Texas:

The Research
Destination
The Academy of Medicine,
Engineering & Science of Texas
TAMEST
20152016 Annual Report

TAMEST helps
bring in the next
generation of great
scientists, adding to the
Texas dynamic as a national
research destination.
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison

About TAMEST

The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas (TAMEST) is what

comes before the change you see in our state. A nonprofit and a brain trust for Texas,
TAMEST convenes influential experts to promote cross-industry and cross-disciplinary
knowledge sharing. Through TAMEST, research collides with industry. Our members
make new discoveries, lay the groundwork for tackling critical issues, and change the
course of funding, legislation, and society.
Founded in 2004, TAMEST promotes broader recognition of the states top achievers
in medicine, engineering, and science, and builds a stronger identity for Texas as an
important destination and center of achievement in these fields.

The TAMEST Annual Report provides an overview of the organization as well as 2015 and selected 2016 activities. More detailed
information about TAMEST and its initiatives can be found online at www.tamest.org. This document and the website work in
tandem to provide a comprehensive look at the organizations 2015-2016 activities.

OUR MISSION

As Americans,
were always looking
for the next great idea,
and were always challenging
current ideas to get better and
better. We stand for discovery,
science and freedom.
William McRaven,
Chancellor, The University of
Texas System

ACADEMIA

TAMEST connects university

leaders with the best and
brightest minds from across
Texas. The partnerships and
relationships that start here
help move research and
funding forward.

INDUSTRY

TAMEST combines influential

industry leaders with Texas top
scientists and researchers and
brings them together in forums
that promote cross-industry and
cross-disciplinary discussion
and opportunities.

TAMEST works to
highlight Texas as a
research destination, support
rising star researchers, serve
as an intellectual resource for
the state, and promote STEM
education in the state of Texas.
Kenneth Arnold,
TAMEST 2015 President

TAMEST helps
synchronize Texas
research with federal
agencies to work to solve
societys most pressing
problems.
LEGISLATURE

Senator John Cornyn

TAMEST serves Texas with

key research and findings
about critical issues, providing
a non-partisan platform where
influential experts share
knowledge and information,
helping legislators make informed
decisions, create a better Texas,
and set the course for America.

MEMBERS

TAMEST gives its members,

some of Texas most prestigious
and respected experts in
academia and industry, the
opportunity to serve as experts
in their field at a state and
national level, the ability to
collaborate with other experts
who can help further research
and business, and the power to
promote protgs at the annual
conference and nominate peers
for the National Academies.

Research is not
unto itself, it is to
provide advances to
mankind, and Texas is a
great place to do it.
Gordon England,
TAMEST 2016 Vice President

TAMEST Membership and Leadership

TAMEST is composed of the more than 260 Texas-based members of the three National
AcademiesNational Academy of Medicine (NAM), National Academy of Engineering
(NAE), and National Academy of Sciences (NAS)and the states nine Nobel Laureates.
TAMESTs membership represents Texas nationally-renowned researchers from
both industry and academia. Affiliate members include senior executives from the
states leading corporations, community leaders, and the presidents and chancellors
of TAMESTs 18 member institutions. At the close of 2015, there were 26 TAMEST
members with the distinction of being members of two National Academies.

TAMEST Member Institutions

Member institutions are Texas universities where TAMEST members
hold positions on the faculty or administration. Member institutions
provide financial support to TAMEST through annual dues. There are
18 TAMEST member institutions across the state. The presidents and
chancellors of these institutions who are not National Academies
members are affiliate members of TAMEST.

TAMEST Board of Directors

The TAMEST Board of Directors is composed of representatives
from each of The National AcademiesNAM, NAE, and NAS. Board
members serve three-year rotating terms.

Industry and Community Affiliates Committee

The Industry and Community Affiliates (ICA) Committee combines
influential industry leaders with top scientists and researchers from
across Texas. These experts address key topics that affect and drive
whats next in industry and discuss the issues that matter most at a
state and national level.

