School Of Medicine Basic Sciences

This article from the Winter 2021 issue of “Vestigo,” a publication of the School of Medicine Basic Sciences, examines the history and contributions of Black scientists at Vanderbilt and beyond. Read More

Sabine Fuhrmann and colleagues have discovered a novel underlying cause of coloboma — a birth defect that causes missing tissue in the eye and accounts for up to 10% of childhood blindness. Read More

Vanderbilt biochemist Yi Ren is part of a team that has identified a new behavior of a SARS-CoV-2 protein and discovered that interfering with its function can block virus replication in host cells. This opens up the potential for new therapeutic targets for COVID-19. Read More

Assistant Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Gregor Neuert and Assistant Professor of Biochemistry Yi Ren have been recognized as School of Medicine Basic Sciences Dean’s Faculty Fellows. Established in 2020, the Dean’s Faculty Fellows program in Basic Sciences is designed to recognize the efforts of faculty in the early stages of their career. Read More

Bruce Carter, professor of biochemistry and an associate director of the Vanderbilt Brain Institute, has been appointed to the scientific advisory board of the CMT Research Foundation, which shapes research directions and therapeutic development of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Read More

During the Research Ramp-up process, more than 3,000 Vanderbilt research personnel have returned to in-person research activities, while many others have continued remotely through perseverance and ingenuity. The efforts of the School of Medicine Basic Sciences' Charles Sanders and Vanderbilt Blair School of Music's Jeremy Wilson are highlighted. Read More

Biomedical researchers across Vanderbilt University will convene to discuss the history and impact of Black biomedical scientists on Monday, Feb. 15, at noon CT. Read More

A new method speeds the analysis of factors that control gene expression from days to minutes, allowing researchers to uncover new targets for cancer treatment. Read More

Researchers will combine expertise in developmental cell biology and tissue engineering/microfluidics to develop highly complex organoids, with the goal of understanding currently incurable neurological disorders.  Read More

For the second time, cancer researchers at Vanderbilt have discovered a protein that—when genetically manipulated to impede it from interacting with a gene responsible for cancer genesis—effectively melts tumors in days. Read More

William Tansey and colleagues identified proteins that interact with the cancer drug target WDR5 and are important for cancer cell growth. Read More

Discovering the mechanism behind cell behavior that is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes, Vanderbilt researchers move closer to treatments for the disease, which affects 34 million Americans. Read More

Borden Lacy, Edward and Nancy Fody Chair in Pathology and professor of biochemistry and pathology, microbiology and immunology, has been named director of the Vanderbilt Center for Structural Biology, effective Jan. 1. Read More

Vanderbilt alumnus Graham Gaylor and Assistant Professor of Pharmacology Cody Siciliano have been named to the 2021 Forbes “30 Under 30.” Read More

Florentine Rutaganira, HHMI Hannah H. Gray Fellow at the University of California-Berkeley, will discuss “Kinase Chemical Genetics in the Closest Living Relatives of Animals" on Thursday, Jan. 21, at 4 p.m. CT via Zoom. Read More

A team of Vanderbilt investigators has discovered that blocking a certain signaling pathway boosts antitumor immunity and reduces tumor growth and metastasis in models of breast cancer and melanoma. Read More

Craig Lindsley, William K. Warren, Jr. Chair in Medicine and university professor of chemistry, pharmacology and biochemistry, has been named editor in chief of the "Journal of Medicinal Chemistry." His appointment will begin Jan. 1.  Read More

Singing, painting, strumming, baking, crocheting and even gymnastic tumbling filled a virtual stage as graduate students, faculty and staff in the School of Medicine Basic Sciences held their third annual winter showcase. Read More

David Cortez, Richard N. Armstrong Chair for Innovation in Biochemistry and professor of biochemistry, has been named interim chair in the Department of Biochemistry beginning Jan. 1. This follows the departure of John York, who was recently named chief science officer of California-based food technology startup Impossible Foods. Read More

Bryan Millis, research assistant professor of cell and developmental biology and biomedical engineering, has been awarded a grant from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative’s Imaging Scientists program. The proceeds will go toward building an immersive virtual education platform to expand instruction and accessibility of high-end microscopy techniques within and beyond the Vanderbilt research community. Read More