PBS Series Examines Texas’ Innovative Solutions

Through the personal stories of patients, hurricane survivors, researchers, scientists and doctors, the documentary television series “State of Tomorrow”™ depicts global issues and solutions on a human scale. Faculty members at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston are among those interviewed for the series.

“State of Tomorrow” will debut on KUHT-TV, Channel 8, in Houston at 11 p.m. Thursday, April 26. The 13 half-hour episodes then will air regularly in Houston on Thursdays at 11 p.m.

“Public higher education offers solutions to many of the major challenges facing Texas, and it is important for Texans to know that whether or not they ever set foot on our campuses, we work to ensure that they are the beneficiaries of education’s service to society,” said UT System Chancellor Mark G. Yudof.

Faculty from six university systems are featured in the series, representing a collaboration among Texas’ public higher education systems.

The series is co-produced by The University of Texas Foundation and Alpheus Media Inc. in partnership with public television station KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, and is paid for with private funding from sponsors including AT&T Inc., Exxon Mobil Corp., and IBC Bank, among others.

“State of Tomorrow” will air on all 13 PBS stations in Texas. Each episode addresses advances made possible by higher education:

Biosafety: West Nile virus. Avian flu. Ebola. Each of these diseases is a threat to our society both as a disease outbreak and as a terrorist threat. Interviews include Scott Lillibridge, M.D., director, Center for Biosecurity and Public Health Preparedness, UT School of Public Health.

Rebuilding the Heart: Heart disease is the number one killer in Texas. James T. Willerson, M.D., president of the UT Health Science Center at Houston, describes cutting-edge work in adult stem cell therapy, which is leading a wave of research in the fight against heart disease. Others interviewed include Edward Yeh, M.D., director, Center for Cardiovascular Research, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, among others.

Clearing the Air: Houston, with its heavy industry and traffic, is one of the most polluted cities in America. The mayor of Houston commissioned a study to provide scientific evidence to effect change. Interviewed are: President Willerson, and Stephen H. Linder, Ph.D., associate director, Institute for Health Policy, UT School of Public Health.

Diabetes and Obesity: Obesity and diabetes have created an increasingly urgent medical crisis in Texas. Interviews include Joseph McCormick, M.D., regional dean of the Brownsville Regional Campus, School of Public Health, among others.