2015 and 2016 Board of Directors

2015 and 2016 Board Officers
David W. Russell, Ph.D.
2016 President | 2015 Vice President
The University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center
NAS Member
Kenneth E. Arnold, P.E.
2016 Treasurer & Past President | 2015 President
WorleyParsons
NAE Member
Bettie Sue Masters, Ph.D., D.Sc.
2015 Past President
The University of Texas Health Science
Center at San Antonio
NAM Member
The Honorable Gordon R. England
2016 Vice President | 2015 Treasurer-Elect
V1 Analytical Solutions
NAE Member
Danny D. Reible, Ph.D.
2016 Secretary | 2015 Board Member
Texas Tech University
NAE Member
Roberta B. Ness, M.D., M.P.H.
2015 Secretary
The University of Texas Health Science
Center at Houston
NAM Member

Credit: Robb Kendrick/Texas A&M Foundation.

Ben G. Streetman, Ph.D.

2015 Treasurer
The University of Texas at Austin
NAE Member

2016 Board Members

Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D.
The University of Texas Health Science
Center at San Antonio
NAM Member
C. Thomas Caskey, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.M.G., F.R.S.C.
Baylor College of Medicine
NAM, NAS Member
Brian Clark, Ph.D.
Schlumberger
NAE Member
Melanie H. Cobb, Ph.D.
The University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center
NAS Member
2015 and 2016 Board Members
Naomi J. Halas, Ph.D.
Rice University
NAE, NAS Member
Peter J. Hotez, M.D., Ph.D.
Baylor College of Medicine
NAM Member
Danny O. Jacobs, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S.
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
NAM Member
Joanne R. Lupton, Ph.D.
Texas A&M University
NAM Member
David J. Meltzer, Ph.D.
Southern Methodist University
NAS Member
Robert M. Metcalfe, Ph.D.
The University of Texas at Austin
NAE Member

Peter G. Wolynes, Ph.D.

Rice University
NAS Member
Sharon L. Wood, Ph.D.
The University of Texas at Austin
NAE Member
2015 Board Members
Nancy A. Jenkins, Ph.D.
Houston Methodist Research Institute
NAS Member
Melvin F. Kanninen, Ph.D.
MFK Consulting Services
NAE Member
Luis F. Parada, Ph.D.
The University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center
NAM, NAS Member
Daniel K. Podolsky, M.D.
The University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center
NAM Member

HONORARY CHAIR
The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison
United States Senator, 19932013
FOUNDING CO-CHAIRS
Michael S. Brown, M.D.
The University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center
Nobel Laureate, 1985
NAM, NAS Member
IN MEMORIAM
Richard E. Smalley, Ph.D.
Rice University
Nobel Laureate, 1996
NAS Member

Edith and Peter ODonnell Awards

The Edith and Peter ODonnell Awards recognize rising stars in Texas research who are
addressing the essential role that science and technology play in society, and whose
work meets the highest standards of performance, creativity, and resourcefulness.
The ODonnell Awards acknowledge outstanding achievements by Texas-based
researchers in four categories: medicine, engineering, science, and technology innovation.
2016 marks the 10th anniversary of the ODonnell Awards. Since its inception, the
program has awarded over $1 million to 44 recipients. The awards are named in
honor of Edith and Peter ODonnell, who are among Texas staunchest advocates for
excellence in scientific advancement and STEM education.

2016
ODonnell Awards
Recipients

medicine
Joshua T. Mendell, M.D., Ph.D.

engineering
Andrea Al, Ph.D.

Professor of Molecular Biology

Department of Molecular Biology
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Associate Professor in Engineering

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
The University of Texas at Austin

Dr. Mendell is recognized for his pioneering work on

the functions of noncoding RNAs in cancer and tissue
regeneration. Using a mouse model of liver cancer, his team
found that delivery of one non-coding RNA called miR-26a
dramatically inhibited cancer progression and killed liver
cancer cells without harming nearby healthy cells.

Dr. Al is acknowledged for making a number of

groundbreaking, highly-cited and recognized contributions
to science and engineering. These contributions include
seminal work on cloaking and invisibility, pioneering
advances in optical nanocircuits and nanoantennas,
magnetic-free non-reciprocal devices for sound, radiowaves and light, and giant nonlinear response in optical
metamaterials.

science
Alessio Figalli, Ph.D.

technology innovation
Van N. Truskett, Ph.D.

Professor of Mathematics
Department of Mathematics/College of Natural Sciences
The University of Texas at Austin

Director of Jetting Technology

Canon Nanotechnologies, Inc.

Dr. Figalli is recognized for his mathematical work addressing

questions of optimization related to the most economical
way to transport and distribute goods or resources. Recently,
his work has been applied in meteorology to describe how
clouds evolve over time, a discovery that contributes to better
models of complex climate phenomena.

