The program also welcomed its third and largest class of 49 students in the fall of 2021. Similar to the EnMed seniors, students of the incoming class have a strong background in engineering and have demonstrated a clear passion for innovation. They will also embark on capstone projects that directly address clinical or biomedical challenges.

Unlike traditional physiology or neuroscience programs, the strategic focus of NeuralCODR is to offer trainees new perspectives on how the brain and organ systems interact in disease and repair by creating a seamless interface between regeneration/disease in neuroscience and the function of organ model systems. The NeuralCODR program also seeks to drive collaborations across often siloed disciplines and provide missing clinical perspectives to the post-doctoral experience. NeuralCODR was conceived by Philip Horner, PhD, and a team of expert faculty from across several Texas Medical Center institutions that have a rich history of research training, clinical modeling and education, including Rice University, the University of Houston, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and Baylor College of Medicine. The program is co-directed by Mary C. (Cindy) Farach-Carson, PhD, who serves as director of clinical and translational research at the University of Texas Health Science Center.

In 2021, the department offered 16 workshops and lectures covering various topics and four series were offered, including Career Development, Skills Development/Communication, Grant Writing, and Mentoring and Leadership.

The “Concept to Commercialization” seminar lays the foundation for translating key laboratory discoveries to clinical uses that improve patients’ lives. It provides a practical and efficient process for researchers to bring their innovations to the market.

On the March 2021 Match Day, 60 medical students from around the world officially became incoming residents at Houston Methodist for the 2021-2022 academic year. Of the new group of residents, 32 hailed from US News & World Report-ranked medical schools.