School Of Medicine Basic Sciences
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Unleashing TIGER on small RNAs
Kasey Vickers has developed a new analytical method for to study small RNAs, a poorly understood component of the genome. Read MoreSep 6, 2018
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Team’s findings could spur new treatments for type 2 diabetes
New research by an international team that includes Vanderbilt researchers shows how a common diabetes drug blocks glucose production by the liver, suggesting new avenues for treatment. Read MoreSep 6, 2018
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Immune system emerges as partner in opioid cravings fight
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. Read MoreSep 5, 2018
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Energetic gene switch
James Galligan and Lawrence Marnett have discovered a new histone modification that can affect gene expression. Read MoreAug 30, 2018
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A brain-builder called “Shh”
A newly discovered role for the "Sonic the Hedgehog" protein in the proper development of the cerebellum. Read MoreAug 30, 2018
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Clue to treating obesity found in body’s ‘rheostat’
New research by Masoud Ghamari-Langroudi and colleagues has revealed that a certain brain protein called MC3R plays a role in causing the body to reset its "ideal" weight. Read MoreAug 23, 2018
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Predictive models for gene regulation
Modern statistical tools are not very accurate when it comes to predicting the discrete and non-symmetric behaviors of individual cells. Gregor Neuert and colleagues say that's because the wrong tools are being used. Read MoreAug 17, 2018
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Repairs in the basement membrane
New research by Andrea Page-McCaw shows that a membrane that wraps around most animal tissues can heal within 24 hours, but does leave a scar. Read MoreAug 9, 2018
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Genetic balancing act
David Cortez and colleagues have found that a protein called RADX helps modulate a protein called RAD51 in order to make sure exactly the correct amount of DNA repair occurs. Read MoreAug 9, 2018
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Enzyme helps build motor that drives neuron death
The process, discovered in the axons of neurons, is implicated in Alzheimer’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, traumatic brain injury and other diseases or injuries to the nervous system. Read MoreAug 6, 2018
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Fueling the MATE transporter
In new research, Hassane Mchaourab and colleagues have uncovered new insights into drug resistance that could lead to the development of new anti-cancer and antibacterial drugs. Read MoreJul 20, 2018
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SMAD4 clue to colon cancer
Chronic inflammation is a predisposing condition for colorectal cancer, the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Anna Means, Ph.D., and colleagues have now linked inflammation-driven carcinogenesis in the colon to loss of an important signaling protein called SMAD4. Read MoreJul 5, 2018
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Scavengers “protect” HDL
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. Read MoreJun 29, 2018
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Roden’s circulatory diseases research honored
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. Read MoreJun 21, 2018
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Confronting TB resistance
Vanderbilt researchers describe how certain tuberculosis treatments work and suggest these medications may overcome the threat of drug-resistant tuberculosis. Read MoreJun 11, 2018
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Enzyme protects against obesity-related heart disease
Vanderbilt scientists have discovered that a certain enzyme plays a crucial role in preventing obesity-related cardiac dysfunction. Read MoreJun 7, 2018
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Shaping reward circuits
Using techniques to control and monitor the activities of individual neurons, Vanderbilt investigators are probing the brain’s reward circuitry. Read MoreMay 18, 2018
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Looking beyond the ‘magic bullet’ approach to drug discovery
Vanderbilt scientists have developed a new process that can rapidly and inexpensively identify personalized cancer drugs derived from nature. Read MoreMay 1, 2018
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Toxin floats on lipid rafts
The bacterium H. pylori is a leading cause of stomach cancer, and Vanderbilt researchers are studying how one of its toxins gets into cells. Read MoreApr 23, 2018
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How the skin protects
Treatments for common skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis may be improved by understanding the enzymes responsible for forming the skin’s water-tight barrier. Read MoreApr 19, 2018