Dr. Truskett is recognized for her impactful body of work

in science, inventorship, and engineering on some of the
most fundamental and important problems for enabling
nanoscale manufacturing in semiconductors, hard disk
drives, and flexible films for display applications.

10

TAMEST Initiatives

TAMEST brings the states top scientific, academic, and corporate minds together to
further position Texas as a national research leader. TAMEST also fosters the next
generation of scientists and increases awareness and communication among the
states best and brightest about research priorities for the future. Through several
initiatives, TAMEST serves as a hub to advance research, collaboration, and innovation.

11

Texas Research Summit

Shale Development Task Force

On November 1213, 2015, TAMEST convened a one-of-a-kind

event, the first-ever Texas Research Summit, a gathering of Texas
top research leaders and federal research agencies. The goal of the
summit was to highlight the outstanding research and innovation
taking place in Texas, and help Texas be more competitive in seeking
federal research funding.

In 2016, TAMEST is exploring a way to

expand on its successful record of service
to the state by convening a special task
force to review the impacts of shale oil and
gas development in Texas. The purpose of
this potential study, Environmental and
Community Impacts of Shale Development
in Texas, is to help all Texans understand
what is known and unknown about the
potential environmental and other impacts
of shale development and hydraulic
fracturing for oil and gas.

Attendees like Texas Senator John Cornyn, National Science

Foundation Director France Crdova, and the UT System Chancellor
Bill McRaven spoke about the many accomplishments in Texas
research and the opportunities to achieve even more. Gordon England,
former Secretary of the Navy and TAMEST Board Member, served as
program chair for the summit.
Top federal agency officials described their research priorities,
including National Science Foundation Director France Crdova,
Dr. Stefanie Tompkins of DARPA, Dr. Roderic Pettigrew of NIH, and
Dr. Phillip Singerman of NIST.
Prominent Texas researchers highlighted where their research is
headed and emphasized Texas-wide capabilities and expertise in
precision medicine, neuroscience, cybersecurity, materials design for
electrical energy storage, and advanced manufacturing.
TAMEST thanks its sponsors and the Texas Congressional Delegation
for their support of the summit.

Communications and Outreach

Awareness and engagement with TAMEST continues to grow.
Through media coverage, writing by TAMEST members and officers,
social media engagement, and original content, TAMEST reaches
communities far and wide.

If the study moves forward, it would seek to

evaluate the scientific basis of the current
body of information available, both positive
and negative, and effectively communicate
to the public the current state of knowledge
of environmental and community impacts of
shale development in Texas. The task force
would culminate in a report to the Texas
legislature that could help guide lawmakers
in their work.

12

Thank You

Individual Gifts to the TAMEST

Endowment
TAMEST gratefully acknowledges
members and friends for their contributions
to the TAMEST Endowment.
Rebecca Nelson Davis
Peter T. Flawn
Kenneth H. Stokoe, II
Unrestricted Giving
Unrestricted gifts provide supplemental
revenue for enhancements to TAMEST
programs and for funding new
initiatives. TAMEST thanks the following
individuals for their contributions to the
TAMEST Annual Fund Campaign.
Bobby R. Alford, M.D.
Anonymous
Ruth and Kenneth Arnold
J.J. Azar
Arthur L. Beaudet
Beth S. Brown
James J. Coleman
David E. Daniel
Johann Deisenhofer
Linn Draper
The Honorable Gordon R. England
Daniel W. Foster, M.D.
Francisco Gonzalez-Scarano
Fernando A. Guerra, M.D. (IMoF Ralph
Chase, M.D., San Angelo)
George J. Hirasaki
Lydia E. Kavraki
Jeff Kodosky
Dr. Brendan and Maria Lee
David M. Lee
Lockheed Martin
Kishor Mehta
Antonios G. Mikos
David and Helen Piwnica-Worms
B. Don and Becky Russell
Donald W. Seldin, M.D.
Don W. Shaw (IMoF Dr. George Heilmeier)
George L. Stegemeier
C. Michael Walton
Dr. Jasper A. Welch, Jr. and Mrs. Jane A. Welch
James T. Willerson, M.D.
Jean D. Wilson

