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Texas Biomedical Research Institute is the new name for the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research

One of the world’s leading independent organizations dedicated to scientific discovery announced today that it has changed its name to Texas Biomedical Research Institute from Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research (SFBR), effective Feb. 1, 2011.

The new name will be the institution’s fourth since being founded in 1941 by Tom Slick as the Foundation of Applied Research. It became the Southwest Foundation for Research and Education in 1952 and SFBR in 1982.

“We had three reasons for considering a change,” said Kenneth P. Trevett, Texas Biomed’s president and CEO. “First, there has been continuing confusion between the Southwest Foundation and the Southwest Research Institute.  Of course, both organizations were founded by Tom Slick, but both have distinct missions.  As we have worked to raise the visibility of what we do and broaden our base of charitable support, this confusion has become a real impediment.  Second, the word “foundation” in our name has misconstrued our primary mission of discovery.   Third, we never really adopted an effective nickname.  “SFBR” didn’t convey a message, nor did “The Foundation.”

“The transition to Texas Biomedical Research Institute takes advantage of the pioneering, independent and courageous legacy that is so much a part of this state’s history,” said Trevett.  “The organization, the first and largest of its kind in Texas, has earned and continues to merit the goodwill associated with a truly vibrant and visionary state.  Similarly, our new nickname, Texas Biomed, and the new tagline, Enhancing Lives Through Discovery, clearly underscore this message and inform as to who we are and why we are important,” Trevett added.

“The new name comes at a fortuitous time, when elements of a programmatic and facilities master plan have been developed and approved that will transform the campus and bring added power to the research enterprise,” said Texas Biomed Board Chair J.R. Hurd.  “While a campus master plan had been in the works for some time, the Board’s facilities committee sought additional review to be sure the proposed plans were economically sound, provided a blueprint for development over a 50-year timeframe, and assured an aesthetically pleasing campus.”

Said Chief Scientific Officer John L. Vandeberg, Ph.D.: “Looking to the future, the new name helps to bolster our already strong position to tell our success story, both past and present.  And coupled with the master plan and the prospect of a new program in regenerative medicine, we feel that Texas Biomed can effectively partner with other scientists in San Antonio to achieve what none of us could do individually.

“With a world-class team of principal investigators and additional state-of-the-art facilities that will enable the most sophisticated new technologies to be harnessed, the Institute will  become even more highly productive in making critical advances in science and medicine.”

Texas Biomed is one of the world’s leading independent biomedical research institutions dedicated to advancing health worldwide through innovative biomedical research.  Located on a 200-acre campus on the northwest side of San Antonio, Texas, the Institute partners with hundreds of researchers and institutions around the world, targeting advances in the fight against cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, psychiatric disorders, problems of pregnancy, AIDS, hepatitis, malaria, parasitic infections and a host of other infectious diseases.  For more information on Texas Biomed, go to www.TxBiomed.org.