Texas Biomed continued to make significant strides this year to develop vaccines and therapies against a range of infectious diseases, from bird flu to tuberculosis to HIV. The Institute’s innovative technologies and dedicated people were also featured in our most popular and wide-reaching stories of the year.
Texas Biomed’s Top Five Stories of 2025:
1. Low-dose THC reduces side effects of HIV treatment
Texas Biomed researchers find promising benefits for gut health, serotonin levels and more. The study, reported in Science Advances, could have broad implications for other diseases linked to gut inflammation.
2. Bird flu is mutating, but antivirals still work
Researchers at Texas Biomed identified nine mutations in a bird flu strain from a person in Texas. Bad news: this strain is more capable of causing disease and replicates better in the brain. Good news: approved antivirals are still effective.
3. TB vaccine candidate provides ‘elite’ protection
A tuberculosis vaccine candidate under development at Texas Biomed shows complete protection and superior immune response in nonhuman primates compared to the existing BCG vaccine.
4. Texas Biomed inks agreement to supply powerful genetics-based tool
Texas Biomedical Research Institute has entered into a multi-year partnership with biotechnology company, Advanced Virology. The agreement will see Advanced Virology commercializing an innovative reverse genetics technology developed in the laboratory of Luis Martinez-Sobrido, Ph.D.
5. Not just a job: Meet the leaders of our animal care and technician teams
Meet six team leaders who together represent 100 years of experience in primate care and management. We asked them to share what drew them to SNPRC, some of the highlights and challenges of working with primates, and what they wish more people understood about their work.