The 2025 AIM-AHEAD Annual Meeting officially opened on Tuesday, July 8, at 8:00 AM in the Crystal Ballroom, with a warm Conference Introduction and Welcome from the Prime Awardee Institution, delivered by AIM-AHEAD Contact PI, Dr. Jamboor “JK” Vishwanatha. He was followed by opening remarks from Dr. Kirk Calhoun, Interim President of the University of North Texas Health Science Center.

Dr. Vishwanatha is a Regents Professor and Vice President at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth. He is the Contact PI for AIM-AHEAD and a Principal Investigator of both the NIH National Research Mentoring Network and the NIH Specialized Center of Excellence in Health Disparities. His research focuses on cancer molecular biology, experimental therapeutics, and nanotechnology-based treatments, with funding support from NIH, DOD, and other agencies.

Dr. Calhoun has held numerous academic and leadership roles throughout his career, including President of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler and the newly consolidated UT Tyler. He oversaw the launch of the UT Tyler School of Medicine and led the UTHealth East Texas Health System through major expansion. A former chair of the AAMC Board of Directors, Dr. Calhoun has served on several statewide and national healthcare and academic committees. He currently holds a faculty appointment at UT Tyler and sits on the boards of Southside Bancshares, Inc., and the W Fair Foundation.