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Smiling with a $10 million gift from the Gertrude C. Ford Foundation are, from left, Dr. Rod Rocconi, Ergon Chair for Cancer Research and CCRI director; Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice chancellor for health affairs; Stephen Sims, president of the Gertrude C. Ford Foundation; Mary Catherine Blackwell, secretary of the Gertrude C. Ford Foundation; John Lewis, treasurer of the Gertrude C. Ford Foundation; and Dr. Alan Jones, associate vice chancellor for health affairs.

UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute announces public phase of $125M campaign

Monday, March 30, 2026

A vision years in the making is moving closer to reality. UMMC has reached $100 million toward its $125 million goal to build a new Cancer Center and Research Institute, a milestone made possible by generous early supporters such as the Gertrude C. Ford Foundation, which announced a $10 million gift at a news conference today. Read More

Dr. Caesar Alshibli, clinical research manager in the UMMC Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, helped broker cooperation between the U.S. military and Iraqi civilians while working as a surgical resident in war-torn Iraq in 2003.

Front and Center: Dr. Caesar Alshibli

Monday, March 16, 2026

Dr. Caesar Alshibli fled his homeland after militias hunted him for negotiating with U.S. troops during the Second Iraq War. His courage, resilience and second chances landed him at UMMC to rebuild his life and fulfill his purpose as a researcher. Read More

The long-term commitment of Dr. Caroline Compretta, assistant vice chancellor for research, to health equity, community partnerships and research has landed her in the top echelon of academic achievers.

Compretta earns 2026 SEC Faculty Achievement Award

The long-term commitment of Dr. Caroline Compretta, assistant vice chancellor for research, to health equity, community partnerships and research has landed her in the top echelon of academic achievers.

Published on Monday, March 9, 2026

 More than half of Mississippi adults are affected by intimate partner violence, including 700,000 women and 530,000 men, according to the Mississippi Violence Experiences Survey. UMMC researchers collaborated on the survey with Tulane University’s Newcomb Institute.

Solutions to violence in Mississippi evident in UMMC research efforts

Economic hardship and mental health struggles are markers of violence in Mississippi, a new survey shows, but the way out is being mapped by UMMC researchers.

Published on Monday, February 9, 2026

 Dr. Michael R. Garrett, has served as chair of the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology since 2023, with some research focused on cancer and genomics.

70 Years of Research: Celebrating the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology at UMMC

The UMMC program is working to decode disease at the molecular level, paving the way for breakthroughs in cancer, genomics and precision medicine.

Published on Monday, January 26, 2026

 Dr. Babbette LaMarca, professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, works alongside Dr. Nathan Campbell, a PhD student in experimental therapeutics and pharmacology when this photo was taken in 2024, and now an instructor in the department, to continue a legacy of research that began 70 years ago.

70 Years of Pharmacology: Past, Present, Future

As the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology marks its 70th anniversary, it stands as a powerhouse with a legacy shaped by decades of discovery, leadership and transformation.

Published on Tuesday, January 20, 2026

 Regular cervical cancer screening is essential for early detection and prevention, health experts say, and HPV vaccination can protect against the virus that causes most cervical cancers.

UMMC research leads to updated HPV clinical guidelines

Published on Monday, January 12, 2026

 Research by Dr. Keli Xu into the origins of a type of pancreatic cancer could lead to better biomarkers and treatments.

CCRI research seeking to unlock mysteries of pancreatic cancer with $1.8M NCI grant

Published on Monday, December 8, 2025

 Dr. Lee Bidwell, right, associate vice chancellor for research, congratulates platinum medallion winners Dr. Gailen Marshall, R. Faser Triplett Chair of Allergy and Immunology and Billy S. Guyton Distinguished Professor, and Dr. Lei Zhang, professor and associate dean for research and scholarship in School of Nursing, Billy S. Guyton Distinguished Professor and Harriet G. Williamson Endowed Chair of Population Health Nursing.

