The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is witnessing a remarkable surge in life sciences research and development jobs, positioning itself among the 20 largest life sciences employment clusters in the United States. In response to this growth, UNT Health Fort Worth has announced the launch of a new pharmaceutical sciences PhD programthe first of its kind in the region.
This initiative comes at a critical time, as the DFW area has seen a 17% increase in its life science labor pool since 2019, with research and development jobs growing by nearly 45% over the same period. The program aims to address this rapid expansion by cultivating a local talent pipeline.
Building a Pipeline for Community Growth
Rebecca Cunninghamsenior associate dean for research and professor of pharmaceutical sciences at UNT, emphasizes that this program is more than just an academic addition. “This new program is not just about having a new doctoral degree,” she states. “It’s about building a pipeline that will help our community.”
Cunningham highlights the responsibility of academic health science centers to respond to regional needs. “We have a responsibility to respond to the needs of our region,” she says. “This is how we’re responding to this growing need that is happening here with the growth in research and healthcare delivery.”
The program is designed to prepare scientists for drug discovery, development, and translational researchareas crucial for advancing healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry. Unlike the typical PharmD programwhich focuses on clinical patient relationships, this program concentrates on improving the tools and drugs used by patients.
Untapped Potential and Economic Impact
While significant hubs already exist at Texas A&M and Texas TechNorth Texas remains an area of untapped potential. Cunningham envisions the region becoming a new Research Triangleakin to the renowned area in North Carolina home to major research institutions.
“Now, they’re coming in, and we could be the new Research Triangle here,” Cunningham says. “We need to have individuals that we can train here to address that need.” This influx of trained professionals can bring additional economic value to North Texas, fostering job creation and opportunities.
The program is open to students with a master’s degree or a PharmD degree. For its inaugural year, UNT Health expects to accept five studentswho will receive financial support throughout their training, which can take at least three years.
Applications and Future Prospects
Applications for the new program close on July 1 for students starting classes in the fall. Cunningham notes that the institution is closely monitoring the program’s performance before accepting more students. “We want to ensure that we have our focus on each individual student and their training and that journey and the path that they want to take,” she explains.
Many master’s students have expressed interest in this program, indicating a strong demand for advanced training in pharmaceutical sciences. Cunningham sees this as an opportunity to engage more deeply with the community and further partnerships within the North Texas region.
“I see it as this gives more opportunity for us to engage with our community, to work in this partnership and help along with this healthcare and this drug design, but also with economics,” Cunningham says. “I really just see us furthering our partnership with the North Texas region.”