Biological Science
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Researchers discover method to make traditional topical antibiotic safe to inject, potentially reducing antibiotic resistance
Ointments like Neosporin contain the antibiotic neomycin, which works great to kill bacteria on the outside of the body when you scrape your knee or have a hangnail. But inside the body, neomycin does more harm than good—kidney and neurological damage and deafness. Research Assistant Professor Bhawik Jain and colleagues in his lab have figured out why that is, and how to stop it. This could make neomycin another tool in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Read MoreOct 10, 2025
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Vanderbilt researchers’ work on cover of Science
Through a collaboration between US and Kenyan researchers and Turkana communities of northern Kenya, scientists have uncovered key genetic adaptations underlying survival in hot and dry environments, revealing how natural selection has enabled this pastoralist population to thrive in a challenging landscape. This research is featured on the cover of the Sept. 18, 2025 issue of Science. Read MoreOct 9, 2025
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Larisa DeSantis: Looking back for the future
Our past has something to say. 2025 Guggenheim Fellow Larisa DeSantis is ready to translate. Read MoreMay 18, 2025
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How tissues detect and repair damage to the body’s hidden support system
A new study by Vanderbilt investigators uncovered a previously unknown biological mechanism: how tissues detect and respond to damage in basement membranes, the thin layers of extracellular matrix that surround and support nearly every organ in the body. The research, published in Developmental Cell, is the first to show how local cells sense and respond to changes in basement membrane stiffness caused by damage—and how they activate a previously unknown set of “matrix mender” cells to repair the tissue. Read MoreMay 9, 2025
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15 years of the Beckman Scholars Program: Providing unparalleled undergrad research opportunities
The highly selective Beckman Scholars Program is celebrating 15 years of partnership with the College of Arts and Science. Over the years, the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation has provided more than $543,000 in support of 23 undergraduate Beckman Scholars at Vanderbilt who engage in unique, hands-on, mentored research. Read MoreApr 3, 2024
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Fasting at night or in the morning? Listen to your biological clock, says new research
According to a new study published by biological science researchers at Vanderbilt, the answer to eating (or fasting) windows lies in the circadian rhythms of the body’s biological clock. Read MoreFeb 27, 2020