Leigh MacMillan

Jill Simmons, MD, and John Shelley found that adding a genetic measure of height to the evaluation of children with short stature might improve diagnosis and clinical outcomes. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
April 25, 2025

Polygenic score for height could improve diagnosis for children with short stature: study

Even after comprehensive testing, about 30% of children with short stature — height below the third percentile on a growth chart — do not have a definitive diagnosis, leading to extended surveillance, testing and anxiety.

By Leigh MacMillan
April 8, 2025

A link between bacterial infection and colorectal cancer: study

Understanding factors that contribute to the development of colorectal cancer could point to new targets for treating the disease at earlier stages, when survival rates are highest.

By Leigh MacMillan
April 1, 2025

Integrative approach reveals key inflammatory drivers of severe obesity

Severe obesity — a condition of being 100 pounds or more overweight — has doubled in the United States over the past two decades to 9.2%, with the greatest increases among women and Latino populations.

By Leigh MacMillan
March 31, 2025

$5 million gift from Springer-Lu Family Foundation to support VUMC’s Aspirnaut program

Aspirnaut is a K-20 STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) pipeline that supports immersive summer research experiences for talented high school and undergraduate students.

By Sarah Wolf
March 25, 2025

C. diff uses toxic compound to fuel growth advantage

The findings of a new research study increase understanding of the molecular drivers of C. diff infection and point to novel therapeutic strategies aimed at a pathogen that causes about half a million infections in the U.S. each year.

By Leigh MacMillan
March 20, 2025

Primary Care Autism Team honored for developing new care pathway

“This program dramatically improved continuity of care, implementation of best practices, and patient/provider education.”

By Leigh MacMillan
March 14, 2025

Blood formation and disorders expert Stuart Orkin to present Discovery Lecture March 27

Orkin's research led to a gene therapy for sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia; it is the first Food and Drug Administration-approved CRISPR-based gene therapy.
By Leigh MacMillan
March 12, 2025

Potential therapeutic for Duchenne muscular dystrophy takes step forward

Positive findings from a clinical trial support further study of the investigational drug ifetroban to treat cardiac complications, the leading cause of death in patients with DMD.
By Leigh MacMillan
March 10, 2025

VUMC to develop AI technology for therapeutic antibody discovery

The approach will address “bottlenecks” that slow the traditional antibody discovery process, and it aims to make it possible to generate monoclonal antibody therapies against any target of interest.
By Leigh MacMillan
February 3, 2025

Digital pathology aims to unlock secrets hidden in tissue samples

The pilot project, which is expected to digitize 500,000 slides over three years, aims to open avenues for research, assist with access to whole-slide images for education and clinical meetings (of tumor boards, for example), and facilitate planning for the implementation of digital pathology for diagnostic purposes. 
By Leigh MacMillan (video by Erin O. Smith and Donn Jones)
January 23, 2025

Eric Skaar wins National Academy of Sciences award

Skaar, who directs the Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation, is being recognized for “pioneering work at the intersection of nutrition and infectious diseases."
By Leigh MacMillan
January 10, 2025

STAR Clinical Research Network quarterly update to be Jan. 23

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