Basic Sciences

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
February 18, 2021

Genetic clues in eye birth defect

Sabine Fuhrmann and colleagues have discovered a novel underlying cause of coloboma — a birth defect that causes missing tissue in the eye and accounts for up to 10% of childhood blindness.

By Leigh MacMillan
February 4, 2021

Gene network for leukemia factor

A new method speeds the analysis of factors that control gene expression from days to minutes, allowing researchers to uncover new targets for cancer treatment.

By Leigh MacMillan
January 21, 2021

WIN for blocking cancer growth

William Tansey and colleagues identified proteins that interact with the cancer drug target WDR5 and are important for cancer cell growth.

By Sarah E. Glass
Ann Richmond, MD, Chi Yan, PhD, Jinming Yang, PhD, and colleagues are studying ways to boost antitumor immunity and reduce tumor growth in breast cancer and melanoma.
December 17, 2020

Study reveals new strategy for reducing tumor growth, metastasis

A team of Vanderbilt investigators has discovered that blocking a certain signaling pathway boosts antitumor immunity and reduces tumor growth and metastasis in models of breast cancer and melanoma.

By Leigh MacMillan
November 12, 2020

New therapeutic target for lung cancer

Vanderbilt researchers have identified a new molecular partner — and potential therapeutic target — in a signaling axis that drives lung cancer.

By Sarah E. Glass
October 29, 2020

Histamine circuits in brain reward center

Histamine — commonly associated with allergies — also has a signaling role in the brain’s reward center and may offer a novel target for treating addiction.
By Leigh MacMillan
October 20, 2020

Preserving gut mucus architecture

A new method that keeps microbes and gut cells together will be useful for studies of complex host-microbe interactions and for analysis of clinical specimens.
By Leigh MacMillan
October 15, 2020

Possible COVID-19 “decoy”

It might be possible to use vesicles carrying the receptor for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, to bind the virus and prevent infection.
By Bill Snyder
October 15, 2020

Brain blood vessel response to hypoxia

The brain’s response to low oxygen — growth and remodeling of blood vessels — involves certain cell types and molecular pathways, Vanderbilt researchers have discovered.
By Leigh MacMillan
September 4, 2020

Gould named senior associate dean for Biomedical Research, Education and Career Development

Kathleen Gould, PhD, Louise B. McGavock Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology in the School of Medicine Basic Sciences, has been named senior associate dean for Biomedical Research, Education and Career Development.
By Carol Rouzer
September 3, 2020

New clue to Alzheimer’s disease

Combining studies of genetically diverse mouse populations and human data led to the identification of a gene associated with cognitive decline and brain changes in Alzheimer’s disease.
By Bill Snyder
September 3, 2020

Assembling cell power plant machinery

Tina Iverson and colleagues provide a structural view into the assembly of a protein machine essential for cellular energy production.
By Leigh MacMillan
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