Health and Medicine
Flu’s “hidden target” may lead to universal vaccine: study
May. 16, 2019—The flu mutates so quickly that we need a new vaccine every year, but Vanderbilt scientists have found a vulnerable part of the virus that doesn't mutate as much.
Vanderbilt team determining how seasonal light for pregnant moms affects offspring’s mental health
May. 14, 2019—Seasonal light exposure during pregnancy had effects on serotonin and depression that persisted into adulthood in mice.
Dynamic basement membranes
May. 9, 2019—Basement membranes are important structural and functional components of tissues. New research provides insight into how they repair themselves.
Blueprint for rebuilding the heart
May. 9, 2019—New findings may speed progress toward programming cells to rebuild damaged hearts more quickly.
Technology better than tape measure for identifying lymphedema risk
May. 6, 2019—New research by School of Nursing professor Sheila Ridner finds that a special scan measuring lymphatic fluid volume is significantly better than a tape measure at predicting which women undergoing treatment for breast cancer are at risk of developing a common complication resulting from damaged lymph nodes.
Vanderbilt Nursing professor launches study on therapy animals and children with cancer
Apr. 29, 2019—Mary Jo Gilmer is piloting new research into the effectiveness of therapy dogs in reducing the anxiety of children with cancer.
Yohn named Postdoc of the Year at annual symposium; Sappington named Mentor of the Year
Apr. 22, 2019—Postdoctoral scholars Samantha Yohn and Anneke Sanders and ophthalmology professor Rebecca Sappington were honored by the Graduate School at the 13th Annual Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association Symposium on April 9.
Team explores fungal infection quandary in lung cancer screenings
Apr. 18, 2019—Benign lesions caused by a common fungus can mimic those caused by cancer in the lungs. A Vanderbilt research team is on the hunt for a non-invasive way for doctors to tell the two diseases apart.
Asian nations in early tobacco epidemic: study
Apr. 18, 2019—Asian countries are in the early stages of a tobacco smoking epidemic with habits mirroring those of the United States from past decades, setting the stage for a spike in future deaths from smoking-related diseases.
Researchers find high-risk genes for schizophrenia
Apr. 18, 2019—Using a unique computational framework they developed, a team of scientist cyber-sleuths in the Vanderbilt University Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics and the Vanderbilt Genetics Institute has identified 104 high-risk genes for schizophrenia.
Law School, VUMC team up on DHHS grant to develop and test “safe harbor” standards of care
Apr. 18, 2019—A team of researchers from Vanderbilt University’s schools of law, medicine and management has received a five-year research grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality of the Department of Health and Human Services to develop and test “safe harbor” standards of care based on scientific evidence.
How bugs overcome host defenses
Apr. 12, 2019—Eric Skaar and colleagues have figured out how a common bug responsible for ventilator-associated pneumonia responds when starved of zinc, a metal it needs to survive, which may lead to new therapeutic targets for the dangerous infection.