About our Research
The Margaret M. and Albert B. Alkek Department of Medicine is committed to pursuing innovative research aimed at improving health. Supported by $117 million in yearly extramural funding, our faculty lead internationally recognized basic, clinical, and translational research programs. Most recently, our team has been awarded a prestigious Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) UM1 grant totaling $39.9 million over a 7 year time period from the National Institute of Health along with the “CTSA K12 Program at Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Houston” which was awarded a total of $4.3 million over 5 years. Our department leadership, through the Vice Chair Group for Research, supports the research careers and development of Department of Medicine faculty and trainees in collaboration with the broader range of investigators at Baylor College of Medicine and its affiliated institutions. In addition, Department of Medicine faculty play leadership roles in ten College-wide research-centric departments and centers.
Research Centers
- Asthma Clinical Research Center
- Biology of Inflammation Center
- Cardiovascular Research Institute - Xander Wehrens, M.D., Ph.D.
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy - Helen Heslop, M.D., DSc. (Hon)
- Center for Space Medicine - Jeffrey Sutton, M.D., Ph.D.
- Center for Translational Research on Inflammatory Diseases - Rolando Rumbaut, M.D., Ph.D.
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center - Helen Heslop, M.D., DSc. (Hon)
- Institute for Clinical and Translational Research - Christopher Amos, Ph.D.
- IQuESt: Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety - Laura Petersen, M.D., M.P.H.
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center
- Medical Ethics and Health Policy Center - Amy McGuire, J.D., Ph.D.
- Texas Medical Center Digestive Disease Center - Hashem El-Serag, M.D., M.P.H.
- Winters Center for Heart Failure Research
Research Funding
The Department of Medicine is ranked #27 in NIH research funding based on the Blue Ridge rankings. In FY23, the research efforts of department faculty were supported by $117 million in total research funding and $72 million in new funding.
Among these awards are NIH Center awards in oncology, infectious diseases, epidemiology and population sciences, and gastroenterology, and a VA-funded Center of Excellence Award in health services research. In addition, our department hosts four NIH T32 grants to support research training in the fields of gastroenterology, infectious diseases, thrombosis and inflammation, and pulmonary medicine.
Training Programs
The Department of Medicine is committed to developing the next generation of outstanding physician-scientists and to support the research careers and development of faculty, trainees, and students by providing a more robust infrastructure for research mentoring.
Currently, there are five NIH-sponsored T32 training awards and one training grant funded by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) relevant to the Department of Medicine, and seven competitive training programs have been established, with an outstanding record of training populations underrepresented in medicine.
Clinical Research Consultations
The ICTR Biostatistics Core is providing consultations on department of Medicine clinical or translational research studies. Available help includes general consultations, experimental design support, data analysis and manuscript preparation assistance.
Clinical Trials
Baylor College of Medicine is seeking participants for clinical trials.
Please note that the NIH has distributed a new guidance for clinical trials and for trials involving groups or clusters. View the NIH Clinical Trials page.
Ask Me About My Research
Faculty members are joined by special guests to demonstrate the importance of scientists and researchers talking with other about their work.
GrantForward Search Engine
Search for grants that are applicable to you. Contact the Pre-Award Research Office for guidance on identifying funding opportunities and exploring research interests.
Department of Medicine Intelligence System
The Department of Medicine Academic Intelligence System is a platform for BCM faculty to create and store their CVs, track their scholarly activities, and generate annual research education activities scores. (BCM Login required)