Pharmacogenomics & Precision Medicine

February 25, 2026

Patients with atrial fibrillation face higher bleeding risks when treated with 2 common medications

While diltiazem remains an effective option for heart rate control in selected patients, bleeding risk posed by anticoagulants should be considered.

By Jake Lowary
Dan Roden, MD, chats with colleagues during a break in the symposium. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
October 1, 2025

Symposium honors personalized medicine leader Dan Roden

Roden is internationally known for his contributions to understanding arrhythmias and to the field of pharmacogenomics.

By Bill Snyder
September 5, 2025

Dan Roden awarded Vanderbilt’s Earl Sutherland Prize for Achievement in Research

He received the award for his pioneering work focusing on leveraging genetic information to enhance health care outcomes.

July 1, 2025

New lab for transplant, other specialized testing launches at Vanderbilt Medical Laboratories

The new Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Laboratory launched its first phase of testing June 26 and ultimately will fully support clinical testing for the Vanderbilt Transplant Center, the nation’s third busiest transplant center by volume.

By Leigh MacMillan
Members of the Kang lab include (front row from left) Melissa Deleeuw, Jing-Qiong (Katty) Kang, MD, PhD, Wangzhen Shen, MD, and Karishma Randhave, and (back row from left) Ekta Anand, Debbie Song, and Kirill Zavalin, PhD. (photo by Susan Urmy)
December 10, 2024

Therapy for genetic epilepsy in children showing promise

Preliminary results of a clinical trial of 4-phenylbutyrate (PBA) “show a significant reduction in seizure activity among participants.”

By Bill Snyder
October 18, 2024

All of Us tour stops at VUMC Oct. 22-25

The All of Us Research Program brings the future of health to VUMC and Nashville. 

September 24, 2024

‘Learning’ network will help move genomics into the clinic

A real-world learning health system was established at VUMC a decade ago. Now, the National Human Genome Research Institute is awarding two five-year grants totaling $12 million to support VUMC’s participation in, and coordination of, a genomic-enabled learning health system (gLHS) network.
By Bill Snyder
February 19, 2024

VUMC part of major step to achieving precision medicine

An analysis of genomic data from nearly 250,000 participants in the National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Research Program has identified more than 275 million previously unreported genetic variations, nearly 4 million of which have potential health consequences.
By Bill Snyder
June 8, 2022

BioVU celebrates 15 years supporting personalized medicine

BioVU is celebrating its 15th year and has enabled hundreds of studies and publications exploring the genetic underpinnings of a host of conditions including cancer, heart disease and diabetes. 
By Lindsey Guerin
May 9, 2022

Gene variants and transplant drug dose

Genotyping multiple enzymes that metabolize the immunosuppressive drug tacrolimus — common used for lung transplant recipients — is important for correct dosing of the drug, Vanderbilt researchers found.
By Leigh MacMillan
April 28, 2022

Studies combine genetic testing, electronic health records to find undiagnosed diseases

Combining genetic testing with information from electronic health records revealed undiagnosed heart rhythm disorders and new conditions associated with inherited cancer gene mutations.
By Leigh MacMillan
September 17, 2021

Grant creates center for maternal, pediatric precision therapeutics

Vanderbilt University Medical Center has been awarded a five-year, $6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to serve as a center of excellence for Maternal and Pediatric Precision in Therapeutics.
By Christina Echegaray
September 2, 2021

Study shows gene-drug interactions are common

When a drug or combination of drugs causes different responses in different people, genetic variation is often at play. Pharmacogenomics, through discovery of genetic risk and use of clinical genotyping, aims to reduce trial-and-error approaches to drug prescribing.
By Paul Govern