The Cary Council hosted its annual What’s Up, Doc? program on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. The program brought together Council members and guests to spotlight the innovative medical research shaping the future of health care at UT Southwestern Medical Center. The evening featured engaging conversations, meaningful networking, and the introduction of The Cary Council’s 2026 Early-Stage Research Grant Recipients, known as “DocStars.” Attendees got to sit in on an intimate Q&A with each researcher to learn more about them and the potential impact of their work.
Celebrating the 2026 DocStars
The program opened with welcoming remarks from Jonathan Dietz, Chair of The Cary Council, who highlighted the organization’s mission to accelerate early-stage medical research. Since its founding in 2015, The Cary Council has awarded more than $1.4 million in seed funding, fueling the work of 28 researchers. Collectively, those investments have been leveraged into more than $33 million in subsequent follow-on funding. Each DocStar receives a $50,000 grant, providing the resources and recognition needed to transform bold ideas into breakthroughs that improve lives.
This year’s DocStars included Yevgenia (Jane) Fomina, M.D., William Goette, Ph.D., Kabir Olaniran, M.D., M.P.H., and Binbin Ying, Ph.D.
Yevgenia (Jane) Fomina, M.D.
As an OB/GYN physician-scientist, Dr. Fomina specializes in the care of high-risk pregnancies and the prevention of preterm birth. By uncovering how the cervix maintains a protective barrier against infections and identifying the earliest signs of barrier dysfunction, her goal is to develop new biomarkers and targeted therapies to reduce infection-mediated preterm birth.
William Goette, Ph.D.
As a neuropsychologist, Dr. Goette cares for patients with Alzheimer’s and related dementias. He aims to improve learning and memory in these patients using non-invasive stimulation of the vagus nerve, a simple intervention that has been shown to improve memory in unimpaired brains.
Kabir Olaniran, M.D., M.P.H.
Dr. Olaniran is a nephrologist with a special interest in the unique impact that sickle cell disease has on the kidneys. Since kidney disease is particularly difficult to detect and treat in these patients, his goal is to develop biomarkers to enable earlier detection and better interventions to improve and save lives.
Binbin Ying, Ph.D.
Dr. Ying is a biomedical engineer who is developing a new strategy to address a critical need in colorectal cancer care: localized delivery of chemotherapy directly to the tumor site after radiation. Using a novel biomaterial, his goal is to help patients beat their colon cancer for good.
Learn More About the DocStars >
Photo Gallery: Meet The Cary Council’s 2026 DocStars at What’s Up, Doc?
Looking Ahead: An Evening with DocStars
An Evening with DocStars is on November 5, 2026 and is a celebration of this year’s Early-Stage Research Grant recipients. Additionally, proceeds from the event will go to support future grants and more promising UT Southwestern scientists. Featuring interactive innovation stations, music, and gourmet food and drinks, it’s an evening you don’t want to miss!