Neuroscience Innovator Receives Tech Titan Award

Neuroscience Innovator Receives Tech Titan Award

Dr. Theodore Price BS’97, director of the Center for Advanced Pain Studies (CAPS) and Ashbel Smith Professor of neuroscience at The University of Texas at Dallas, received the Technology Inventor Award at the 2026 Tech Titans Awards for his innovative research to discover new nonaddictive pain drugs.

Price was recognized for his research as the United States continues to confront the opioid crisis. Earlier this year, 4E Therapeutics Inc., a neuroscience company spun off from UT Dallas by Price to develop MNK inhibitors designed to treat chronic pain, was acquired by Eli Lilly and Co.

“This award is a reflection on the wonderful team we have at the Center for Advanced Pain Studies and at our spinout companies like 4E Therapeutics, NuvoNuro and PARMedics,” he said. “I am so lucky to work with so many wonderful scientists and business leaders.”

Price was one of 14 individuals and companies recognized Aug. 28 at the 26th annual award ceremony for Tech Titans, the largest nonprofit technology trade association in Texas. Kris Fitzgerald, chair of the Executive Council for the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, received the Tech Titans Community Hero Award.

Tech Titans describes Price as an internationally recognized researcher whose groundbreaking discoveries have advanced the understanding of chronic pain and neurological disorders, with the potential to improve treatments for millions of patients worldwide.

“I had the opportunity to learn a lot about Tech Titans as an organization throughout this process, and I am extremely honored to have received this award from an organization that is so dedicated to bringing STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] enrichment and education to public schools across North Texas,” he said. “This is such an important mission, and as a product of Texas public schools from second grade all the way to my PhD, their message of the importance of STEM education in public education really resonates with me.”

Accolades is an occasional News Center feature that highlights recent accomplishments of The University of Texas at Dallas faculty, students and staff. To submit items for consideration, contact your school’s communications manager.