that activates an interferon response that may play a role in immune defense against pathogens and malignant cells, as well as in autoimmune diseases such as lupus. Dr. Chen is also a National Academy of Medicine member and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator.

Elected in 2022. Dr. Hooper is Chair and a Professor in the Department of Immunology at UT Southwestern, where she holds the Jonathan W. Uhr, M.D. Distinguished Chair in Immunology. Dr. Hooper's lab studies interactions between intestinal bacteria and host cells in the mammalian gut and is working toward obtaining a detailed understanding of how the immune system copes with enormous numbers of symbiotic intestinal bacteria. Other projects include exploring how the microbiota regulates mammalian metabolism through interactions with the circadian clock. Dr. Hooper is also an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and a member of the National Academy of Sciences.

Elected in 2022. Dr. Omer is the Inaugural Dean of the Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health at UT Southwestern, where he is also a Professor. He also holds the endowed Lyda Hill Deanship of the School of Public Health. Dr. Omer has conducted studies in the United States, Guatemala, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Africa, and Australia. His research portfolio includes epidemiology of respiratory viruses such as influenza, RSV, and, more recently, COVID-19; clinical trials to estimate efficacy of maternal and/or infant influenza, pertussis, polio, measles, and pneumococcal vaccines; and trials to evaluate drug regimens to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Dr. Omer has conducted several studies on interventions to increase immunization coverage and acceptance. His work has been cited in global and country-specific policy recommendations and has informed clinical practice and health legislation in several countries.

Elected in 2023. Dr. Spong is Chair and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UT Southwestern and the Paul C. MacDonald Distinguished Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She has contributed to multiple landmark clinical trials in obstetrics, gynecology, and fetal surgery that have defined the standard of care in the fields of maternal and fetal medicine and best practices in obstetrics and gynecology. A prolific scientist, Dr. Spong has published roughly 550 research works and is co-author and Editor for Williams Obstetrics, the world’s premier obstetrics guide. Her scientific contributions have advanced our understanding of the physiology of the human placenta, the genomics of preterm birth and stillbirth, and adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes.

UT Southwestern has 13 faculty members who are Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators, chosen for their ability to advance scientific innovation and break new ground in basic and biomedical research.

Elected in 1993. Dr. Mangelsdorf is Chair and Professor of the Department of Pharmacology. He holds the Raymond and Ellen Willie Distinguished Chair in Molecular Neuropharmacology in Honor of Harold B. Crasilneck, Ph.D., and the Alfred G. Gilman Distinguished Chair in Pharmacology. Dr. Mangelsdorf's laboratory, which he runs jointly with Steven Kliewer, Ph.D., is focused on nuclear receptor regulation of metabolism, and its discoveries have uncovered potential therapeutic targets for diseases such as cholestasis, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2008.

Elected in 2002. Dr. Hobbs is a Professor of Internal Medicine and Molecular Genetics at UT Southwestern and Director of the McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, which serves as the Center for Human Genetics at UTSW.  She established the Dallas Heart Study, a longitudinal, multiethnic, population-based study of Dallas County, which is now supported by the Hoffman Family Center in Genetics and Epidemiology and by the National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS). Her work focuses on defining the genetic determinants of plasma lipid levels and cardiovascular risk. Most recently, she has identified genetic variations that confer susceptibility to fatty liver disease. Dr. Hobbs is also a member of the National Academy of Medicine. In 2016, she won the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences in recognition of her transformative genetics research.

Elected in 2005. Dr. Chen is the George L. MacGregor Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Science, Director of the Inflammation Research Center, and a Professor of Molecular Biology at UT Southwestern. In 2019, he received the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for his achievements in explaining how DNA triggers immune and autoimmune responses from the interior of a cell through the discovery of the DNA-sensing enzyme cGAS. His lab has identified proteins, such as the mitochondrial protein MAVS, that are crucial to the body’s defense against RNA viruses such as influenza and Ebola. Dr. Chen and his team are currently dissecting a signaling pathway involving a novel DNA sensor that activates an interferon response that may play a role in immune defense against pathogens and malignant cells, as well as in autoimmune diseases such as lupus. Dr. Chen is also a National Academy of Sciences member and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator.

Elected in 2005. Dr. Rosen is Chair of the Department of Biophysics at UT Southwestern. The Rosen lab seeks to understand the formation, regulation, and functions of enigmatic, cellular compartments termed biomolecular condensates. These evolutionarily conserved structures concentrate diverse but specific groups of molecules without a surrounding membrane. His lab uses a range of tools and techniques, including in vitro and cellular microscopy and biochemical reconstitution, to investigate phase separation in engineered and natural condensates, with the ultimate goal of understanding cell organization on scales spanning nanometers to microns.

