The Cary Council hosted its annual What’s Up, Doc? program on Tuesday, September 24, 2024. This event was a gathering of members and supporters to spotlight innovative medical research and was held on the campus of UT Southwestern Medical Center. The evening featured insightful discussions, networking, and recognition of early-stage research that is driving advancements in health care. Most importantly, this program was an introduction to The Cary Council’s 2024 DocStars.
Celebrating the 2024 DocStars
The event began with welcoming remarks from Josie Sewell, Chair of The Cary Council, who highlighted the organization’s efforts to fund early-stage medical research. Since 2015, The Cary Council has granted over $1 million, supporting 21 researchers, or “DocStars,” who have gone on to secure more than $18.5 million in additional funding. Each DocStar receives critical seed funding in the form of a $50,000 Early-Stage Research Grant to get their promising research projects off the ground.
This year’s DocStars included Sarah R. Lieber, M.D., M.S.C.R.; Ethan Sanford, M.D.; and Anezi Uzendu, M.D., F.A.C.C. Each DocStar had the opportunity to share more details about their research projects in an intimate setting with the community leaders supporting their work.
- Dr. Lieber | Improving the lives of patients after liver transplantation.
- Dr. Sanford | Reducing the risk of brain injury in critically ill children.
- Dr. Uzendu | Empowering local students to save lives by transforming CPR education.
Learn More About the 2024 DocStars>
Photo Gallery: Meet The Cary Council’s 2024 DocStars at What’s Up, Doc?
Panel Discussion: Insights from Former DocStars
One of the evening’s highlights was a panel discussion led by Michael Gregory, a founding member of The Cary Council. The panel featured former DocStars, Luis Sifuentes-Dominguez, M.D. and Robin Higashi, Ph.D., both of whom provided exciting updates on their research.
Dr. Sifuentes-Dominguez spoke about his study on the genetics of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), revealing new findings that could lead to life-saving treatments for children with severe forms of the disease. His research has also led to a surprising discovery regarding the role of the intestine in controlling metabolism. Learn More>
Dr. Higashi discussed her work improving telehealth access for underserved cancer patients in the Dallas area. Her findings are now being applied to new projects focused on Spanish-speaking populations, which recently secured $750,000 in additional funding. Learn More>
Looking Ahead: An Evening with DocStars
The event concluded with remarks from Lara and Brian Pryor, chairs of the upcoming An Evening with DocStars on November 7, 2024. They invited guests to attend this signature event, which will further support early-stage medical research at UT Southwestern.
This night celebrates innovation in early-stage research from promising UT Southwestern scientists. Featuring fascinating innovation stations, fun music, and gourmet food and drinks, it’s an evening you don’t want to miss! Tickets and sponsorships are available online through our event page.