BCM, TCH research recognized with…

Houston, TX - Jul 15, 2026

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Dr. Rui Yang, a clinical fellow in the Department of Pediatrics - Division of Allergy and Immunology at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, has been awarded the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award for Medical Scientists (CAMS).

This competitive award recognizes investigators whose research has the potential to advance fundamental knowledge of human disease while accelerating the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The CAMS program supports the next generation of physician-scientists as they transition from advanced clinical and research training to independent academic careers. Yang will receive $700,000 over five years to support continued research.

"This award recognizes not only the collective efforts that have brought us to this point but also the promise of our ongoing research to improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients with devastating immunodeficiencies and immune dysregulation," said Yang, who also is a CPRIT Scholar at Baylor and a Research Vision Scholar at Texas Children's. "It also reflects the exceptional scientific environment and mentorship at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital and reinforces my commitment to fostering a supportive research community where the next generation of physician-scientists can thrive, succeed and make discoveries that improve patients' lives."

Yang's research focuses on understanding the genetics of immune reactions that underlie severe infectious and autoimmune diseases and working to identify how inherited variations in immune system pathways contribute to susceptibility to infection and immune dysfunction.

His project supported by the CAMS program will investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate immune responses in patients with rare genetic disorders that affect immune defense. The research aims to uncover previously unrecognized pathways that contribute to disease development and identify potential therapy targets.

Yang's research goals are threefold. First, he aims to advance the diagnosis and understanding of children with life-threatening immunodeficiencies and immune dysregulation by uncovering novel genetic mechanisms underlying known disorders and identifying entirely new genetic diseases. Second, he seeks to use these ultra-rare disorders as windows into the fundamental biology of the human immune system, paving the way for new therapies for both rare and common diseases. Third, he is committed to fostering the next generation of scientists and physician-scientists through innovative research and mentorship, helping them pursue their curiosity, thrive and build successful independent careers.

"The BWF CAMS Award recognizes my previous work while providing generous funding with exceptional flexibility that allows me to remain committed to my long-term research goals while pursuing bold, high-risk, high-reward scientific questions," Yang said.

Yang attended Tongji Medical College at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Vermont, completed postdoctoral training at Rockefeller University, and then completed his residency at Weill Cornell Medicine. He recently completed his fellowship in allergy and immunology at Baylor and Texas Children's, where he will continue his work in allergy and immunology as a tenure-track assistant professor.