Basic Sciences

D. Borden Lacy and colleagues used cryo-electron microscopy to define the structure of a C. diff toxin, providing a framework for the design of novel therapeutics. Read More

A newly identified protein interaction that affects cell cycle regulation may be an attractive target for cancer therapy. Read More

To study the dynamics of structural proteins in the heart, Vanderbilt investigators generated a cellular tool they expect will be useful for screening drugs that affect heart muscle contraction. Read More

The Enabling Innovation Initiative presents Kayla Graff, CEO and co-founder of SweetBio, who will discuss “Million Dollar Lessons: Attracting Capital to Fuel Your Biotech/Scientific Startup” on Friday, Dec. 13, beginning at 2 p.m. in Light Hall, Room 512. Read More

Poorly functioning AMPARs have been linked to a wide range of neurological and psychiatric disorders including seizures, Alzheimer’s disease, major depression and autism spectrum disorder. Understanding how AMPARs are formed and operate is essential for the rational design of pharmacological compounds that, by tuning AMPAR activity up or down, could improve treatment of these conditions. Read More

The identification of a protein important for insulin synthesis may hold clues for understanding the pathogenesis of diabetes. Read More

Vanderbilt researchers have uncovered another piece in the puzzle of how cells divide — a process that goes awry in cancer cells. Read More

Structural details of a protein that is essential to normal brain function could improve treatments for epilepsy and other seizure disorders. Read More

Reginald Cannady, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Medical University of South Carolina, will discuss “Probing Novel Targets to Reduce Heavy Drinking in Models of Alcohol Use Disorder” at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, in Light Hall, Room 512, as part of the Discovery Science Emerging Scholars Lecture Series. Read More

Researchers at Vanderbilt's Biomolecular Multimodal Imaging Center are working to create a high-resolution, three-dimensional “atlas” of the human kidney that will help future researchers understand what exactly goes wrong when kidneys fail. Read More

An unprecedented view of bacterial products within infected tissues opens new opportunities to explore infection biology and devise novel therapeutic strategies. Read More

Gary J. Nabel, chief scientific officer and senior vice president of Sanofi, will discuss “Unlocking the Promise of Medicine through Academic and Biotech/Pharma Innovation” at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 15, in Light Hall, Room 512. The lecture is part of the School of Medicine Basic Science's Enabling Innovation Initiative seminar series.  Read More

James Dewar and colleagues have identified a role for the enzyme topoisomerase II in reducing replication errors during the final stage of DNA synthesis. Read More

Worm neurons have microscopic “spines” — where nerve-to-nerve communication happens — that share features with mammalian neurons, supporting the use of worms to study spine genetics and biology. Read More

The Department of Cell and Developmental Biology will present a special seminar on Thursday, Oct. 24.  Annarita Scaramozza, a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California-San Francisco, will present “Muscle Stem Cell Under Stress” beginning at 12:15 p.m. in MRB III, Room 3131. Read More

Interim Chancellor and Provost Susan R. Wente and Louise B. McGavock Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology Ian Macara have been elected 2019 fellows of the American Society for Cell Biology. Read More

Sabena Conley, a research fellow at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota, will discuss “Obesity-Induced Mesenchymal Stem Cell Senescence and Dysfunction” on Tuesday, Oct. 22, beginning at 4 p.m. in Light Hall, Room 512. The talk is part of the Discovery Science Emerging Scholars Lecture Series. Read More

Vanderbilt investigators have linked genetic mutations in a single receptor to epilepsy, autism and intellectual disability. Read More

Vanderbilt scientists have identified 593 proteins that are enriched at sites of DNA duplication and chromatin packaging of newly synthesized DNA. Read More

Nancy Carrasco, new chair of the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics and originally from Mexico City, knows how enriching an experience living abroad can be. Read More