Latest Issue
Spring 2026
Sometimes I wish doctors wanted to spend a little less time with me. But when the body revolts, experts must be called. That summoning—and reckoning that resulted—made me realize how much I went through my daily life without much thought about the 3-pound mass sitting above my shoulders, with its love of languages and learning. It has just worked, admittedly better at playing with words than numbers, but mostly as it should with little actual contemplation as to how it helped me move through life.
Until it didn’t.
A weeks-long headache followed by vision problems and difficulty writing with a pen sent me to the emergency room. Then came a diagnosis of a brain tumor, fueled by melanoma cells running unchecked.
This past year, I’ve developed a fondness for my brain and how it makes me operate, think and move, and how much it easily managed for me, especially as it worked hard to relearn how to grasp a fork and some math. It’s amazing what our brains accumulate during a lifespan.
This issue is dedicated to those helpers who help our brains. I have been so thankful for my full team of general practitioner, oncologists, neurosurgeons, radiation oncologist and neuro-ophthalmologists and their teams at UT Medical Center as well as my coworkers at the University of Tennessee. This issue is dedicated to them as well as family and friends who continue this walk with me.
Jennifer Sicking,
Executive Editor
Access for a Better Life
UT Knoxville’s KLASS Center provides autism evaluations and guidance, plus PASS and FUTURE programs that build independence and college success.
There is Hope
UTHSC’s Lawrence Pfeffer patented IV 129, a drug candidate that may improve glioblastoma treatment by enhancing sensitivity to temozolomide.
Dopesick No More
UT’s SMART Initiative leaders explain how fentanyl drives Tennessee overdoses and why addiction is a brain disease requiring long-term recovery support.
A Cure for Lu
Lu seemed subdued, quiet, not like his normally outgoing self. People around him grew concerned. He began dragging one foot and then the other, developing sores on both. Then came ... Read more
The Reshaping Brain
UT Knoxville neuroscientist Keerthi Krishnan studies how genes influence brain plasticity, linking experience-driven change to neurological disease mechanisms.
A Window into the Brain
UTC’s Bret Eschman uses eye tracking to study infant attention and memory, helping researchers understand early developmental differences linked to later outcomes.
Brain Computer
UT Martin student Seth Hatchett researches brain imaging and neurotechnology to improve brain-computer interfaces and support people with neurological disorders.
Hitting Her Target
UT Southern alumna Eden Samson links championship clay target shooting to special education teaching, using focus and adaptability to reach each student.
Caring for Carers
Funded by a $1.3M Pat Summitt Foundation award, UT Extension’s Pat’s Gameplan for Caregivers supports Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers statewide.
Brain Games
Like exercise for the body, games can help keep the brain active and engaged. However, experts emphasize that games are most beneficial when combined with other activities that support overall brain health.
Mindful of Tennessee’s Health
UT faculty, clinicians and students advance brain health through research, education and care, strengthening Tennessee communities and preparing tomorrow’s workforce.
Path to Neuroscience Excellence
In 1985, the University of Tennessee System created a multidisciplinary Neuroscience Center of Excellence to address the growing complexity of brain research and the need for collaboration across disciplines.
Training Tennesseans to Treat Tennesseans
Everyone has a different reason for choosing a career path. Mine began with my father’s stroke when I was in the eighth grade.
UT System Highlights Growth, Workforce Impact and 2030 Vision
President Randy Boyd’s 2026 address highlighted UT momentum in student success, research and workforce development and introduced a strategic plan through 2030.
Jenny Boyd Theater Dedicated
UT Knoxville dedicated the new 300-seat Jenny Boyd Theatre, funded by the Boyd family, on the former Carousel Theatre site.
RAIL Assists Schools
UTC’s RAIL System gives rural districts free access to student assessment tools, saving $22,000 and strengthening developmental, learning and behavioral evaluations.
UT Southern Connects Academics, Workforce
Chancellor Melinda Arnold met employers across Southern Middle Tennessee to align academic programs with workforce needs, internships, training and long-term partnerships.
Gibson County Partnership Announced
A new partnership with UT Martin and TCAT Jackson expands dual enrollment, helping Gibson County students earn college credits and career-focused options.
State Awards $7.4 Million in Rural Health Grants
Commissioner John Dunn visited UTHSC to present rural health grants and spotlight major TDH initiatives expanding care and access statewide.
Milan No-Till Field Day Returns
Milan No-Till returns July 23 for its 34th year, highlighting no-till conservation and precision agriculture at UT AgResearch in Milan.
Tennessee Chamber, Center for Industrial Services Forge Training Partnership
Fifty employees from 26 Tennessee departments graduated from the Naifeh Center’s Administrative Professionals Academy during a ceremony at the Tennessee State Library and Archives.
