The Cary Council recently celebrated the 2024 recipients of its Early-Stage Research Grants at the sixth annual Evening with DocStars.

The council said that each $50,000 seed grant helps fuel critically important medical and scientific research in North Texas. To date, the 21 researchers supported by The Cary Council have gone on to secure more than $21 million in additional funding.

“As The Cary Council approaches its 10th anniversary in 2025, it’s inspiring to see how our mission of supporting early-stage research has resonated with our community,” Cary Council Chair Josie Sewell said in a statement. “Over the past decade, we’ve been able to amplify the impact of some truly groundbreaking ideas by providing the resources that early-career researchers at UT Southwestern need to move their work forward. We’re committed to continuing this legacy of advancing innovation, and it’s motivating to witness what our grant recipients and our community have achieved together.”

Exterior view of the Cary Council’s 2024 “An Evening with DocStars” event. [Photo: UT Southwestern]

Fostering a culture of innovation

The Cary Council is composed of leaders dedicated to advancing early-stage research at UT Southwestern Medical Center in partnership with Southwestern Medical Foundation. The council said it is catalyzing a new generation of community leaders and working to raise awareness for the important causes of medical research, patient care, and medical education in the Dallas community and beyond.

Presented by the lead sponsor, the Michael and Abby Gregory Foundation, the event honored three UT Southwestern research physicians working in:

• Improving the lives of patients after liver transplantation
• Reducing the risk of brain injury in critically ill children
• Empowering Dallas school students to save lives by transforming CPR education

Supporting these early career researchers is critical for fostering a culture of innovation that continues to lead UT Southwestern to the forefront of medical research, patient care, and effective treatments, the organization said.

2024 Recipients

Per The Cary Council, the 2024 Early-Stage Research Grant recipients are:

Sarah R. Lieber, M.D., M.S.C.R. assistant professor, Department of Internal Medicine – Division of Digestive and Liver Disease at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Lieber’s clinical practice emphasizes patient-centered care for individuals with advanced liver disease who are in need of liver transplantation. Her research interests are focused on liver transplantation outcomes, aiming to understand why some patients flourish after transplant while others struggle profoundly. She intends to implement interventions to ensure that all patients thrive after receiving their gift of life. Dr. Lieber earned her medical degree at the University of Michigan Medical School and completed her residency in internal medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She received advanced training in gastroenterology and transplant hepatology through fellowships at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill. Lieber also holds a master’s degree in clinical research from UNC’s Gillings School of Global Public Health. She joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2020.

Ethan Sanford, M.D. – Pediatric Intensivist and Anesthesiologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center
Sanford is the Associate Program Director for Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) and regularly leads clinical teams in caring for some of the sickest children in the Dallas community. He works with multidisciplinary groups to determine best practices and continuously evaluate how we may better serve children at their greatest time of need. Sanford works with a group of bioengineers, mathematicians, and statisticians to guide the development of novel brain health monitors on ECMO. His work is aimed not only towards improving the survival of sick children but also to allow the best possible neurologic outcome after severe illness. Sanford received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his pediatric and anesthesiology residencies and fellowships at Boston Children’s Hospital. He returned home to Texas to complete pediatric critical care training at UT Southwestern before joining the UT Southwestern faculty in 2020.

Anezi Uzendu, M.D., F.A.C.C. Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center
Uzendu specializes in interventional cardiology and cardiac arrest care and is passionate about improving outcomes after cardiac arrest. He has partnered with the American Heart Association on multiple projects to advocate for heart health and CPR awareness and also created virtual CPR training for Boston minority youth during the pandemic. He is bringing this expertise to a partnership with Dallas ISD to transform cardiac arrest and CPR education in schools, empowering students to save lives. Uzendu earned his medical degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and completed an internal medicine residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital. He gained advanced training through fellowships in cardiovascular medicine at The Ohio State University Medical Center and interventional cardiology at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Corrigan Minehan Heart Center. He also completed a research fellowship in cardiovascular outcomes at Saint Luke’s Mid-America Heart Institute. Uzendu joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2023.

Checking the pulse of a simulated patient at The Cary Council’s 2024 “An Evening with DocStars” event. [Photo: Ren Morrison]

Shaping ‘a healthier future for all’

An Evening with DocStars is held annually to highlight researchers and inspire funding for their work.

The 2024 event took place at the Texas Instruments Biomedical Engineering and Science Building at UT Southwestern and drew more than 300 guests who enjoyed gourmet food, music, and six interactive stations showcasing leading-edge technology and innovative science from UT Southwestern.

“My husband and I are deeply honored by the remarkable turnout for An Evening with DocStars. This sold-out event is a testament to the passion and commitment of our community in advancing the mission of The Cary Council,” said Lara Pryor, who chaired the 2024 event alongside her husband, Brian. “Tonight is not only a celebration but a critical step forward in empowering early-career researchers to pursue breakthroughs that can transform health care. We’re profoundly grateful to our sponsors and every guest who believes in the potential of these dedicated scientists to shape a healthier future for all.”

An Evening with DocStars 2024 Event Chairs Lara and Brian Pryor [Photo: Ren Morrison]

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