News Releases

Recent and archived press releases with clinical and research news

Registered respiratory therapist Natasha Vanderbilt, RRT, encourages 10-year-old Kate to exhale a complete breath during a lung function test in the Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine clinic. (photo by Susan Urmy)
June 14, 2024

Removing race improves accuracy of lung function testing in children

The study suggests the adjustment for race in spirometry resulted in an underreporting — and thus possibly undertreatment — of chronic lung diseases, including asthma and cystic fibrosis, in Black children.

By Bill Snyder
June 13, 2024

Study shows transplant volumes decreased, costs rose following federal policy change

The new policy changed liver allocations from a regional service area to an “acuity circles” system that assigns donor livers as far as 500 nautical miles away based on the acuity of recipients.

By Matt Batcheldor
June 13, 2024

Multicenter study identifies method of preoxygenation that prevents hypoxemia and cardiac arrest during emergency tracheal intubation

Preoxygenation is the administration of supplemental oxygen prior to the start of a procedure to increase the content of oxygen in the lung and decrease the risk of hypoxemia

By Nancy Humphrey
June 12, 2024

Obesity-cancer connection discovery suggests strategies for improving immunotherapy 

The study reported in the journal Nature provides a mechanistic explanation for the “obesity paradox” — that obesity can contribute to cancer progression but also improve response to immunotherapy.

By Leigh MacMillan
June 6, 2024

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center’s clinicians will staff the Cancer Center at Cookeville Regional Medical Center

Through this agreement Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center’s medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and advanced practice nurses will be Cookeville Regional’s exclusive providers of cancer services.

By Tom Wilemon
Stephen Purcell
June 5, 2024

It’s been 16 years since sweet-spot brain stimulation slowed Parkinson’s progression for Hermitage man

In 2008 at VUMC there were a group of doctors trying something unheard of on a handful of patients who signed up for their study. Half would receive deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery in attempt to slow the progression of their early-stage Parkinson’s disease, and the others would not.

By Craig Boerner
May 31, 2024

Antibodies may aid effort to fight influenza B: study

The findings reported in the journal Immunity support the development of a monoclonal antibody for prevention and treatment of influenza B — and will help guide efforts to develop a universal influenza vaccine.
By Bill Snyder
May 30, 2024

NIH awards $4.2 million for AI patient assessment

Tkaczyk and collaborators will assemble a database of more than 11,000 photographs and associated clinical information from diverse patient populations at five centers: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, NIH, University of Pennsylvania and VUMC.
By Paul Govern
May 29, 2024

Nurses mentor Pearl-Cohn High School students considering health care professions

The mentorship program — a partnership between VUMC Nursing and Metro Nashville Public Schools — has enabled staff nurses to empower students eyeing nursing and health care professions. Aries Beck wants to be a neurologist.
By Matt Batcheldor
May 22, 2024

Rising syphilis cases prompt more testing during pregnancy

When found and treated early with antibiotics, syphilis is curable. Untreated syphilis can cause deafness, blindness and irreversible heart and brain damage.
By Danny Bonvissuto
May 21, 2024

NIH grant supports effort to build expertise in genetic epidemiology research in Vietnam

V2-GENE, the Vanderbilt-Vietnam Genetic Epidemiology Training Program, will develop a team of researchers and educators to lead genetic epidemiology research of noncommunicable diseases across the lifespan in Vietnam.
By Leigh MacMillan
May 21, 2024

Acetaminophen shows promise in warding off acute respiratory distress syndrome, organ injury in patients with sepsis

Findings from NIH-supported clinical trial suggest that intravenous acetaminophen has the greatest benefit in the sickest patients.
By Nancy Humphrey
May 17, 2024

VUMC team travels to Alaska to recover a donor heart

The 5,704 nautical-mile trip is the farthest VUMC has traveled for an organ. The remarkable journey illustrates how new technologies make it possible to preserve organs longer, allowing Vanderbilt to look farther for a match.
By Matt Batcheldor