Health And Medicine

College athletes who play contact sports are more than twice as likely to carry the deadly superbug methicillin-resistant Staphylocuccus aureus (MRSA) than peers who play non-contact sports, according to a Vanderbilt study released at IDWeek 2014. Read More

Vanderbilt investigators have discovered a new type of immune cell residing in the intestinal epithelium that may function as a first line of defense against ingested pathogens. Read More

The potential for long-range signaling factors – such as those identified in the current study – to regulate stem cell behaviors has implications in tumor progression and metastasis. Read More

As one of the few board-certified pediatric sleep specialists in the region, Atia Jordan works with a multidisciplinary team to address sleep concerns in an effort to improve the overall health and well-being of her patients. Read More

Working in trauma and critical care for most of her career, Cathy Maxwell noticed profound differences among older patients and their responses to injury. Her curiosity led her to become a nurse researcher in this area. Read More

For years, scientists have known that regular aspirin use may reduce the risk of cancer. Read More

If you’re a native of rural Mozambique who contracts HIV and becomes symptomatic, before seeking clinical testing and treatment, you’ll likely consult a traditional healer. Read More

A Vanderbilt University-led research team has discovered a “master regulator” for cholesterol production and transport in the liver — a tiny piece of RNA called microRNA-223. Read More

Vanderbilt University has launched a regenerative visual neuroscience initiative to develop new ways of treating — and restoring sight to — people who have been blinded by glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and eye injuries. Read More

A non-invasive imaging tool could test potential cancer therapies quickly to personalize therapy for patients. Read More

Defects in the production of certain receptors are linked to the pathogenesis of genetic epilepsies and fever-induced seizures. Read More

A person’s mitochondrial gene “signature” could predict risk for diabetic retinopathy and guide early intervention strategies. Read More

Vanderbilt investigators identify a new therapeutic target for the inflammatory lung disease sarcoidosis. Read More

Don’t panic over Ebola. But don’t ignore it, either. That was the take-home message for U.S. citizens from a “mini-hearing” held by U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on Wednesday with researchers and health officials from Vanderbilt and the State of Tennessee. Read More

A new analysis of published studies found that FDG-PET technology is less accurate in diagnosing lung cancer versus benign disease in regions where infections like histoplasmosis or tuberculosis are common. Read More

Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder share common genetic underpinnings. Vanderbilt researchers combined high-resolution gene expression studies with gene association data to reveal signaling pathways linked to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Read More

Vanderbilt University researchers have partnered with Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc. to develop new human antibody therapies for people exposed to the deadly Ebola and Marburg viruses. Read More

Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute is participating in a global clinical trial to test the safety and efficacy of the world’s smallest pacemaker. Read More

Exposure of male mice to the pollutant dioxin causes preterm birth across multiple generations, suggesting that efforts to prevent preterm birth should include pre-conception interventions for dads. Read More

Stem cells derived from patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension provide a unique resource for studying the molecular defects that cause the disease and testing potential therapies. Read More