History and Mission
The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases (IMM) is a research institute that seeks to investigate the cause of human diseases at the genetic, cellular and molecular levels using DNA and protein technologies, and animal models. The Institute was founded in 1995. It was conceived by Dr. James Willerson as a new concept for UTHSC-H. Dr. Hans J. Müeller-Eberhard was the first Director. He was succeeded by Dr. Ferid Murad, who received the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in December 1998 for his work with nitric oxide and who is now Director Emeritus. Presently, Dr. C. Thomas Caskey is Director and Chief Executive Officer and Dr. Irma Giali serves as Deputy Director.

The long-term goal of the IMM is to link one of the largest medical centers in the world to one of the best medical centers for medical research, education and patient care by setting the example for research excellence and collaborations both locally, nationally and internationally.

Major Objectives and Facilities

Advances in molecular and cell biology have enormous potential for innovative medical research and the future practice of medicine using novel therapies. IMM endeavors to design methods rational therapy through its focus on the causes of human diseases at the cellular and molecular levels using DNA and protein technologies to clarify disease mechaniams. Strategies for the prevention of human diseases are focused on heart diseases, hypertension, stroke, vascular, metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as inflammatory and immunologic disorders.

In 2006, the IMM relocated from the Institute of Biosciences and Technology building to the new 223,000-square-foot Fayez S. Sarofim Research Building adjacent to University Center Tower. The new facility includes a 200-seat auditorium, a large atrium for public events, and rooms for faculty conferences and collaborative scientific discussions. At least 65 percent of the usable space is dedicated to research laboratories. A satellite facility exists at the Texas Heart Institute in the Denton Cooley Building which strengthens the IMM’s basic science programs, and builds upon its excellence in research... The location of the satellite facility supports the institution’s goal of continual partnership (or collaboration) with other institutions in the Texas Medical Center by sharing space and support services.

The IMM houses ten research centers and several support laboratories, each exploring the genetic and molecular aspects of biological processes significant to explain the basis of human diseases and their prevention.

The Research Center for Cardiovascular Genetics is leading efforts to identify molecular mechanisms that contribute to the development of heart disease, stroke and atherosclerosis.

The Research Center for Cell Signaling examines the role of nitric oxide and cyclic GMP in cellular signaling in vascular biology and inflammatory processes, as well as the pharmacologic implications of the discoveries. The role of nitric oxide in the differentiation of stem cells is being investigated.

The Research Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases focuses its efforts on noninsulin-dependent diabetes , the most common form of the disease affecting our population today. The Center is investigating the genes responsible for risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

The Research Center for Human Genetics is using genomic technologies to unravel the genetic predisposition to the most common chronic diseases, such as heart disease and stroke.

The Research Center for Immunology & Autoimmune Diseases is examining the molecular and genetic bases of predisposition to several different allergic, autoimmune and infectious diseases using genetically altered animals in models of diseases.

The Research Center for NanoMedicine focuses on inter-disciplinary research to combine nano-engineering, mathematical modeling, and biomedical sciences to develop nanotechnology enabled therapeutic and diagnostic platforms for combating diseases including cancer, cardiovascular diseases and infectious diseases.

The Research Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases investigates the development of the brain and the entire nervous system. New faculty are presently being recruited with a focus on the genetic and molecular causes of neurodegnerative diseases, including various forms of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis.

The Research Center for Protein Chemistry focuses its research activities on major topics relating to the significance of manipulating conformational changes of proteins. In addition it serves as a core facility for the structural analysis of proteins.

The Research Center for Stem Cell Biology explores the mechanisms behind stem cell self-renewal and differentiation with plans to expand current studies to develop stem cell lines designed to benefit transplantation medicine and the regeneration of tissues, and to provide vectors for gene therapy with direct implications for the treatment of a wide range of chronic diseases.

The Laboratory for Developmental Biology helps UTHSC-H and IMM scientists conduct research that requires the generation of transgenic and knock-out animals as models of human diseases. In these genetically altered animals candidate genes are inserted or deleted in order to study the role that specific gene products may play in the pathogenesis of different diseases.

Other Core Facilities and Laboratories include an Automated DNA Sequencing Core, Flow Cytometry and Cell Sorter Core, and a Protein Chemistry Core.