FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
TRC4: press@trc4.utsystem.edu
UT System: utsystemnews@utsystem.edu
February 3, 2026 – The Trauma Research and Combat Casualty Care Collaborative (TRC4) is proud to announce the 3rd Annual University of Texas System Trauma Research Symposium, taking place February 17-18, 2026, at the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center in Austin, Texas.
The Trauma Research Symposium is dedicated to advancing the field through rigorous collaboration and innovation. This year’s event will unite researchers, clinicians, and thought leaders from across UT institutions with a shared mission: improving patient outcomes and strengthening the research ecosystem for both Texas communities and military service members.
“The UT System Trauma Research Symposium is the premier platform for uniting leading experts across our institutions to focus on collaborative innovation,” said Dr. James Bynum, Executive Director of TRC4. “This gathering is crucial for accelerating the development of the next generation of life-saving therapeutics and clinical approaches that will benefit trauma patients in Texas and our valued service members.”
Event Details
WHAT: 2026 UT System Trauma Research Symposium
WHO: Hosted by the UT System and TRC4
WHEN: Tuesday, February 17 – Wednesday, February 18, 2026
WHERE: AT&T Hotel and Conference Center, 1900 University Ave., Austin, TX 78705
To learn more and view this year’s full agenda, please visit: trc4.utsystem.edu/2026-ut-system-trauma-research-symposium.
Featured Speakers
The 2026 symposium features a powerful lineup of speakers offering unique perspectives on leadership and resilience in high-stakes environments:
- Sean Douglas: U.S. Air Force veteran turned Master Resilience Trainer, Sean Douglas transformed a personal battle with near suicide into a mission to help others navigate trauma and reclaim self-worth. A TEDx speaker and founder of The Success Corps, he provides research-backed frameworks in mindfulness and interpersonal problem-solving to move audiences from “surviving to thriving.”
- Jonathan Woodson, MD: President of the Uniformed Services University, retired U.S. Army Major General, and former Assistant Secretary of Defense Health Agency Affairs. Dr. Woodson will bring critical perspectives on federal health leadership and the intersection of military and civilian medicine.
- Col. Jennifer M. Gurney, MD, FACS: Chief, Joint Trauma System, Defense Health Agency, and trauma surgeon, Brooke Army Medical Center. Col. Gurney has dedicated her career to improving trauma care delivered to our Armed Forces deployed around the world. Her presentation will focus on research imperatives for forward surgical care on the future battlefield.
Driving the Future of Trauma Care
More than a series of presentations, the symposium is designed as a catalyst for professional partnership. Attendees will explore groundbreaking research, including emerging therapeutics, medical devices, and clinical approaches that are currently shaping the future of trauma care.
By fostering the exchange of forward-thinking ideas, TRC4 aims to drive the next wave of development in the field, ensuring that innovations in the lab translate rapidly to life-saving solutions in the field and the hospital.
About The University of Texas System
With 13 institutions that enroll more than 260,000 students, the UT System is the largest university system in Texas and one of the largest public university systems in the United States. UT institutions produced over 66,000 graduates last year and awarded more than one-third of the undergraduate degrees in Texas. They also educate more than one-half of the state’s health care professionals with a four-year degree or above and award 56% of the state’s medical degrees annually. The combined efforts of UT-owned and -affiliated hospitals and clinics resulted in nearly 11.7 million outpatient visits and more than 2 million hospital days in the last year reported. UT’s $4.8 billion research enterprise is one of the nation’s most innovative, ranking No. 1 in Texas and No. 2 in the U.S. for total research expenditures and No. 3 in the U.S. for federal research expenditures. With an operating budget of $33.3 billion for fiscal year 2026, UT institutions collectively employ more than 160,000 faculty, health care professionals, support staff and students.
About TRC4
TRC4 was established by The University of Texas System Board of Regents. The TRC4 mission is to integrate efforts that will transform trauma care both on the battlefield and in the civilian sector, resulting in dramatic improvements in survivability. This mission will be accomplished through research, training, and clinical partnership and support. Based at UT Health Science Center San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) and on behalf of the UT System, the TRC4 will facilitate, and fund groundbreaking interinstitutional collaborative basic, clinical, and translational research between UT institutions and the Department of Defense (DoD) / Defense Health Agency (DHA). This endeavor will provide significant economic and business opportunities for Texans by leveraging both state and federal funding sources.
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