Building on a partnership rooted in shared vision and philanthropy, UAB and McMaster (McM) University continue to deepen their collaboration during a recent all-day, in-person strategic meeting held Friday, March 20, 2026, in Birmingham, Ala.
The visit created an opportunity for a significant step forward in advancing the institutions’ joint commitment to innovation, global health, education, and research. Over the years, this partnership has evolved into a dynamic, action-oriented collaboration with growing momentum and tangible outcomes.
Senior leaders, faculty, and researchers from both institutions met at UAB’s Altec/Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Science Building to align priorities and accelerate joint initiatives.
Anupam Agarwal, M.D., senior vice president for Medicine and dean of UAB Heersink School of Medicine, and Paul O'Byrne, M.D., dean and vice president, Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University, provided a warm welcome and introductions of committee members. This was followed by opening sessions, led by UAB Provost Janet Woodruff-Borden, Ph.D., and McMaster Provost Maureen MacDonald, Ph.D., which highlighted expanding opportunities across both institutions. Leadership emphasized not only alignment with the mission but also readiness to move from exploration to execution.
Innovation, commercialization, and research synergy
Biomedical innovation and entrepreneurship emerged as key pillars of the partnership. Leaders from both institutions, including Rubin Pillay, M.D., Ph.D., executive director for the UAB Marnix E. Heersink Institute for Biomedical Innovation, assistant dean for Global Health Innovation, and chief innovation officer for the UAB Health System; John Kelton, M.D., executive director for the Marnix E. Heersink School of Biomedical Innovation and Entrepreneurship, McM; Sandeep Bodduluri, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, UAB; and Gianni Parisse, Ph.D., vice president for Research, McM, shared updates on commercialization strategies and translational research efforts.
These sessions highlighted how the partnership is uniquely positioned to bridge discovery and real-world application, particularly through joint initiatives in biomedical innovation and data science.
Global Health and collaborative research
Global health remained central to the partnership’s mission. Strategic discussions led by Alan Tita, M.D., Ph.D., UAB Mary Heersink Endowed Chair of Global Health, director of the Mary Heersink Institute of Global Health, and the Heersink School of Medicine senior associate dean for Global and Women's Health, and Sonia Anand, M.D., Ph.D., associate vice president of Global Health, McM, emphasized collaborative research to address pressing global and local challenges, including women’s health, chronic disease, and access to healthcare.
Progress updates from joint subcommittees highlighted measurable advancements and a growing pipeline of collaborative grants and projects.
Advancing education and exchange
A major focus of the meeting was to further the development of joint educational pathways. Discussions around Master of Science in Global Health (MSGH) programs, student exchange opportunities, and stacked certificate models demonstrated a mutual commitment to training the next generation of global health leaders.
Faculty from both universities outlined progress on curriculum integration and experiential learning opportunities, signaling a shift toward more accessible, flexible, and globally connected education models.
Joint pilot grants driving impact
A significant portion of the afternoon was devoted to presenting multiple UAB–McMaster joint pilot grant projects, showcasing the scope and depth of interdisciplinary, collaborative research. Projects spanned areas such as:
- Radiopharmaceuticals and advanced imaging
- Skeletal muscle preservation during GLP-1–associated weight loss
- Heavy menstrual bleeding research in Cameroon
- Biomedical engineering innovations
- Health physics and radiation science
These initiatives are tackling complex health challenges through cross-institutional knowledge, collaborative networks, and shared resources.
The meeting concluded with inspiring reflections from Marnix E. Heersink, M.D., and his wife, Mary Heersink, reinforcing the foundational role of benevolence in catalyzing long-term, global impact and innovation. Their vision continues to guide a partnership that is not only expanding with opportunity but also delivering meaningful progress.
As both universities move forward, the UAB–McMaster partnership will continue to nurture strategic alignment, shared investment, and a global perspective that can drive innovation in health and education. With strengthened infrastructure, active research pipelines, and growing educational exchange, the partnership is poised to make lasting contributions, both locally and across the global health landscape.
