The Texas Heart Institute Energizes BioHouston’s Chili Cook-Off

Continuing a favorite tradition, The Texas Heart Institute team brought their signature style to the 18^th Annual BioHouston Chili Cook-Off held on April 14. Teams from the Texas Medical Center and Houston’s biotech industry come together each year to showcase their world-class chili recipes and enjoy the camaraderie.

Several members of The Institute’s Molecular Cardiology Research Laboratories have been participating in the BioHouston event since 2005, first as part of Houston’s pharmaceutical industry and then as Institute researchers. The team is known for heightening the celebratory mood at the event through their themed costumes and choreographed dance routines.

This year, the team’s NASCAR pit-crew-themed booth (“The Next First: Victory Lane”) also featured a nearly life-sized image of the JD Motorsports Team’s NASCAR Xfinity Series car number 6, highlighting The Institute’s partnership with the Houston-based technology start-up BeONE Sports.

Senior Research Associate Amy Caivano, one of those original 2005 participants, has led The Institute’s team through the annual cook-offs, including their Grand Champion victory in 2022. She shared, “I am amazed at how much this event has grown in the past 15 years. The word is out—this is the place to be if you work in life science!”

Peter Vanderslice, PhD, Senior Investigator and Director of Molecular Cardiology Research, thanked Caivano for her “boundless energy and herculean efforts in pulling this off year after year,” adding that the group always has a fun time socializing with present and former colleagues at the event. Assistant Research Investigator Qi Liu, PhD, echoed those sentiments, saying, “Since 2009, I’ve had the good fortune of attending the Chili Cook-Off with Amy, and it has become my favorite activity. Her effort has made all these years unforgettable, and I cannot thank her enough.”