Cell And Developmental Biology

Twelve members of Vanderbilt's faculty have been elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for their “scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications.” Read More

Vanderbilt University investigators have discovered a new molecular mechanism that regulates microtubule dynamics. The unexpected finding, reported in Developmental Cell, has implications for cancer drug discovery. Read More

Certain antibiotics increase the risk of a congenital heart disorder called patency of the ductus arteriosis. 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

Endothelial cells residing in the coronary arteries can function as cardiac stem cells to produce new heart muscle tissue, Vanderbilt University investigators have discovered. Read More

Dylan Burnette, Ph.D., points to one of the many striking photographs on his office walls. It’s a picture of a cell — a microscopic image showing yellow squiggles, bright purple lines and a turquoise oval on a black background, and it looks like abstract art. Read More

A genetic variant is associated with toxicity of the chemotherapy drug melphalan, and could guide individualized dosing for the medication. Read More

After an extensive national search, Susan R. Wente has been named provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos announced today. Read More

Vanderbilt University researchers have discovered how intestinal cells build the "brush border" -- a specialized surface structure that is critical for absorbing nutrients and defending against pathogens. Read More

Smooth muscle cells that line the aorta differ in development but not in the adult, a finding that has implications for understanding aortic development and disease. Read More

Ron Vale, Ph.D., co-discoverer of the molecular “motor” kinesin, spent the first 10 minutes of his Flexner Discovery Lecture last week talking not about science, but about science communication. Read More

Ron Vale, Ph.D., Lasker Award winner and co-discoverer of the molecular “motor” kinesin, will give the next Flexner Discovery Lecture at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30, in 208 Light Hall. Read More

Vanderbilt researchers describe a new technique for identifying factors that stimulate the proliferation of pancreatic beta cells – factors that might offer therapeutic options for diabetes. Read More

A metabolic enzyme plays a crucial role in vascular development and may be a good target for cancer therapies. Read More

The protein CK1 delays cell division to avoid the generation of defects that drive tumorigenesis. Read More

Developmental biologist Chin Chiang, Ph.D., and his colleagues have discovered that Purkinje neurons in the cerebellum act as central regulators of neuronal development. Read More

Jason MacGurn, Ph.D., a new assistant professor of Cell and Developmental Biology at Vanderbilt, is studying how cells make decisions about the protein composition of the cell surface. Read More

Inhibitors of a signaling pathway that is critical to synovial sarcoma tumorigenesis may be useful treatments for this aggressive cancer. Read More

Clostridium difficile on the intestinal lining. (Wellcome Images) Clostridium difficile (“C. diff”) infection is a leading cause of hospital-associated diarrhea, and the frequency and severity of infections are on the rise. D. Borden Lacy, Ph.D., associate professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, and colleagues recently demonstrated that the C. Read More

Ken Lau, Ph.D., a new assistant professor in Cell and Developmental Biology, is out to determine the rules that lead to cells converting from one type to another, for example, when a healthy cell becomes a cancer cell. Read More