Texas A&M University Health Science Center

10/14/2026

GLP-1s are reshaping the conversation around weight loss. But the conversation goes beyond the number on the scale.

From body image and social pressure to the stigma surrounding medication, how we talk about weight loss can shape how people see themselves—and how they feel about their choices.

Psychologist Mikaela Spooner, PhD, explains how media can influence body image and the expectations we place on ourselves. Former bariatric surgeon Robert O. Carpenter, MD, has seen how weight stigma can leave people feeling as though they need to earn their weight loss through willpower alone.

His own experience with a GLP-1 challenged that idea. After losing 30 pounds, he found he could be physically active again despite health and mobility challenges.

So what does it mean to rethink the way we talk about weight loss?

Read the full story: tx.ag/GLP1Convo

10/07/2026

A technology developed to help scientists study the brain is now helping researchers explore new possibilities for cancer treatment.

This week, Peter Hegemann, PhD, of Humboldt University in Berlin, and Georg Nagel, PhD, of the University of Würzburg, received the in Physiology or Medicine for discoveries that enabled optogenetics—a technique for controlling cells with light.

Their work began as a way to better understand the brain. Since then, optogenetics has found applications well beyond neuroscience, including cancer research.

At Texas A&M Health, bioengineer Yubin Zhou, MD, PhD, is using light-sensitive molecular switches to control CAR T cells, activating their cancer-killing activity with light-emitting nanoparticles. In animal models, the approach helped reduce some side effects associated with CAR T-cell therapy.

It’s an early proof of concept, but it shows how foundational discoveries can travel across fields and open new possibilities for treating disease. Learn more: tx.ag/NanoOpto

10/07/2026

Are you near the Kingsville area? You're invited to join us for a BBQ lunch to celebrate 20 years of the Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy.
This event is open to all College of Pharmacy faculty, staff, students and alumni. It will begin promptly after the completion of the 20th anniversary golf tournament starting at 1pm - 3pm.
Please RSVP by October 17, 2026 at this link:
https://shorturl.at/qj3VZ

10/01/2026

What if scientists could flip a light switch and control tiny “highways” inside our cells? 🚦🔬 That’s exactly what’s happening at the Texas A&M Institute of Biosciences and Technology.

A team led by Dr. Yubin Zhou has created a new toolkit that uses blue light to let researchers observe, redirect or even cut these microscopic roads—officially called microtubules—in real time.

With no long-term effects, this could help unlock new ways to understand and treat diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s.

Curious how a little light can make a big impact? Read more: tx.ag/Opto

09/29/2026

Having a baby can bring unexpected emotions. One in five new moms will face postpartum mental health challenges, like depression, anxiety or—in rare cases—psychosis. It's more than the "baby blues" and help is available. Learn the signs, start the conversation and know where to reach out for support: tx.ag/PPMH. 💛

A Texas A&M Health expert explains the different mental health conditions impacting new moms and how to support them.

09/23/2026

When you take away the screens, kids actually start talking again. Who knew?

One year after Texas public schools went phone-free, educators are reporting more attentive classrooms, lower student anxiety and kids who are busy rebuilding basic social skills that screens had chipped away at.

Instead of sneaking phones under desks, students are playing cards, chatting during downtime, and showing up to class visibly brighter and less worn down, said 11th-grade teacher Rachel Bailey. She said getting rid of that constant digital background noise gave teachers their classrooms back—and gave students a much-needed mental break.

Here’s what a year without cellphones has looked like, according to Bailey and Dr. Isreal Arevalo, a school psychologist and assistant research scientist at our Telehealth Institute:

🧠 Calmer minds: How ditching constant notifications lowers baseline anxiety and hallway drama.
🗣️ Rebuilding social muscles: Why face-to-face interactions are helping students connect.
🏡 The home stretch: How parents holding the line on evening screen time keeps the positive momentum going.

Read the full story:

A school psychologist and teacher share what they’re seeing one year into House Bill 1481, also known as the school cellphone ban.

09/21/2026

Join us in honoring World Alzheimer’s Day and the millions affected by this devastating disease 💜

Today, we’re celebrating the incredible minds working to transform brain health. We've awarded $1.325 million across 11 multidisciplinary research projects through the Dementia & Alzheimer’s Research Initiative (DARI)—and we're just getting started.

Researchers from across Texas A&M are exploring innovative angles to catch dementia earlier, treat it more effectively and help patients stay independent longer. Instead of waiting for memory loss to show up, these scientists are looking into the unexpected places where Alzheimer’s really begins.

➡️ Scroll through to see the questions driving their groundbreaking work, and tap the link to explore all 11 funded projects: tx.ag/DARISeedling26

09/16/2026

Happy National Healthcare Simulation Week! 🩺✨

From Sept. 14-18, we're joining the Society for Simulation in Healthcare to recognize the vital role simulation plays in preparing future healthcare professionals.

For over 20 years and throughout eight campuses, the Texas A&M Health Simulation & Immersive Learning Center has offered students hands-on, reproducible patient experiences they may not encounter during traditional clinical rotations. This safe, controlled environment allows our dedicated faculty and instructors to teach, guide and assess clinical reasoning and decision-making, giving students the confidence and skills to become successful professionals.

And we’re always looking ahead—next year, we’re aiming for accreditation for the center.

If you've experienced the Sim Center for yourself, drop us a comment about your favorite part!

09/14/2026

Innovation matters most when it reaches the people who need it most.

Through DARI, Texas A&M Health is helping bring together researchers, clinicians and innovators to tackle one of the most urgent health challenges of our time: dementia.

This recognition is a powerful example of what’s possible when innovation is driven by a commitment to improving lives—in every community, including those where access to specialized care can be limited.

Congratulations to Dr. Benden and the faculty, staff, students and collaborators whose expertise and commitment contributed to this achievement!

09/11/2026

25 years later, we still remember exactly where we were the morning of September 11, 2001.

Today, we pause to honor the lives lost, the first responders who ran into the buildings, the healthcare professionals who cared for the injured and the brave civilians who acted. We will never forget.