Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

03/01/2026

Did you know robots are used in medicine? 🤖 Residents in the Department of Urology frequently train with the da Vinci 5 robotic surgical system to perform surgical procedures.

03/01/2026

March is National Month! As an athletic trainer, you are an integral member of the health care team, providing a continuum of care while working under the direction of, or in collaboration with, a licensed physician. The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Health Professions Master of Athletic Training (MAT) program is designed to provide you with a high-quality, interprofessional, and evidence-based education necessary to build a strong foundation for a career in athletic training.

02/28/2026

Prostate cancer remains the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men. More than 300,000 cases were reported in the U.S. in 2025 with about 12% of those fatal, according to the American Cancer Society. Once the cancer spreads to the bone, it becomes far more deadly. To combat the progression, two TTUHSC researchers are studying cancer’s metastasis to develop a possible treatment. They received a three-year, $1.85 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense.

Srinivas Nandana, Ph.D., and Manisha Tripathi, Ph.D., assistant professors in the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, investigate TBX2 — a protein that turns genes off and on. When TBX2 is active in prostate cancer cells, it sends signals for bones to host those cancer cells.

Their research focuses on exosomes — molecular membrane structures released into the bloodstream by the prostate tumor. When exosomes reach the bone, they reprogram bone cells to a cancer-thriving environment. Both believe that TBX2-NOTCH — a molecular pathway — plays a role in the process and could be targeted to prevent cancer from spreading to the bones.

𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 2026 𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦 𝘰𝘧 “𝘗𝘶𝘭𝘴𝘦: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘴 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳.”

02/28/2026

As GLP-1 medications become available in pill form, some people might be curious to try them. Drew Payne, D.O., a Texas Tech Physicians internal medicine doctor, explains to the “Texas Tech Health Check” podcast what these and other weight loss medications and procedures do and their effects on type 2 diabetes. He also talks about what happens when patients stop taking these medications and stresses why it's important to get treatment from a physician who can help with weight loss goals while keeping the patient's health a priority.

02/27/2026

Stephanie Martinez’s, MPH, plan was not always to be an epidemiologist. But, when she stepped into a health educator role in 2020, in the Texas Rio Grande Valley, she also stepped into a newfound interest.

She serves the people of the place she calls home. And because the area is categorized as an underserved population area, she gets even greater joy in educating the public about health and wellness initiatives.

That same joy inspired her recent graduate project in Cameron County, Texas, to increase awareness about hepatitis A, where she noticed seasonal spikes. That project won her the TTUHSC-Julia Jones Matthews School of Population and Public Health 2024 Outstanding Applied Experience Award.

“I live in the Rio Grande Valley; it’s an underserved population. So being able to educate people on infectious disease – that’s what drew me into seeking a master’s in public health,” Martinez says.

𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 2026 𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦 𝘰𝘧 “𝘗𝘶𝘭𝘴𝘦: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘴 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳.”

02/26/2026

The 38th Student Research Week is under way! Our students are always impressive with the incredible insights they present from their research during this event hosted by the TTU HSC Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Poster presentations conclude today, and the event will wrap up with keynotes and an awards ceremony on Friday.

02/26/2026

Kenneth H. Cooper, M.D., MPH, who coined the term “aerobics” nearly 60 years ago, has taught millions the value of cardiovascular exercise. And, just shy of 95, he’s still teaching it. In Oct. 2024, Cooper Aerobics' nonprofit research arm, now called the Kenneth H. Cooper Institute at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, became a part of TTUHSC.

It’s hard to imagine now, but there was a time when people thought exercise was bad for you.

02/26/2026

“heard we were leveling up😛❤️ ” Clara, a nursing student at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at Abilene campus, was excited to complete Level 1 of nursing school recently! The School of Nursing offers all four semesters, or “Levels,” of the Traditional BSN program in , Amarillo, Lubbock, Mansfield and Odessa.

02/25/2026

When team members give to the OurHSC campaign, it sends a powerful message of belief in our institution and its future. Participation at any level helps expand resources, elevate programs and ensure remains strong in education, research and patient care.

Sign up here through March 30! → https://f.mtr.cool/tmstgxmrzb

02/25/2026

Last week, team members and students at the campus saved lives during its spring blood drive with Carter BloodCare. 🩸 When you give blood, a single donation can help save multiple lives and support medical needs in your community. Our Dallas team donated 13 units, which has the potential to save 39 lives. Carter BloodCare will return to campus in April.

02/24/2026

February is American ! ♥️ Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. We can improve our by stopping smoking, eating healthier foods, reducing stress and staying physically active.

02/24/2026

Madelyn Henderson, a master’s program student and research assistant in the TTU HSC Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, presented at the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) PharmSci 360 Conference in November!

"I presented a poster focused on the quantification of glycan composition at the blood brain barrier using mass spectrometry,” Henderson said. “During my poster hour, students and professors were able to come by and ask questions as I did a short presentation. On the other days of the conference, I was able to speak with industry specialists in various pharmaceutical fields. This was an amazing opportunity to speak to individuals with experience in real-world application settings.”