Department of Pharmacology
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.
The arrestin-GPCR connection
Apr. 12, 2019—Vsevolod Gurevich and colleagues have discovered new insights into arrestin proteins, which turn off a cell's environmental message "inbox."
Reprogramming cells for kidney repair
Mar. 14, 2019—Lauren Woodard and Matthew Wilson have discovered a way to reprogram adult human kidney cells into cells similar to those that form during embryonic development, which could lead to new kidney disease treatments.
New way to stimulate learning?
Mar. 14, 2019—Stimulating the vagus nerve triggers certain epigenetic changes involving learning and memory.
Vanderbilt scientists report new modeling of brain signaling
Mar. 7, 2019—Heidi Hamm and colleagues have reported the first animal model of a "shut-off valve" for neurotransmitter and hormone release through SNARE complex-mediated membrane fusion.
Gene identified that increases risk of antibiotic reaction
Feb. 28, 2019—Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and colleagues have identified a gene that increases the risk for a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction to the commonly prescribed antibiotic vancomycin.
Modulating stress circuits
Feb. 15, 2019—Danny Winder and colleagues have demonstrated how norepinephrine and a stress factor call CRF interact, which may lead to new treatments for stress-related disorders.
Lindsley named fellow of National Academy of Inventors
Jan. 4, 2019—Craig Lindsley, co-director of the Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, has been named a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors.
Cytokine-cognition connection
Oct. 4, 2018—Erin Calipari and colleagues have shown that peripheral administration of a neuroprotective cytokine may improve dopamine signaling problems associated with certain psychiatric disorders.
Immune system emerges as partner in opioid cravings fight
Sep. 5, 2018—There’s promise in specific immune system peptides—amino acid compounds that signal cells how to function. In this case, they may be affecting brain activity and, by extension, drug cravings.
Scavengers “protect” HDL
Jun. 29, 2018—Lipid molecules that bind to HDL can modify its function — and blocking that modification can protect HDL and potentially lower the risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease.
Roden’s circulatory diseases research honored
Jun. 21, 2018—Vanderbilt University’s Dan Roden, MD, internationally known for his contributions to understanding how genetic variation affects drug response, has been named a recipient of the 2018 Louis and Artur Lucian Award for Research in Circulatory Diseases by McGill University in Montreal, Canada.