Bill Snyder

Vials with medication and syringe on blue methacrylate table. Horizontal composition. Top elevated view.
April 2, 2021

Investigational vaccine to be tested against COVID-19 variant

Vanderbilt University Medical Center is participating in a national phase 1 clinical trial in healthy adults of an investigational vaccine against the B.1.351 variant of the COVID-19 virus that was first identified in South Africa.

By Bill Snyder
April 1, 2021

Novel way to neutralize Rift Valley Fever Virus

The discovery of monoclonal antibodies that neutralize Rift Valley Fever Virus — an emerging infection with pandemic potential — lays the foundation for future therapeutic antibody development.

By Bill Snyder
April 1, 2021

Study shows new COVID target could improve vaccines

Despite an impressive vaccination effort that exceeds 2 million shots a day, rates of COVID-19 are again on the rise in several parts of the United States, as is the spread of highly transmissible variants of the virus.

By Bill Snyder
March 31, 2021

Physician-scientists Aliyu, Tindle elected to ASCI

Vanderbilt’s Muktar Aliyu, MBBS, MPH, DrPH, and Hilary Tindle, MD, MPH, will be inducted this year into the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI), an elite honor society of physician-scientists from the upper ranks of academic medicine and industry.

By Bill Snyder
March 18, 2021

Study to assess allergic reactions to COVID vaccines

Vanderbilt University Medical Center is recruiting volunteers for a randomized controlled phase 2 clinical trial to help determine the prevalence of systemic allergic reactions (SARS) to the two-dose COVID-19 mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

By Bill Snyder
Contributors to the COVID-19 microbiome study include (front row, from left) Julie Bastarache, MD, Meghan Shilts, MS, MHS, (middle row, from left) Jodell Jackson, PhD, Suman Das, PhD, Angela Jones, MS, (back row, from left) Jonathan Schmitz, PhD, MD, Simon Mallal, MBBS, and Jordan Best, PhD.
March 11, 2021

‘Friendly’ bacteria may impact COVID severity

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded Vanderbilt University Medical Center a two-year, $3.7-million contract to determine genetic and bacterial factors that may increase the risk for severe illness and death from COVID-19.

By Bill Snyder
March 11, 2021

Discovery Lecture to feature geriatric medicine expert Cassel

Christine Cassel, MD, a leading expert in geriatric medicine, medical ethics and the quality of care, will deliver the next web-based Discovery Lecture on Thursday, March 25, at 4 p.m. via Zoom.
By Bill Snyder
March 4, 2021

Monoclonal antibody “cocktail” blocks COVID-19 variants: study

A monoclonal antibody “cocktail” developed at Vanderbilt University Medical Center to neutralize the COVID-19 virus is effective against all known strains, or variants, of the virus, according to a report published today in the journal Nature Medicine.
By Bill Snyder
March 4, 2021

Chikungunya antibody identified at VUMC moves forward

Evotec, a drug company headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, has begun a phase 1 clinical trial of a monoclonal antibody against the chikungunya virus that was identified at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
By Bill Snyder
February 11, 2021

Clinical Trials Unit lands major grant renewal

Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have received renewal of a major federal grant to continue their collaboration to test and develop new treatments and vaccines against HIV/AIDS — and now COVID-19.
By Bill Snyder
February 11, 2021

Gastroenterologist Merchant set for Discovery Lecture

Juanita Merchant, MD, PhD, a nationally known gastroenterologist at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson, will discuss cellular changes that occur prior to gastric cancer during the next web-based Discovery Lecture.
By Bill Snyder
February 10, 2021

More than 1,000 receive antibody infusions for COVID-19 at VUMC

As of Feb. 1,065 outpatients have received antibody infusions since the clinic opened on Nov. 18. Clinic officials estimated that the infusions have prevented about 70 patients from developing severe COVID-19 illness requiring hospitalization or emergency department evaluation.
By Bill Snyder