Research

October 5, 2015

Potential target for lung cancer therapy

The glutamine transporter protein appears to contribute to the survival of lung cancer cells, suggesting it may be a useful diagnostic biomarker and target for therapies.

By Leigh MacMillan
October 2, 2015

The yin and yang of COX-2

New findings add to the understanding of how the enzyme COX-2 works, which is critical to the development of COX-2-targeted anti-inflammatory drugs.

By Sanjay Mishra
arm with IV line
October 1, 2015

Major grant to transform region’s clinical practices

Vanderbilt University has received a contract from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for up to $28 million over four years to help more than 4,000 clinicians in the Southeast transform their clinical practices in ways that improve quality of patient care and hold down costs.

By Bill Snyder
October 1, 2015

Collaboration seeks to develop new therapies for bone, other diseases

La Jolla Pharmaceutical Co. and Vanderbilt University have signed a research and license agreement covering Vanderbilt’s research program and intellectual property rights related to compounds that block bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) type-I receptors. The compounds have therapeutic potential in a broad range of diseases, including rare genetic disorders.

By Leigh MacMillan
conceptual - glowing cell
October 1, 2015

Tolerating a transplant

A new genetic model has generated new strategies for promoting tolerance to transplants – and improving long-term transplant outcomes – in the background of autoimmune disease.

By Leigh MacMillan
October 1, 2015

Study shows decline in opioid use among preoperative patients

Declining use of prescription painkillers among preoperative patients seeking joint replacements indicates efforts by the state of Tennessee to tighten the spigot on opioids are beginning to have an impact, according to a study by Vanderbilt’s Andrew Shinar, M.D.

By Tom Wilemon
September 30, 2015

Reduced-nicotine cigarettes decreased dependence and frequency of smoking: NEJM study

Reduced-nicotine cigarettes were beneficial in reducing nicotine exposure and dependence, and also the number of cigarettes smoked per day, when compared with standard-nicotine cigarettes in a six-week study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
By Craig Boerner
September 30, 2015

Theatre program benefits children with autism: study

Children with autism who participated in a 10-week, 40-hour, theatre-based program showed significant differences in social ability compared to a group of children with autism who did not participate, according to a Vanderbilt study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
By Craig Boerner
September 24, 2015

Study tracks brain’s trigger for overeating high-fat food

Disruptions in a specific signaling pathway in the brain can cause overeating of high-fat food, researchers at Vanderbilt University have found.
By Bill Snyder
September 24, 2015

Survivors of Ebola outbreak take part in VUMC vaccine study

Two survivors of a 2014 Ebola outbreak in Nigeria visited Vanderbilt University Medical Center last week to share their experiences and participate in a study aimed at finding ways to treat the often-fatal infection.
By Bill Snyder
September 23, 2015

Data diving for health

To most effectively use electronic health records for research, investigators should query multiple components of the record to identify patients with specific diseases.
By VUMC News and Communications
September 22, 2015

Keep your coat on, virus!

A compound acting on serotonin receptors delays a critical step during reovirus cell entry, reducing viral infectivity.
By Sanjay Mishra
September 18, 2015

Nerve cell remodelers

Vanderbilt investigators have defined a gene expression program that controls the timing of synaptic remodeling – a process that is critical to brain development, learning and memory.
By Leigh MacMillan