University of Utah Health reported several major developments in 2025, including significant research funding, leadership changes, and clinical medical breakthroughs.
In December 2025, the University of Utah appointed Grace Lim, MD, MSc, MBA, as the chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, & Pain Medicine. During the same month, the Be Brave Baylee Foundation donated $1 million to the U of U Health Burn Center. Other medical news from December included research on gut bacteria and weight gain in mice, the first clinical case using Reverse ChondroMatch technology for cartilage repair, and the use of AI to improve robotic prosthetic dexterity.
Leadership appointments also included Erin Fox, PharmD, who received the EDSA Lifetime Achievement Award for drug shortage prevention, and Rachel Hess, MD, MS, who was named the inaugural System Chief Research Officer for University of Utah Health. Additionally, Michael C. Flynn, MD, was appointed as the Interim Director of the Utah Health Research Network (UHRN).
Financial and safety milestones were also noted, with U of U Health research funding surpassing $500 million for fiscal year 2025. The SafeUT program reported a record number of school safety threat tips and 342 emergency interventions during fiscal year 2025.
Other research highlights from the year included studies on suicide risk factors, veteran health outcomes related to brain injuries, and the use of a new drug to protect mitochondria in mice.
