122. The Scientist Who Transformed Texas Biomed—and San Antonio’s Scientific Standing

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the role of the Texas Biomedical Research Institute—better known as Texas Biomed—in San Antonio’s scientific community, the rapidly changing landscape of research funding, and the challenges of combating misinformation in an era of political division.

Host Bob Rivard is joined by Dr. Larry Schlesinger, president and CEO of Texas Biomed, for a conversation that touches on Dr. Schlesinger’s personal background as the child of Holocaust survivors, his career as an infectious disease researcher, and his reasons for coming to San Antonio eight years ago. Together, they discuss how Texas Biomed has evolved during his tenure, including efforts to diversify funding, expand partnerships with the pharmaceutical sector, and increase the institute’s prominence amid public health crises.

They discuss:

• The critical importance of vaccines and ongoing education amid rising rates of vaccine hesitancy and misinformation
• How Texas Biomed contributed to the early research and validation of animal models for COVID-19 vaccines
• The impact of recent federal policy changes on international collaboration and research funding for U.S. institutions
• Efforts to modernize and expand the Texas Biomed campus, including the complexities around philanthropy and private sector engagement
• The relationship between infectious disease and chronic illness—and what chronic disease research could mean for the future of public health in San Antonio

The episode offers context on the state of science in Texas, the pressures facing research institutes in the current political climate, and the ways that local scientific leadership can shape the future of public and community health.

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RECOMMENDED NEXT LISTEN:

▶️ #106. Tom Slick’s Legacy: The San Antonio Institution Studying Consciousness – Discover the fascinating roots of Texas Biomed through the story of Tom Slick, the visionary entrepreneur behind San Antonio’s world-class science institutions.  🔗 Listen here. 

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