Reporter Aug 21 2020

August 25, 2020

Blocking tumor ‘signals’ and ‘fuel’

Combining two drugs reduced colorectal cancer cell growth in vitro and in an animal model, suggesting the combination may be a promising treatment for patients.

By Leigh MacMillan
August 24, 2020

Land of plenty (of opioids)

Surgical patients are being given more opioids than they need for postsurgical pain management, raising the risk of addiction.

By Paul Govern
August 21, 2020

VUMC awarded $34 million to lead nationwide convalescent plasma study

Vanderbilt University Medical Center has been awarded a one-year, $34-million grant by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health, to conduct a nationwide study of “convalescent plasma” as a treatment for COVID-19.

By Bill Snyder
August 20, 2020

Salt, immune cells and hypertension

Excess dietary salt activates immune cells to induce inflammation and hypertension, supporting current recommendations for low sodium consumption.

By Leigh MacMillan
August 20, 2020

A “torque” for tumor blood vessels

Vanderbilt scientists have discovered a new target for normalizing tumor blood vessels to improve cancer immunotherapies.

By Bill Snyder
From left, Huan Tao, MD, PhD, Sean Davies, PhD, Jiansheng Huang, PhD, and MacRae Linton, MD, led the study that identified a potential new treatment for atherosclerosis.
August 20, 2020

‘Scavenger’ molecule may point to new atherosclerosis treatment

A small-molecule “scavenger” that reduces inflammation and formation of atherosclerotic plaque in blood vessels in mice potentially could lead to a new approach for treating atherosclerosis in humans, according to researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

By Bill Snyder
August 20, 2020

Kennedy Center receives grant to continue as IDDRC

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC) has been awarded a $6.8 million, five-year grant to continue as a national Eunice Kennedy Shriver Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC).
By VUMC News and Communications
August 20, 2020

Study identifies antibodies that block alphaviruses

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have identified antibodies that, in animals, block infection by alphaviruses, which can cause chronic and debilitating joint pain and arthritis and are an increasing global health concern.
By Bill Snyder
August 20, 2020

Hope On Wheels grant to enhance retinoblastoma research

Anthony Daniels, MD, MSc, has been awarded a $300,000 Hyundai Hope On Wheels Scholar Grant to study the design of more precise drugs to treat retinoblastoma, the most common ocular cancer in children.
By Jessica Pasley
August 20, 2020

Nominations sought for VUMC Hidden Figures

Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Office for Diversity Affairs is seeking nominations for 2020 Hidden VUMC Figures, which will be held as an online event on Monday, Nov. 2.
By VUMC News and Communications
August 19, 2020

Positive results for VUMC service education initiative

In October 2018, Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Defining Personalized Care — Elevating Our Culture of Service initiative was launched, and leaders are applauding the service education’s reinforcement of positive behaviors for improved delivery of service to each other, to patients and to their family members.
By Jill Clendening
August 18, 2020

New physician spotlight: Joel “Trey” Bradley III

Joel “Trey” Bradley III, MD, has joined the Vanderbilt University Medical Center surgical faculty after practicing as a general surgeon at Premier Surgical Associates in Knoxville, Tennessee. He began seeing patients July 1.
By VUMC News and Communications
August 18, 2020

Flu shots available beginning week of Sept. 7

This year’s effort by Vanderbilt University Medical Center to protect its people from influenza will be the most important in a century. With COVID-19 already prevalent, consuming precious health care resources, endangering lives, and so far, killing more than 170,000 Americans, this is not the year to shun getting a flu vaccine.
By John Howser
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