Health And Medicine

Vanderbilt scientists Katherine Aboud, PhD’19, Breann Brown and Will Wan, PhD’14, have received 2021 National Institutes of Health Director’s Awards for their unconventional, bold approaches to research that advances knowledge and enhances health. Read More

Eight-week mindfulness programs improve brain health in people over 60. Read More

Steven Townsend, associate professor of chemistry, and Fang Yan, research professor of pediatrics and cell and development biology, have discovered how a sugar in human breast milk mitigates damage to the small intestines caused by chemotherapy-induced mucositis. Read More

Susan Amara, PhD, scientific director of the Intramural Research Program at the NIMH and an expert on the biology of neurotransmitter transporters, will deliver Vanderbilt's next Discovery Lecture via Zoom at 4 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 7. Read More

Houra Merrikh, professor of biochemistry, and Teru Nakagawa, associate professor of molecular physiology and biophysics, have both been selected to receive one-year research awards from the Stanley Cohen Innovation Fund. The awards will support groundbreaking and paradigm-shifting research. Read More

Four-time Grammy Award-winning musician Jason Isbell spoke about the impact of COVID-19 on addiction and sobriety and the intersection of sobriety, addiction and music in the School of Medicine Basic Sciences' Lab-to-Table Conversation on Tuesday, Oct. 12, at noon CT. Read More

Jeffrey Conn, Lee E. Limbird Chair and professor of pharmacology, is among 16 scientists named 2021 fellows of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. Selection as a fellow of ASPET is an honor bestowed on members who have demonstrated excellence in their efforts to advance pharmacology through scientific achievements, mentorship and service to the society. Read More

Vanderbilt researchers are exploring the outcomes and experiences of Black and White athletes following a sports-related concussion. Read More

A technology developed at Vanderbilt has led to the discovery of an “ultra-potent” monoclonal antibody against multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, including the delta variant. Read More

Pam Jones, associate vice chancellor for health and wellness and co-commander of the university’s Public Health Central Command Center, discusses asymptomatic COVID-19 testing on campus, the goal of which is to detect and forecast possible infection trends and provide early warning signs of outbreak. Read More

Discovery shows that dopamine is not a reward molecule at all, calling for revision of textbook facts regarding the hormone’s role in the brain. Est. reading time: 3.5 mins. Read More

The School of Medicine Basic Sciences' monthly Lab-to-Table Conversation will discuss the science of marijuana and the current legal context for its use on Thursday, Sept. 23, beginning at noon CT. Read More

Patients with schizophrenia have functional changes in the white matter of the brain, Vanderbilt researchers have discovered, which may contribute to impaired working memory and processing speed. Read More

Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who received the rheumatoid arthritis drug baricitinib, in combination with the standard of care including corticosteroids, died less often than those receiving only the standard of care, according to a study released this week. Read More

The tumor suppressor protein p53 is mutated in more than half of all human cancers. Several drugs that potentially can restore mutant p53 to its normal cancer-killing function are in clinical investigation. Read More

Alexandra Speros, instructor in clinical nursing, midwifery and primary care, explains the latest expert guidance that encourages pregnant women to get the vaccine at any stage of their pregnancy. Read More

Even in the absence of brain activity, nerve cells can turn on gene expression that is important for antidepressant effects. This novel finding from Lisa Monteggia gives researchers a more fundamental understanding of the brain’s mechanistic function for better therapeutics. Est. reading time: 2.5 mins. Read More

Thomas Talbot, professor of medicine and chief hospital epidemiologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, reminds us the reasons to get vaccinated. Read More

Thomas Talbot, professor of medicine and chief hospital epidemiologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, explains how signals on deaths after COVID-19 is collected and interpreted. Read More

Thomas Talbot, professor of medicine and chief hospital epidemiologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, shares information about the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, applicable to people with moderate to severe immunocompromise. Read More