News Releases

Recent and archived press releases with clinical and research news

August 13, 2024

$3.4 million research grant targets risk of heart attack, stroke

Making innovative use of observational data, researchers hope to gain new understanding of patient risk and identify existing drugs to lower risk.

By Paul Govern
August 7, 2024

Epigenetic change to DNA associated with cancer risk in ‘multiomics’ study

The new study identifies 4,248 CpG sites associated with the risk of seven different types of cancer: breast, colorectal, renal cell, lung, ovarian, prostate and testicular germ cell cancers.

By Leigh MacMillan
Atrial Fibrillation Precision Research Program clinic team members arrange genetic testing for patients with AFib. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
August 7, 2024

Program arranges genetic testing for AFib patients who may be at risk for inherited cardiomyopathy or arrhythmia syndromes

Without treatment, younger patients may develop other serious cardiac disorders such as heart failure or life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.

By Matt Batcheldor
A rise in a mother’s blood levels of serotonin — a neurotransmitter that regulates mood, memory and gastrointestinal function — is associated with some, but not all forms of autism in children. (illustration by Diana Duren with Adobe Stock)
July 29, 2024

Study sheds new light on autism, but there’s more work to be done

A target of their investigations is serotonin, a signaling molecule that is well known for its critical roles in regulating mood and which also plays an important role in the development of the brain and nervous system.

By Bill Snyder
July 24, 2024

Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt adds pancreas and lung transplant services

Recognized as a major regional referral center for heart, kidney and liver transplantation, incorporating pancreas and lung transplant services for pediatric patients bolsters the well-established expertise currently offered by the Vanderbilt Transplant Center.

By Jessica Pasley
(Adobe Stock)
July 24, 2024

Study links low-quality sleep with chronic disease

The research shows that by getting enough sleep and reducing variability around sleep onset and wake times, patients can reduce the incidence of chronic disease.

By Matt Batcheldor
July 22, 2024

Opioid treatment can avoid foster care placement: study

If women are given medications to treat opioid use disorder during their pregnancy they are significantly more likely to retain custody of their newborns after delivery
By Bill Snyder
July 18, 2024

Unhealthy sleep linked to diabetes across several populations

Persistently unhealthy sleep, either not enough or too much, is associated with a significantly increased risk of Type 2 diabetes in a racially and economically varied adult population, an international team of researchers has reported.
By Bill Snyder
July 8, 2024

VUMC Nursing ‘adopts’ Code Academy week hosted by Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee

VUMC Nursing is crafting a comprehensive program that addresses four significant nursing issues. The Boys & Girls Clubs started Code Academy to increase youth interest in tech/digital careers and to help facilitate a platform to elevate youth voices.  
By Holly Fletcher
July 8, 2024

GeneMAP discovery platform will help define functions for ‘orphan’ metabolic proteins 

The combination of genomics and metabolism identified a long-sought mitochondrial choline transporter.
By Leigh MacMillan
July 1, 2024

Vanderbilt mourns the loss of neonatal medicine pioneer Mildred Stahlman

Mildred T. Stahlman, MD, who pioneered the treatment of lung disease in premature infants and who was a tireless advocate of children of all ages, died June 29. She was 101.
By Bill Snyder
June 28, 2024

Antibody trial launched to address enterovirus threat

Enterovirus D68 has caused an increasing number of infections during the past decade and is associated with acute flaccid myelitis, a polio-like condition that mostly affects children and causes sudden weakness and paralysis.
By Bill Snyder
June 25, 2024

International trial introduces another curative option for sickle cell disease 

The therapy, haploidentical bone marrow transplant with thiotepa and posttransplant cyclophosphamide, is as safe and more affordable than the recently FDA-approved myeloablative gene therapy and gene editing treatments.
By Jessica Pasley