2015 Annual Conference Sponsors

PLATINUM
Texas A&M University
DIAMOND
Exxon Mobil Corporation
The Welch Foundation
UT Southwestern Medical Center/
Southwestern Medical Foundation
GOLD
Bell Helicopter
Capital Royalty L.P.
Lockheed Martin
Luminex Corporation
Molecular Rebar Design
Texas Tech University and Texas Tech
University Health Sciences Center
The Texas A&M University System
Office of the Chancellor
The University of Texas at Austin/Office
of the President
The University of Texas at Dallas
SILVER
Baylor College of Medicine
Castleview Productions
Ernest H. Cockrell
Southwest Research Institute
St. Davids HealthCare
Texas Instruments
The University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas Health Science
Center at San Antonio
The University of Texas MD Anderson
Cancer Center
The University of Texas System
TIAA-CREF Financial Services
University of Houston
UTHealth
UTMB Health
Winstead PC

13

2015 Texas Research Summit Sponsors

LEAD UNDERWRITERS
The Texas A&M University System
The University of Texas System
THOUGHT LEADER
Texas Tech University Office of the President
2016 Annual Conference Sponsors
PLATINUM
Texas A&M University / Texas A&M
University System
DIAMOND
ExxonMobil
The Welch Foundation
The University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center / Southwestern
Medical Foundation
GOLD
Bell Helicopter
CRG L.P. (formerly Capital Royalty L.P.)
Lockheed Martin
Molecular Rebar Design
The University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Dallas
SILVER
Castleview Productions
Ernest H. Cockrell
Schlumberger
Southwest Research Institute
St. Davids Healthcare
Texas Instruments
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
The University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas Health Science
Center at Houston
The University of Texas Health Science
Center at San Antonio
University of Houston
Winstead PC
OPENING RECEPTION SPONSOR
Bank of America
At the designation of Kay Bailey Hutchison

Institutional Member Support

Annual dues from Texas research
universities with affiliated TAMEST
members provide a primary source of
operations revenue. TAMEST recognizes
the following institutions for their
generous support in 2015:
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston Methodist Research Institute
Rice University
Southern Methodist University
Texas A&M Health Science Center
Texas A&M University
Texas Tech University
The University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Dallas
The University of Texas Health Science
Center at Houston
The University of Texas Health Science
Center at San Antonio
The University of Texas Medical Branch
at Galveston
The University of Texas MD Anderson
Cancer Center
The University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center
University of Houston
University of North Texas

14

Thank You

TAMEST Endowment
The TAMEST Endowment was
established to help secure the financial
future of the organization. TAMEST
recognizes the Founders of the
Endowment and Legacy Circle, whose
extraordinary commitment ensures
sustainable funds to build upon the
organizations success and continue its
mission of securing the future of Texas
as a national leader in science and
technology.
FOUNDERS OF THE ENDOWMENT
Anadarko Foundation
AT&T
BNSF Foundation
ConocoPhillips
Energy Future Holdings
Edith and Peter ODonnell
Temple-Inland
The USAA Foundation
LEGACY CIRCLE
The Eugene McDermott Foundation

ODonnell Endowment Donors

The Edith and Peter ODonnell Awards
are supported through the ODonnell
Endowment, established in 2005 to fund
program expenses, including a $25,000
cash award in each category.
Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Altshuler
Anonymous (2)
Austin Industries, Inc. and William T.
Solomon, Chairman
Julie and Louis A. Beecherl
Melanie and Tim Byrne
Mr. and Mrs. W. Plack Carr, Jr.
William P. and Rita Clements, Jr.
Collins Family Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Edward A. Copley
The Cullen Foundation
Cullen Trust for Health Care
Cullen Trust for Higher Education
Dell Inc.
Hunt Consolidated, Inc.
Kodosky Foundation
The Eugene McDermott Foundation
The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation
The Rodger Meier Family
Joyce and Harvey Mitchell
National Instruments
Edith and Peter ODonnell
Margot and Ross Perot
Caren H. Prothro & The Vin and Caren
Prothro Foundation
Rowling Foundation
SBC Foundation
Southwestern Medical Foundation
Ron and Phyllis Steinhart
Temple-Inland
Texas Instruments Foundation
TXU Energy
Valero Energy Foundation
Dr. and Mrs. Kern Wildenthal
Cheryl and Sam Wyly
Dee and Charles Wyly
Zachry Foundation

15

Connect with TAMEST

Find more online:

www.tamest.org

Copyright 2016, The Academy of Medicine, Engineering & Science of Texas. All rights reserved.