San Antonio, TX., February 18, 2025 – – Texas Biomedical Research Institute, one of the world’s foremost independent biomedical research institutions dedicated to eradicating infection and advancing health, has appointed Dr. Lee-Ann H. Allen as Executive Vice President of Research following a rigorous national search.
Dr. Allen will lead faculty and research at Texas Biomed, while also serving as a Professor. She comes to the Institute from the University of Missouri School of Medicine, where she served as Professor and Chair of the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and the George Trimble Endowed Chair for Excellence in Medicine. She previously held the position of Professor jointly appointed in the Division of Infectious Diseases and the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Iowa. Dr. Allen holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Allen to Texas Biomed,” said Larry Schlesinger, M.D., President and CEO of Texas Biomed. “Her research experience will significantly add to the Institute’s work on infectious disease, inflammation and immunity, and her track record in leadership, research, education and scientific excellence will be an outstanding fit as we continue our growth in executing on our Strategic Plan.”
Dr. Allen’s work focuses on immune system cells and how their function is altered by bacteria in the stomach that cause peptic ulcers and gastric cancer. Each year approximately 14.8 million Americans develop peptic ulcers and around 26,000 individuals receive a gastric cancer diagnosis.
She is also nationally recognized for her major leadership contributions in national organizations including the American Association of Immunologists and the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. She is past President of the Society for Leukocyte Biology and a Fellow of both the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the American Academy of Microbiology
“Texas Biomed is making major investments in modernizing its facilities and working to attract even greater numbers of top scientific talent to the Institute,” said Craig Boyan, Chair of Texas Biomed’s Board of Trustees. “This growth in capacity and capabilities will continue to elevate the San Antonio region as a hub for bioscience and research while enabling the Institute to further its mission of improving global health.”
Dr. Allen said the dynamic record of innovation was a major factor that drew her to Texas Biomed.
“Joining this prestigious Institute is an honor and I’m excited to engage with faculty members who are recognized worldwide for their contributions to research,” she said. “Texas Biomed is built on a long legacy of excellence and well known for research that truly transforms lives.”
About Texas Biomed
Texas Biomed is a nonprofit research institute dedicated to protecting the global community from infectious diseases. Through basic research, preclinical testing and innovative partnerships, we accelerate diagnostics, therapies and vaccines for the world’s deadliest pathogens. Our San Antonio campus hosts high containment laboratories and the Southwest National Primate Research Center. Our scientists collaborate with industry and researchers globally and have helped deliver the first COVID-19 vaccine, the first Ebola treatment and first Hepatitis C therapy.