Author: Leigh MacMillan
Disparities in influenza outcomes
Oct. 30, 2017—Neighborhood determinants – represented by census tract data – contribute to the risk of influenza hospitalization and could be used to guide interventions such as vaccinations to high-risk areas.
New faculty: Erin Calipari, assistant professor of pharmacology
Oct. 23, 2017—Erin Calipari could be described as a code breaker. Using technologies that allow her to probe the activity of single neurons in awake and behaving animals, she is piecing together the neural code that controls motivation and decision-making.
Calcium intake and colorectal cancer
Oct. 18, 2017—Calcium intake appears to protect against colorectal cancer in individuals with certain gene variants, Vanderbilt researchers have discovered.
Researchers find novel mechanism of resistance to anti-cancer drugs
Oct. 17, 2017—Vanderbilt investigators have discovered a novel non-genetic cause of resistance to the targeted anti-cancer therapy cetuximab. Their findings, reported this week in Nature Medicine, suggest a strategy for overcoming this resistance.
New tools to combat kidney fibrosis
Oct. 13, 2017—Vanderbilt investigators have developed a new mouse model of kidney fibrosis, which provides a platform for identifying new targets and treatment strategies.
Researcher targets peanut allergies with Cohen Fund support
Oct. 12, 2017—Scott Smith, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of Medicine, has received a 2017 research award from the Stanley Cohen Innovation Fund to test a new therapeutic strategy for peanut allergies. Smith's research could fundamentally change allergy treatment.
Boosting sarcoma cell death
Oct. 4, 2017—A compound identified at Vanderbilt represents a new lead for treating rare, aggressive childhood cancers called Ewing sarcomas.
Novel insights to antibiotic targets
Sep. 29, 2017—New mechanistic details about the DNA-unwinding activity of antibacterial protein targets could lead to the design of better antibiotic medicines.
Cellular calcium handling in diabetes
Sep. 28, 2017—Potassium channels in a cellular organelle regulate calcium flux and appear to play a critical role in pancreatic beta cell health.
VU scientists discuss cancer treatments, cellular dynamics
Sep. 28, 2017—A trio of Vanderbilt University scientists described their cutting-edge investigations of cellular dynamics and cancer treatment during last week’s Flexner Discovery Lecture.
Excess dietary manganese increases risk of staph infection in heart
Sep. 21, 2017—Too much dietary manganese — an essential trace mineral found in leafy green vegetables, fruits and nuts — promotes infection of the heart by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (“staph”).
NSAIDs, genetics and miscarriage
Sep. 20, 2017—A certain genetic variant, in combination with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen during early pregnancy, may protect women from miscarriage.