Bill Snyder

August 19, 2021

Team isolates antibodies that target alphaviruses

A multi-institutional team led by researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center has isolated monoclonal antibodies that in laboratory and animal studies prevented infection by alphaviruses, including the often-lethal Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV).

By Bill Snyder
VUMC members of the Quality Improvement Collaborative for COVID-19 Prevention and Control in Middle Tennessee Nursing Homes are, from left, Monique George, RN, FNP, Carole Bartoo, MSN, AGNP-BC, Jacy Weems, Mattie Brady, MSN, Sunil Kripalani, MD, MSc, Sandra Simmons, PhD, Anna Gallion, DNP, APRN, Tara Horr, MD, and April Hanlotxomphou, MSN, FNP. Not pictured are Victor Legner, MD, MS, and Kristina Niehoff, PharmD. (Photo taken by Donn Jones prior to revised mask guidelines)
August 18, 2021

Collaborative helping Midstate nursing homes control COVID-19

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) has received a two-year, $1.2 million award from the Tennessee Department of Health and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to provide tailored education and coaching to 75 Middle Tennessee nursing homes focused on infection control, quality improvement and other pandemic-related challenges.

By Bill Snyder
Paige Vega has been selected as the 2021 Vanderbilt Prize Student Scholar.
August 11, 2021

Vega selected as 2021 Vanderbilt Prize Student Scholar

Paige Vega, a PhD student in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at Vanderbilt University, has been selected as the 2021 Vanderbilt Prize Student Scholar.

By Bill Snyder
Tesha Akins
August 10, 2021

Shared antibodies may push COVID-19 variants: VUMC study

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have found that people recovering from COVID-19 and those vaccinated against the causative virus, SARS-CoV-2, produce identical clones, or groups, of antibody-producing white blood cells.

By Bill Snyder
August 4, 2021

Study finds genetic factor undermines H. pylori treatment

Helicobacter pylori, a stomach-dwelling bacterium, is a strong risk factor for gastric cancer, peptic ulcers and other debilitating gastrointestinal disorders. Yet efforts to eradicate it using a combination of antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which suppress gastric acid production, often fail.

By Bill Snyder
Core Clinical Chemistry Lab staff members gathered recently to mark the launch of a faster, higher-volume automated chemistry line.
July 29, 2021

Automation brings in new era for Clinical Chemistry Lab

Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Core Clinical Chemistry Laboratory recently celebrated the launch of its faster, higher-volume automated chemistry line.

By Bill Snyder
July 29, 2021

Vanderbilt Prize winner Doudna advocates caution in human germline editing

It is now possible to “edit” the human germline — the genetic cargo carried in sperm and eggs and which is passed to the next generation — in a way that snips out the mutations which cause inherited disease.
By Bill Snyder
July 22, 2021

For more precise drug treatments, ‘squeeze’ the genome: study finds

Large-scale studies will be required to identify the complexity of genetic variations that affect how patients respond to a given drug and whether they will have side effects, according to researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
By Bill Snyder
July 16, 2021

Study identifies monoclonal antibodies that may neutralize many norovirus variants

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, have taken a big step toward developing targeted treatments and vaccines against a family of viruses that attacks the gastrointestinal tract.
By Bill Snyder
July 8, 2021

Nature’s “recycler” could reduce heart disease risk: study

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have identified potential new targets for the prevention of atherosclerosis through the enhancement of autophagy, a natural process for recycling damaged cellular material.
By Bill Snyder
July 8, 2021

Study finds genetic risk factors for severe COVID-19 illness

A massive worldwide collaboration including researchers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) has identified several genetic factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19 illness.
By Bill Snyder
July 7, 2021

Nobel laureate Doudna set for next Discovery Lecture

Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna, PhD, winner of the 2020 Vanderbilt Prize in Biomedical Science, will deliver the next web-based Discovery Lecture on Thursday, July 22.
By Bill Snyder