Researchers in the UAB Department of Otolaryngology recently occupied a new, 3,400-square-foot lab space in the newly renovated McCallum Basic Health Science Building. Renovations to the McCallum Building involved revitalizing the historic building, creating more modern and collaborative research spaces, with floors three through nine dedicated to departments in the Heersink School of Medicine.

Peripheral artery disease is a severe form of cardiovascular disease affecting more than 230 million individuals worldwide. The correlation of peripheral artery disease with diminished blood flow in one or more major arteries has prompted numerous studies aimed at developing therapies that promote the formation of new mature blood vessels, known as neovessels, to restore blood flow. However, despite years of investigations, the medical therapies designed to do so have lacked therapeutic significance.

Hyeyoung Nam, Ph.D., professor in the UAB Department of Urology, has been published in Science Advances alongside corresponding author, Sunil Sudarshan, M.D. and colleagues Richard L. Kirkman and Suman Karki, Ph.D. Their study, “HDAC7 promotes renal cancer progression by reprogramming branched-chain amino acid metabolism,” offers new insight into how kidney cancer cells grow and spread.

Summer marks the ideal opportunity for travel and relaxation, allowing individuals to plan their perfect getaway. However, for those who struggle with chronic joint pain, increased travel and outdoor activity can pose unique challenges, making movement more difficult.

J. Bart Rose, M.D., MAS., an associate professor in the UAB Department of Surgery, joined UAB MedCast to discuss the complexity of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and the use of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) as an effective treatment option.

Three students from the UAB Heersink School of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), housed within the Physician Scientist Development Office (PSDO), recently earned first place in an international hackathon hosted by the Mission: Brain Foundation. Hazel Cho, Abdulraheem Kaimari, and Riyaz Razi competed in the three-day virtual event, which brought together more than 80 teams from more than 40 countries to develop practical solutions to challenges in neurosurgical care. Their project stood out for its innovation, clarity, and teamwork.

Fran Lund, Ph.D., professor in the UAB Department of Microbiology and director of the UAB Immunology Institute, along with other UAB researchers, recently published a study in Immunity illustrating the crucial role a protein called T-bet plays in protecting the body’s immune response to influenza.

Jianli Zhao, M.D., assistant professor in the UAB Department of Biomedical Engineering, has been awarded $30,000 in pilot funding to further develop a research project focused on heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in patients with obesity.

After decades of living with chronic orthopedic issues, Terry Sanfilippo thought she knew what to expect from surgery and recovery. But thanks to the care she received at UAB Orthopaedics, her recent experience was both surprising and hopeful.

UAB Callahan Eyewear offers stylish, high-quality frames and expert optical services from Alabama’s most trusted name in eye care.

The UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine is proud to announce its spring 2025 cohort of REINVENT Grant awardees.

DNA is often called the blueprint of life, but what does that really mean? Elizabeth Worthey, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Genetics in the Heersink School of Medicine, explains everything you need to know about genetics.

Can online behavioral weight management programs be improved by simply adding a human touch? The iREACH Rural program hopes to answer that question by examining how high-touch support elements in digital interventions can be optimized for delivering weight loss programs to rural patients.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Sports & Exercise Medicine team made an impressive mark at the 2025 American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) Annual Meeting, where faculty and fellows were honored across multiple categories for their scholarship and outreach efforts across Birmingham and the world.

The UAB Heersink School of Medicine is among eight academic medical centers worldwide selected to train a new movement disorder clinician-researcher through the distinguished Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders for the class of 2028. The fellowship is awarded via the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is pleased to announce the 2025-2026 Founders’ Fund recipients.

Dana Doriety, RN, BSN, MSHQS, a nurse burn educator in the UAB Division of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery, recently represented UAB at the 48th Annual Alabama Fire Fighters Conference in Guntersville, Alabama on June 20.

Rachael Guenter, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Division of Surgical Oncology in the UAB Department of Surgery, was recently featured in The Endocrinologist, the Society for Endocrinology’s official magazine, for her pioneering research in neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and pancreatic cancer. Her interview highlights her efforts to develop new therapeutic models and understand molecular pathways that drive these complex diseases.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics congratulates Melinda Chance, M.D. on receiving the 2024-2025 Spring Research Roundtable & Fellow Core Conference Attendance Award!

Giovanna Pilonieta, Ph.D., DDS, MPH, assistant professor in the UAB Department of Neurology, was recently named one of two 2025 recipients of the McKnight Clinical Translational Research Scholarship in Cognitive Aging and Age-Related Memory Loss. Pilonieta was awarded along with Deborah Rose, M.D., of the National Institutes of Health.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is pleased to announce that Drs. Amelia Hartje, Michael Padgett, Suzannah Patterson, Maddie Southall, Jemma Thompson and Danielle Windom are our 2025-2026 McDonald Scholars!

The Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine is excited to announce that Andrew Watson, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, will assume the role of inpatient complex care (Teal Team) medical director.

James J. Cimino, M.D., Distinguished Professor of Medicine and chair of the Department of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science, has been invited as a keynote speaker at the prestigious 20th World Congress on Medical and Health Informatics (MedInfo 2025).

For the first time in its history, the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) will hold its annual meeting in Birmingham, Alabama, hosted by Elliot Lefkowitz, Ph.D., professor in the UAB Department of Microbiology. 

The UAB Department of Otolaryngology honored its 2025 graduating residents and fellows with a celebration and awards ceremony on June 20.

UAB General Surgery Resident Michelle Onuoha, M.D., shares her journey into surgery and the influences that inspired her to pursue a career in medicine.

Burt Nabors, M.D., professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurology and director of the Division of Neuro-oncology, has been selected as a recipient of the 2025 Excellence in Engagement Award from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN).

It is with heavy hearts that the Heersink School of Medicine mourns the passing of Latesha Elopre, M.D., MSPH. Latesha served in a multitude of roles at UAB since 2015 and made positive impacts throughout many areas of our institution. She is survived by her husband, Chris; two children, Jacob and Gabrielle "Gigi"; brother, Kenneth; and her mother, Glenda.

Research at UAB Heersink School of Medicine enhances future physicians' understanding of evidence-based medicine and critical thinking. Hands-on experiences prepare students to apply scientific discoveries to clinical practice, bridging the gap between research and patient care. Gelare Ghajar-Rahimi, a student in the MD/PhD program, exemplifies the commitment to research and mentorship emphasized by Heersink School of Medicine.

As a part of their educational experience, UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation PGY4 residents present findings from their scholarly activity projects as an introduction to research methodologies and practices.