Research Snapshot
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Research Snapshot: Professor discovers signaling pathway that lets ketamine act as a rapid antidepressant
Lisa Monteggia and her lab have identified how specific neurons in the hippocampus work to produce ketamine’s antidepressant action. Est. reading time: 2 mins. Read MoreOct 27, 2021
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Research Snapshot: COVID-19 virus test sensitivity varies with body’s circadian rhythm
Carl Johnson, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Biological Sciences and expert in biological clocks, identifies temporal component to COVID-19 viral shedding. Est. reading time: 2.5 mins. Read MoreOct 26, 2021
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Research Snapshot: New drug targets vascular inflammation, drastically improving the long-term effectiveness of vascular procedures
Therapeutic MK2i-NP blocks both inflammation and an unhealthy conversion of cells in blood vessels after cardiovascular procedures, reducing the need for further interventions—cutting costs and reducing risks. Est. reading time: 2.5 minutes. Read MoreOct 11, 2021
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Research Snapshot: Mindfulness may provide brain benefits beyond mental health
Eight-week mindfulness programs improve brain health in people over 60. Read MoreOct 5, 2021
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Research Snapshot: Sugar compounds in breast milk relieve uncomfortable side effects caused by chemotherapy
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 MoreOct 4, 2021
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Research Snapshot: True behavior of the ‘pleasure molecule’ will reshape how we treat psychiatric diseases and addiction
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 MoreSep 15, 2021
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Research Snapshot: Biomedical engineers demonstrate potential for the first clinically successful osteoarthritis drug
Affecting athletes, military and 25 percent of Americans over 45, Craig Duvall and his team build nanoparticles targeted to mitigate osteoarthritis. Est. reading time: 3.5 mins. Read MoreSep 1, 2021
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Research Snapshot: Novel finding shows that brain cells conduct antidepressant action even in the absence of activity
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 MoreAug 30, 2021
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Research Snapshot: How will the global community react if vulnerable nations pioneer solar radiation geoengineering
Simulating controversial responses to climate change, researchers illustrate how a small group of nations may influence climate change in the decades to come. Est. reading time: 2 mins. Read MoreAug 23, 2021
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Research Snapshot: Mosquito larvae are surprisingly complex
L.J. Zwiebel and his lab show that mosquito larvae, the age group targeted for most control programs, are far more sophisticated than previously thought. Est. reading time: 2 mins. Read MoreAug 17, 2021
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Research Snapshot: Discovery points to new avenues to kill aggressive cancer cells
Vanderbilt researchers discover that protein-coated nanoparticles kill more than half of cancer cells in the blood of patients with advanced chemo-resistant colon cancer. Est. reading time: 2.5 mins. Read MoreAug 3, 2021
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Research Snapshot: Vanderbilt engineer the first to introduce low-power dynamic manipulation of single nanoscale quantum objects
Assistant Professor of electrical engineering Justus Ndukaife is powering the quantum computing revolution with the development of the first on-demand, scalable technique to manipulate nanoscale nanodiamonds. Est. reading time: 2 mins. Read MoreJul 30, 2021
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Research Snapshot: Researchers derive new cancer therapies to decrease the risk of heart damage
Following decades of worldwide research standstills on cancer drug improvement, Steven Townsend and his team of researchers synthesize cancer therapeutics that bypass toxicity aimed at heart health. Est. reading time: 2.5 minutes. Read MoreJul 29, 2021
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Research Snapshot: Discovery points to ketamine’s long-term antidepressant effects
Lisa Monteggia leads discovery of the gene responsible for ketamine’s long-term effects with implications for antidepressant therapeutics. Est. reading time: 2.5 mins. Read MoreJul 28, 2021
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Research Snapshot: Novel discovery describes the mechanisms of wound detection in the body
Pioneering research from Vanderbilt scientists discovers the mechanism by which epithelial cells first find and react to wounds. Est. reading time: 3 mins. Read MoreJul 27, 2021
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Research Snapshot: First-ever gene expression map of an entire nervous system completed; researchers share data to expedite research into genetic defects affecting the brain
David Miller and Seth Taylor push genetic research forward by leading the completion of a gene expression atlas for the entire nervous system of the nematode C. elegans Est. reading time: 1.5 mins. Read MoreJul 26, 2021
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Research Snapshot: Astrophysicist outlines ambitious plans for the first gravitational wave observatory on the moon
Not a moonshot: Karan Jani explores possibility of lunar observatory to better understand fundamental physics, astronomy and cosmology Est. reading time: 2 mins. Read MoreJul 21, 2021
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Research Snapshot: Novel discovery describes how the motor cortex influences stress responses in brain regions involved in drug- and alcohol-seeking behavior
Exercise and movement may be a prescription to mitigate drug and alcohol seeking behavior due to its influence on the brain. Est. reading time: 3 mins. Read MoreJun 24, 2021
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Research Snapshot: Astrophysicists prepare for age of multimessenger astronomy; build galaxy catalog to study black holes
Led by Vanderbilt astrophysicists, researchers work with data from thousands of galaxies to investigate the origins and physics of black hole binaries in nearby galaxies. Est. reading time: 2 mins. Read MoreJun 23, 2021
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Research Snapshot: Finding confirms process by which ketamine acts as an antidepressant
Research led by Lisa Monteggia reveals that ketamine provides antidepressant effects by blocking key neural pathway. Est. reading time: 3 mins. Read MoreJun 10, 2021