OAVCR Excellence Awards honor 2025 research accomplishments

Published on Monday, November 17, 2025

 Dr. Wu Zhou, professor and director of the research division in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head Neck Surgery and PI and director of the BARC, views specimens in the lab with intern researcher Dr. Zelma Iriarte.

UMMC expands research to address hearing and balance disorders

Published on Monday, September 22, 2025

 Dr. Lei Zhang welcomes attendees to the third annual Mississippi Linking Solutions to Violence Summit.

Research enterprise surpasses $100M for fiscal 2025

Published on Monday, September 8, 2025

 Yelena Neely, center, a research associate with the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, draws blood from Kevin Wilbert, director of operations for centers and cores in the department, with encouragement from Dr. Ken Butler, professor of pharmacology and toxicology and associate director of the UMMC Biobank.

UMMC Biobank may reap dividends for improved health statewide

Published on Monday, July 28, 2025

 Image for 2024-2025 UMMC Promotions and Tenure

2024-2025 UMMC Promotions and Tenure

Published on Monday, July 7, 2025

 Recipients of the 2025 Guyton Professorships are, from left, Dr. Michael Garrett, Dr. Babbette LaMarca, Dr. Gailen Marshall, Dr. David Stec and Dr. Lei Zhang.

Faculty members awarded honor named for medical school legend

Published on Monday, June 30, 2025

 In this 2024 photo, Clinical Research coordinator Thomas Hudson draws blood from Jacqualine Ellis of Flora, a participant in three long COVID clinical trials.

That’s My Job: Research Recruiters

Published on Monday, June 2, 2025

 Dr. Lei Zhang, center is joined by co-investigators on the Violence Injury Prevention program, left, and Intimate Partner Violence Initiative, right. Pictured are, front row, from left, Dr. Bill Hillegass, Dr. Laura Vearrier, Zhang, Dr. Erin Dehon and Dr. Andrew Voluse. Back row, from left, are Dr. Carl Mangum, Dr. Matthew Kutcher, Dr. Masoumeh Karimi and Tara Price.

Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research ranks School of Nursing in top quarter for research funding

Published on Monday, March 10, 2025

 Image for Second quarter research grants top $22 million

Second quarter research grants top $22 million

Published on Monday, February 24, 2025

 Recipients of the 2024 Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Excellence Awards present at Friday's ceremony pose with their framed certificates.

Annual awards recognize faculty achievements in research

Published on Monday, November 18, 2024

 Dr. Caroline Compretta, assistant vice chancellor for research, leads a community-based health collaborative.

UMMC chosen to lead one of five national hubs for community-led health care research

Published on Monday, October 7, 2024

 Dr. John Hall has reached his 50th anniversary at UMMC, making an impact on academic medicine and research.

Dr. John Hall celebrates 50 years of research, teaching at UMMC

Published on Monday, September 16, 2024

 Ariel Cox, a researcher in psychiatry, works with equipment in the Translational Research Center.

Research enterprise reaches nearly $118M for fiscal 2024

Published on Tuesday, September 3, 2024

 Students in Mississippi’s eight public universities and UMMC can receive care for emotional, behavioral and neurodevelopmental conditions through UMMC’s UNITE Clinic.

UMMC launches free tele-mental health clinic for public university students

Published on Monday, August 19, 2024

 A $1 million federal grant for UMMC will fund a multi-step initiative aimed at reducing Mississippi’s high rate of congenital syphilis.

UMMC receives $1M in federal funds to combat syphilis in Mississippi

Published on Monday, August 5, 2024

 Tina King Clay is a marathon coach, life insurance agent, and advocate for women's health.

UMMC takes heart patient from lethal diagnosis back to athletic powerhouse

Published on Monday, August 5, 2024

 UMMC Colony Park South will house several ambulatory clinics, beginning in 2025. UMMC will lease about 65,000 square feet in the three-story building across the street from UMMC Colony Park North, currently under construction.

UMMC announces new location for ambulatory clinics in Ridgeland

Published on Monday, July 8, 2024