Elected in 2008. Dr. Hooper is Chair and Professor of the Department of Immunology at UT Southwestern, where she holds the Jonathan W. Uhr, M.D. Distinguished Chair in Immunology. Dr. Hooper's lab studies interactions between intestinal bacteria and host cells in the mammalian gut and is working toward obtaining a detailed understanding of how the immune system copes with enormous numbers of symbiotic intestinal bacteria. Other projects include exploring how the microbiota regulates mammalian metabolism through interactions with the circadian clock. Dr. Hooper is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine.

Elected in 2008. Dr. Jiang is a Professor of Physiology and Biophysics, holds the Rosewood Corporation Chair in Biomedical Science, and is the W.W. Caruth Jr. Scholar in Biomedical Research. His research is aimed at understanding the structure and function of a class of membrane proteins called ion channels. Dr. Jiang's lab is currently focused on organellar cation channels, such as those localized to the lysosome and mitochondria. His research will facilitate understanding of ion channel regulation of basic biological processes and contribute to studies of channel-related human diseases.

Elected in 2008. Dr. Pan is Chair and Professor of the Department of Physiology at UT Southwestern, where he holds the Fouad A. and Val Imm Bashour Distinguished Chair in Physiology. The Pan lab identified the “Hippo” pathway of intracellular signaling, which plays important roles in the determination of organ size, tissue regeneration, and tumorigenesis. The lab also elucidated the molecular function of the Tsc1 and Tsc2 tumor suppressor genes, linking Tsc1/Tsc2 to Rheb and TOR signaling. This work provided the key molecular insight for the use of mTOR inhibitors in the treatment of tuberous sclerosis, a genetic disease that can lead to tumor development in the brain, spinal cord, and organs. Dr. Pan is also a National Academy of Sciences member.

Elected in 2011. Dr. Morrison is Director of the Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern, where he holds the Mary McDermott Cook Chair in Pediatric Genetics and the Kathryne and Gene Bishop Distinguished Chair in Pediatric Research. The Morrison lab studies the mechanisms that maintain stem cell function in adult tissues and the ways in which cancer cells hijack these mechanisms to enable neoplastic proliferation. A better understanding of these mechanisms offers the potential to yield new regenerative medicine and cancer therapies. Dr. Morrison is also a member of the National Academy of Medicine.

Elected in 2015. Dr. Mendell is a Professor of Molecular Biology and holds the Charles Cameron Sprague, M.D., Chair in Medical Science at UT Southwestern. He is also a member of the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine at UTSW. Dr. Mendell's lab investigates fundamental aspects of post-transcriptional gene regulation, noncoding RNA regulation and function, and the roles of these pathways in normal physiology, cancer, and other diseases.

Elected in 2015. Dr. Orth is a Professor of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at UT Southwestern, where she is also a W.W. Caruth Jr. Scholar in Biomedical Research and holds the Earl A. Forsythe Chair in Biomedical Science. The Orth lab is very active in elucidating mechanisms used by virulence factors expressed by bacterial pathogens. Its studies using microbial genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, and bioinformatics on effectors from Yersinia and Vibrio have uncovered many mechanisms that bacteria use to subvert host signaling pathways, including the discovery of two novel post-translational modifications: YopJ Ser/Thr Acetylation and VopS AMPylation. Dr. Orth is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences.

Elected in 2018. Dr. DeBerardinis is Chief of Pediatric Genetics and Metabolism at UT Southwestern and Director of the Genetic and Metabolic Disease Program in the Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern (CRI). The DeBerardinis lab is interested in the role of altered metabolic states in human diseases, particularly pediatric inborn errors of metabolism and cancer. This research is tightly integrated with clinical activities in medical genetics, oncology, and radiology, providing seamless opportunities to examine the relevance of findings in patients. Dr. DeBerardinis holds the Joel B. Steinberg, M.D. Distinguished Chair in Pediatrics and is the Sowell Family Scholar in Medical Research at UTSW. He is also a member of the National Academy of Medicine.

Elected in 2021. Dr. Tagliabracci is an Associate Professor of Molecular Biology at UT Southwestern and the Michael L. Rosenberg Scholar in Medical Research. His lab is working to reveal new functions and catalytic activities for a group of enzymes that influence every aspect of cell life, from communication to division. Dr. Tagliabracci and his team study members of the protein kinase superfamily by bioinformatically identifying divergent or atypical members that are yet uncharacterized. Their work has implications for the fundamental understanding of cellular signaling, regulation, and host-pathogen interactions.

Elected in 2021. Dr. Tu is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at UT Southwestern and holds the Martha Steiner Professorship in Medical Research. He is also a UT Southwestern Presidential Scholar and W.W. Caruth Jr. Scholar in Biomedical Research. His lab is investigating the relationship between cellular metabolism, nutrition, and fundamental regulatory processes, such as DNA replication, transcription, and translation. The work they are doing has implications for understanding cancer and a variety of potentially debilitating diseases linked to metabolism.