Health and Medicine
VUMC-led network to focus on polygenic risk for common diseases
Jul. 1, 2020—With the aid of a $75 million, five-year grant renewal, the Electronic Medical Records and Genomics Network (eMERGE) will venture beyond its current focus on monogenic disease to scoring research participants’ relative risk for complex heritable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes.
Study finds zinc doesn’t reduce mortality, other health risks, for heavy alcohol users living with HIV/AIDS
Jun. 24, 2020—Zinc supplementation did not reduce mortality, cardiovascular risk, levels of inflammation or microbial translocation among people with heavy alcohol use living with HIV/AIDS, according to a Vanderbilt-led study.
A connection to schizophrenia
Jun. 23, 2020—The insula, a small region of the brain involved in diverse brain functions had widespread dysconnectivity in schizophrenia, Vanderbilt researchers found.
Single mutation causes seizure disorder
Jun. 22, 2020—A single mutation in one gene can impair inhibitory signaling in the brain and cause multiple types of seizures and behavioral abnormalities.
Probing DNA damage repair
Jun. 18, 2020—After discovering a new mechanism for DNA damage repair last year, Vanderbilt biochemists now provide direct evidence for how it works.
Studying cells in reduced dimensions
Jun. 18, 2020—Vanderbilt cell biologists have developed an unbiased, quantitative framework for evaluating single-cell data.
All of Us program launches cloud-based research platform
Jun. 18, 2020—On May 27, the All of Us Research Program launched the beta version of its cloud-based research platform, the Researcher Workbench.
Bhave, Grome receive awards at Research Forum
Jun. 18, 2020—Gautam (Jay) Bhave, MD, PhD, assistant professor of Medicine and Cell & Developmental Biology, is the recipient of the 2020 Grant W. Liddle Award for “exemplary leadership in the promotion of scientific research” at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Robotic technology speeds arrhythmia gene classification
Jun. 12, 2020—Vanderbilt University Medical Center investigators have used high-throughput robotic technology to rapidly study and classify variations in a gene linked to heart rhythm disorders and cardiac conditions.
C. diff captures blood cell cofactor to build defensive shield
Jun. 10, 2020—Vanderbilt University Medical Center scientists have identified a C. diff protein system that senses and captures heme (part of hemoglobin) to build a protective shield that fends off threats from our immune system and antibiotics.
Staph’s activation of blood clotting
Jun. 9, 2020—Staph bacteria may change the factor they use to activate blood clotting — to evade the immune response — a new study suggests.
When rankings are unfounded
Jun. 8, 2020—There are many good reasons to survey anesthesiology patient satisfaction but ranking individual clinicians isn’t one of them, the authors of a new study conclude.
