Author: Leigh MacMillan
Probing the genetics of autoimmunity
Jul. 21, 2017—Vanderbilt researchers have found that non-coding regions of the genome appear to contribute to the risk of autoimmune diseases and may represent attractive therapeutic targets.
Drivers of breast cancer metastasis
Jul. 20, 2017—Signaling through a complex of proteins called mTORC2 plays a role in breast cancer migration, invasion and metastasis, Vanderbilt researchers reported.
Bile acids, microbiota and colon cancer
Jul. 5, 2017—Bile acids produced by a western diet alter the composition of the gut microbiota and promote intestinal carcinogenesis.
Team investigates antiviral that inhibits SARS, MERS
Jun. 29, 2017—A new antiviral drug candidate inhibits a broad range of coronaviruses, including the SARS and MERS coronaviruses, a multi-institutional team of investigators reports this week in Science Translational Medicine.
PET imaging to predict tumor response
Jun. 14, 2017—A PET probe that detects the amino acid glutamine predicts whether tumors respond to certain targeted therapies in preclinical animal models.
Study reveals role for stem cells in chronic lung diseases
May. 25, 2017—A novel population of lung stem cells plays an important role in regulating the pulmonary microvasculature — the network of tiny blood vessels where oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange takes place.
RSV-HRV viral interference
May. 15, 2017—RSV infection reduces the risk of infection with human rhinovirus, which could have implications for vaccine development and prevention strategies for viral respiratory tract infections in infants.
EETs contribute to insulin sensitivity
May. 11, 2017—Interventions that increase circulating levels of compounds called EETs may improve insulin sensitivity and treat hypertension.
Discovery Lecturer Kandel tackles age-related memory loss
May. 11, 2017—Eric Kandel, M.D., who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2000 for discovering molecular mechanisms of memory storage, told the crowd at last week’s Flexner Discovery Lecture that he has recently become interested in memory in the aging brain.
Therapeutic targets for diabetes
May. 3, 2017—Vanderbilt investigators have identified novel regulators of insulin-producing beta-cell proliferation and survival, suggesting new targets for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Regulating anxiety in the brain
Apr. 28, 2017—Two brain signaling pathways have overlapping functions in regulating anxiety, suggesting that therapeutics aimed at one or the other will impact both.
Nobel laureate and memory expert Kandel set for next Discovery Lecture
Apr. 27, 2017—Nobel laureate Eric R. Kandel, M.D., renowned for his studies of learning and memory, will give the next Flexner Discovery Lecture on Thursday, May 4.