UNT Health unites North Texas universities for expanded Research Appreciation Day
UNT Health Fort Worth will host its annual Research Appreciation Day on April 17 —
the first time the event will be held in person since the COVID-19 pandemic and the
first to bring together student researchers from multiple North Texas universities.
Hosted by UNT Health’s Division of Research and Innovation, RAD highlights emerging scientists and gives them the opportunity to present their work, discuss findings and connect with faculty, peers and researchers from across the region. Researchers attending will come from UNT Health, the University of North Texas in Denton, UNT Dallas and Texas Christian University.
“RAD provides a unique platform for students to share their work, exchange ideas and build meaningful connections across institutions,” said Dimitrios Karamichos, Ph.D., vice president of UNT Health Research and Graduate Studies. “This expanded regional collaboration reflects our shared commitment to advancing research and training the next generation of scholars.”
The event is expected to draw about 500 attendees, including students, faculty, staff and community members, and will feature poster presentations across biomedical sciences, clinical research, public health, interdisciplinary health sciences and emerging areas such as artificial intelligence. Presenters will engage directly with attendees to discuss their findings and potential impact. More than 50 student awards will be presented.
RAD 2026 will also feature keynote speaker Dr. Russell Swerdlow, a university distinguished professor and director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He will present “Mitochondria and Mitochondrial Cascades in Alzheimer’s Disease.” Alzheimer’s is the most common neurologic disease of aging, and Swerdlow’s talk will explore the “Mitochondrial Cascade Hypothesis” — which positions mitochondria as a biological link between aging and the disease — examining how mitochondrial dysfunction may point toward new therapeutic approaches.
The program will also include two panel discussions focused on research collaboration and innovation across the region.
The first, “Better Together: Collaborative Training Networks in North Texas,” will explore how institutions across the region are joining forces to invest in the researchers of tomorrow — sharing resources, mentorship and opportunities across universities in ways that benefit the entire North Texas ecosystem.
The second, “The Future of Health Innovation in North Texas, from Discovery to Impact,” will examine what happens after the breakthrough — how research institutions and regional partners are moving discoveries out of the lab and into real-world health solutions that affect patients and communities.
“RAD highlights the incredible research taking place across our institutions and provides an opportunity for emerging researchers to share their discoveries with the broader academic community,” Karamichos said. “In alignment with one of our values, Better Together, this regional event signals a growing momentum for North Texas research, fostering partnerships that will drive innovation, talent development and scientific impact well into the future.”
For more information about the event, please visit unthealthrad2026.oa-event.com.