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Science in Service
of
Medicine
From the President
2025 Annual Metrics
Cycle of Translation
result
Visionary Gifts of Hope
Visionary Gifts of Hope
01
John M. O’Quinn Foundation Neurodegenerative Disorders Laboratory
02
Bookout Center
03
Jerold B. Katz Investigators
04
Clinical Scholars
05
Endowed Chairs
Ushering medical breakthroughs from the lab to the clinic takes many years and millions of dollars. The most promising discoveries are lost in the phase of translation known as the “Valley of Death.” To help bridge the Valley of Death and to provide our most promising innovations a lifeline, Houston Methodist is drawing on the transformative power of philanthropy.
01
John M. O’Quinn Foundation Neurodegenerative Disorders Laboratory
The John M. O’Quinn Foundation made a $10-million philanthropic commitment to support research, education and patient services across a full spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders. The gift established the John M. O’Quinn Foundation Neurodegenerative Disorders Laboratory at Houston Methodist where physicians and research scientists in the Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology conduct innovative research and clinical trials to halt the progressive loss of axon integrity, which underlies peripheral nerve disorders, neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, peripheral neuropathies, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This gift also included the creation of two endowed chairs and a fellowship for neurodegenerative disorders.
Jun Li, MD, PhD, FANA, FAAN leads the newly established laboratory where his team of physician-scientists are exploring the best possible combinations of preventive interventions and targeted treatments in neurodegenerative diseases. His research in peripheral nerve diseases and myelin biology has been funded by the National Institutes of Health for nearly two decades. Li's vision is to provide unparalleled care, clinical trial opportunities and subspecialty programs in Greater Houston to support those battling neurodegenerative disorders is strengthened by this gift.
This generous gift fuels our determination to do even more and to help find therapies for these neurological diseases and supports an interdisciplinary team of neurologists and neuroscientists to further explore treatment options.
Jun Li, MD, PhD, FANA, FAAN
John M. O’Quinn Foundation Presidential Distinguished Chair in Neurology
Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology
Chair, Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology
Houston Methodist Neurological Institute
Kenneth J. Podell
PhD, FACPN
Kenneth J. Podell, PhD, FACPN, The John Q’Quinn Centennial Chair in Concussion Research and Care. Neuropsychologist Podell, Director of the Concussion Center and Neuropsychology Section and Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology, co-leads the first-ever study “Gut Microbiome Markers of Sport-related Brain Concussion,” with fellow colleague Sonia Villapol, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, to explore the gut-brain connection in contact-sports student athletes and identify biomarkers for concussions with the athlete’s gut microbiomes.
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02
Bookout Center
A transformational gift from longtime supporters Ann and John F. Bookout III established the Bookout Center in the Houston Methodist Academic Institute.
Houston Methodist’s modern interdisciplinary GME and educational programs have access to advanced resources. The Bookout Center, which launched in 2024, is an advanced surgical training and emerging technology facility for the research, development and integration of robotic, imaging and digital surgery platforms toward more precise, efficient and personalized surgical interventions. The 35,000-square-foot research and training space is dedicated to developing novel technologies to enable less invasive medical care, demonstrate cutting-edge techniques via live audio and video conferencing within all Houston Methodist procedure areas, and influencing local, regional and national health care professionals and providers.
The Bookout Center is partnering with Rice University scientists as part of its mission to bring surgical innovation around the world. More than 25 faculty members from Houston Methodist and Rice's Education and Research Initiatives for Collaborative Health are exploring potential Bookout Center partnerships.
We’re excited about the possibilities this collaboration brings. By working together, we can accelerate discoveries that will improve patient experience and outcomes.
Stuart J. Corr, PhD
Associate Research Professor
Bioengineering in Cardiovascular Surgery
Director, Innovation Engineering
Bookout Center
03
Jerold B. Katz Investigators
Houston Methodist’s elite group of researchers funded through the Jerold B. Katz Foundation welcomed three new Katz Investigators.
Jimmy D. Gollihar, PhD
Jerold B. Katz Investigator
Professor, Pathology and Genomic Medicine
As a leader in synthetic biology and protein engineering, Gollihar’s work focuses on designing and optimizing therapeutic proteins, vaccines and antibodies to tackle urgent public health challenges. His research integrates protein engineering, structural biology and machine learning to address complex issues in immunogen design, protein stability and manufacturability.
Matthew D. Cykowski, MD
Jerold B. Katz Investigator
Associate Professor, Pathology and Genomic Medicine
An expert in neurodegenerative diseases, Cykowski is working to better understand how the distribution and pathologic burden of misfolded proteins in postmortem brain tissue samples from people who had neurodegenerative diseases, including dementias and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. His team uses data to determine which pathologic markers best correlate with patient symptoms and long-term outcomes with the goal of helping to identify biomarkers in living patients.
Sadeer Al-Kindi, MD, FACC
Jerold B. Katz Investigator
Associate Professor, Medicine
Kindi, who serves as a preventive and imaging cardiologist at the DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, integrating multi-dimensional data—including health records, imaging and environmental factors—to predict cardiovascular disease and related outcomes. He aims to create robust prediction models for diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular events and dementia by leveraging advanced AI techniques and imaging.
04
Clinical Scholars
The Houston Methodist Academic Institute recognizes the distinctive and critical role that physician-scientists play in advancing its core missions as an academic medical center. The Clinical Scholars program meets that need by helping to grow our core of rising physician-scientists.
Akshjot Puri, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Department of Medicine
Namrata Vasquez, PhD
Assistant Professor of Psychology
in Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
Department of Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
Paul M. Schoder, PhD, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Department of Surgery
05
Endowed Chairs
The Houston Methodist Endowed Positions and Awards Committee announces the new endowed chairs.
Arica A. Brandford, PhD, JD
Dorothy and Mickey Ables Community Outreach and Engagement Distinguished New Century Chair
Assistant Research Professor of Community Engagement in Medicine
Department of Medicine
Cindy M. Martin, MD
Lois E. and Carl A. Davis Chair
in Heart Failure
Professor of Cardiology
Department of Cardiology
Sunil Dacha, MD, MBBS
Nina and Michael Zilkha Centennial
Chair in Gastrointestinal Health
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine
Department of Medicine
Kumar Pichumani, PhD
Dagmar Dunn Pickens Gipe Distinguished Professorship in Brain Tumor Research
Associate Research Professor
of Neurosurgery
Department of Neurosurgery
