Texas Biomed Marks 85 Years with $13M Federal Upgrade and Legacy of Vaccine Research

TL;DR: Texas Biomedical Research Institute marks its 85th anniversary in 2026 with a nearly $13 million federal upgrade to water, electrical and security systems, highlighting its enduring contributions to vaccine development and global health.

Founded in 1941 by Thomas Baker Slick Jr. on 1,500 acres west of San Antonio, the institute began as a modest farm‑barn laboratory and has grown into a 200‑acre campus housing one of the nation’s seven National Primate Research Centers. Its early work helped create a high‑frequency ventilator that now saves premature infants worldwide.

The anniversary coincides with nearly $13 million in federal preparedness funds from the City of San Antonio and Bexar County under the American Rescue Plan Act, earmarked for modernizing water, power and security infrastructure. Chuck Slick, son of the founder, recalled his father’s belief in science’s power for good when establishing the institute. Over decades, Texas Biomed researchers have conducted preclinical studies in animal models that contributed to early hepatitis B vaccines now used globally and laid groundwork for hepatitis C understanding. Their work also informed HIV, Ebola and tuberculosis vaccine and therapy efforts, and during the COVID‑19 pandemic they provided essential preclinical data that supported Pfizer‑BioNTech, Novavax and Regeneron candidates.

These advances demonstrate how sustained investment in basic research translates into tangible health tools, from neonatal ventilators to vaccine platforms. For readers, the takeaway is that continued federal support for campus readiness enables scientists to pursue high‑containment studies safely, accelerating responses to emerging threats.

Watch for upcoming preclinical results on next‑generation tuberculosis vaccines expected later this year.