Basic Sciences

June 2, 2022

Bacterial battle in 3D

Using imaging mass spectrometry and microscopy, Vanderbilt researchers visualized how staph bacteria modifies lipids in its membrane to evade immune system-mediated killing.

By Bill Snyder
January 6, 2022

New faculty awards honor clinical, research, teaching missions

The Office of Research, the Office of Faculty Affairs, and the Basic Sciences have created four new faculty awards named to honor and recognize past and current leadership in the clinical, educational, and research missions of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

By VUMC News and Communications
From left, Ken Lau, PhD, Bob Chen, Qi Liu, PhD, Joseph Rolland, PhD, Martha Shrubsole, PhD, Robert Coffey, MD, and colleagues are studying how polyps develop into colorectal cancer, setting the framework for improved surveillance for the cancer utilizing precision medicine. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
December 14, 2021

Study sets framework for precision surveillance of colorectal cancer

Vanderbilt research has revealed some of the mechanisms by which polyps develop into colorectal cancer, setting the framework for improved surveillance for the cancer utilizing precision medicine.

By Tom Wilemon
Stomach
October 14, 2021

New marker for metaplasia

A protein that transports water, called aquaporin 5, is expressed by cells undergoing changes that may increase risk for gastric cancer development, Vanderbilt researchers discovered.

By Bill Snyder
September 30, 2021

Molecular imaging of C. diff infection

C. difficile — the leading cause of hospital-associated intestinal infections — induces a rapid influx of bile acids into the gut, which could provide a novel target for blocking infection.

By Leigh MacMillan
The team studying tumor suppressor protein p53 includes, from left, Jennifer Pietenpol, PhD, and Lindsay Redman-Rivera.
September 2, 2021

Discovery offers insight for development of cancer therapies targeting mutant p53

Vanderbilt researchers have discovered that aneuploidy (an abnormal number of chromosomes) drives malignant phenotypes in cells expressing mutant p53, a tumor suppressor protein that is mutated in more than half of all human cancers.

By Bill Snyder
August 19, 2021

Potential protection from atherosclerosis

Vanderbilt researchers have discovered a potential way to reduce atherosclerosis: blocking the modification of an HDL-associated enzyme by reactive molecules called isolevuglandins.
By Bill Snyder
August 19, 2021

Expression atlas for cell regulators

Vanderbilt researchers report a comprehensive tissue-specific atlas of protein and mRNA expression for p63 and p73, members of the p53 family signaling network that is the most frequent target of mutations in human cancers.
By Leigh MacMillan
July 22, 2021

Researchers discover that protein switches functions to regulate DNA replication

Vanderbilt biochemists have discovered what the DNA damage response protein RADX does — and how it does it.
By Leigh MacMillan
July 1, 2021

Preclinical study supports rigosertib as booster to immunotherapy treatment for melanoma

A team of Vanderbilt researchers have shown in a preclinical study that the investigational drug rigosertib could be a potential booster treatment to elicit response to immunotherapies among melanoma patients.
By Tom Wilemon
April 29, 2021

A compound to counteract aging?

A compound that increases lifespan in yeast is offering clues to pharmacological approaches that might slow the aging process and improve health.
By Leigh MacMillan
April 15, 2021

Arrhythmia culprit: supertrafficking ion channel

Charles Sanders, PhD, and colleagues show how a “supertrafficking” mutant potassium channel contributes to heart rhythm abnormalities.
By Leigh MacMillan
March 4, 2021

Targeting glucagon action in diabetes

Disrupting the action of glucagon — a pancreatic hormone that works to raise blood glucose — restores functional insulin-producing cells in mouse models of type 1 diabetes and may be a promising treatment strategy.
By Leigh MacMillan