Department of Medicine

January 15, 2020

VUMC study to use artificial intelligence to explore suicide risk

Investigators will use computational methods to shed light on suicidal ideation and its relationship to attempted suicide, predict suicidal ideation and suicide attempt using routine electronic health records (EHRs) and explore the genetic underpinnings of both.

By Paul Govern
January 13, 2020

Vanderbilt-led team discovers new genetic disease and defines underlying mechanism

An international research team has discovered a new genetic syndrome caused by mutation of a single gene and named it CATIFA, an acronym for its core symptoms.

By Leigh MacMillan
December 16, 2019

Protein dynamics in the beating heart

To study the dynamics of structural proteins in the heart, Vanderbilt investigators generated a cellular tool they expect will be useful for screening drugs that affect heart muscle contraction.

By Leigh MacMillan
December 12, 2019

Gregor Mendel would be proud

A computational method that uses hospital billing codes and electronic health records can identify genetic disease cases before clinical teams do.

By Paul Govern
December 12, 2019

Osheroff elected IAMSE president

Neil Osheroff, PhD, was elected president of the International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE) and will serve from January 2020-December 2021.

By Kathy Whitney
December 5, 2019

Rathmell named interim chair of Medicine

W. Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD, has been named as interim chair of the Department of Medicine in the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Her appointment is effective Jan. 1, 2020.

By John Howser
December 5, 2019

Balko lands Mary Kay Foundation grant for breast cancer research

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center's Justin Balko, PharmD, PhD, has received a $100,000 research grant from the Mary Kay Foundation.
By Tom Wilemon
December 4, 2019

Genetic screen in worms reveals critical step in insulin synthesis

The identification of a protein important for insulin synthesis may hold clues for understanding the pathogenesis of diabetes.
By Leigh MacMillan
November 27, 2019

Zantac recalled for carcinogen levels above FDA standards

The popular heartburn drug ranitidine, commonly known as Zantac, was voluntarily recalled due to the contamination of a human carcinogen that could potentially cause cancer. The recall includes oral tablets, capsules, and syrup.
By VUMC News and Communications
November 21, 2019

Couple’s bequest allows them to reciprocate the gift of life

Larry and Sue Hill, of Norris, Tennessee, decided after Larry’s life-saving kidney transplant at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in 2012 that they weren’t satisfied just saying thank you and moving on. They wanted to pay it forward.
By Nancy Humphrey
November 21, 2019

Study finds cardiac rehab underused among Medicare patients

Cardiac valve surgery patients who participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program have a 34% lower risk of hospitalizations and a 4.2% lower risk of mortality than patients who do not enroll in cardiac rehab in the year after surgery.
By Matt Batcheldor
November 20, 2019

Grant spurs effort to map biology of Crohn’s disease

VUMC has been awarded a three-year, $3 million grant to map — in unprecedented detail — the biology of Crohn’s disease.
By Bill Snyder
November 19, 2019

Getting the goods on obesity

Obesity and two post-operative complications linked with it have associated genetic variants in common, suggesting that obesity may be the culprit.
By Paul Govern