Division of Epidemiology

March 18, 2024

Bariatric surgery linked to cardiometabolic health improvements: study

Bariatric surgery can lead to significant cardiometabolic health improvements using a variety of measures, including blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and hemoglobin A1C, according to a new study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.  

By Jill Clendening
February 16, 2023

Breast cancer genetics: new insights

Largest genetic study of breast cancer to date identifies 222 genetic risk loci, 137 genes and multiple signaling pathways associated with risk, providing important new insights.

By Leigh MacMillan
The study found that chronically disrupted sleep and highly variable sleep durations night after night may increase the risk for atherosclerosis.
February 15, 2023

Study finds chronically disrupted sleep may increase risk for heart disease

Vanderbilt research found that sleep irregularity — chronically disrupted sleep and highly variable sleep durations night after night — may increase the risk for atherosclerosis.

By Bill Snyder
January 25, 2023

Study finds heart failure risk higher in rural areas

A study co-led by Vanderbilt researchers found heart failure risk is 19% higher for adults living in rural areas of the U.S., as compared to urban areas, and 34% higher for Black men living in rural areas.

By Craig Boerner
January 9, 2023

Novel lung cancer biomarker

Autoantibodies against the p53 tumor suppressor protein may be a novel biomarker for identifying people, especially African Americans, at high risk for lung cancer.

By Leigh MacMillan
January 6, 2023

MicroRNAs linked to lipid damage

VUMC researchers have linked microRNAs with systemic lipid peroxidation, a discovery that could point to new therapeutic targets for a variety of diseases.

By Sarah E. Glass
January 5, 2023

New approach outperforms existing cancer susceptibility models

A new approach for conducting gene-based analyses for cancer susceptibility created at Vanderbilt outperforms existing models.
By Tom Wilemon
November 17, 2022

A marker for mortality

A urine biomarker of inflammation was associated with increased mortality and multiple lifestyle factors, suggesting that modifications could help reduce premature mortality.
By Sarah E. Glass
October 24, 2022

Metabolic signatures of Type 2 diabetes risk

Vanderbilt epidemiologists found 32 blood metabolites associated with obesity and showed that adding these to traditional disease prediction models improves accuracy of determining Type 2 diabetes risk.
By Kelsey Pinckard
September 22, 2022

Colon cancer researchers awarded NCI grant for study of early lesions

Vanderbilt researchers are studying precancerous lesions and early cancers in the colon, with the goal of developing new ways to prevent colorectal cancer, the nation’s second leading cancer killer.
By Sarah E. Glass
August 1, 2022

H. pylori and lung cancer

Specific biomarkers for H. pylori — a bacterium that infects the stomach — were associated with increased risk of lung cancer, Vanderbilt researchers have discovered.
By Leigh MacMillan
June 20, 2022

Ginseng intake and mortality

Regular ginseng intake, particularly over a long duration, is associated with decreased risk of death from all causes, Vanderbilt researchers discovered in a large epidemiological study.
By Leigh MacMillan
June 13, 2022

Study measures Alzheimer’s risk reductions associated with healthy lifestyles

Reported June 13 in Neurology, an Alzheimer’s disease risk study from Vanderbilt University Medical Center measures significantly reduced risk associated with healthy lifestyles, including non-smoking, leisure-time exercise, low-to-moderate alcohol consumption, adequate sleep and healthy diet.
By Paul Govern
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