biological sciences Archives

Circadian clock – Angelman syndrome link established

Feb. 5, 2015—Vanderbilt biologists have found a direct link between the biological clock and Angelman syndrome, a neurogenetic disorder that occurs in more than one in every 15,000 live births. The link may provide a valuable way to judge the effectiveness of the first experimental drugs under development for treating the syndrome.

New ‘reset’ button discovered for circadian clock

Feb. 2, 2015—The discovery of a new "reset" button for the brain’s master biological clock could eventually lead to new treatments for seasonal affective disorder, reduce the adverse health effects of working the night shift, and possibly even treat jet lag.

The most popular research news stories of 2014

Dec. 26, 2014—Electricity, learning, marijuana, outer space and planet Earth were the hot topics of 2014.

Vanderbilt biologists contribute to major genetic study of malaria mosquitoes

Nov. 27, 2014—Vanderbilt biologists played an important supporting role in a major genetic study of malaria-carrying mosquitoes published this week in the journal "Science."

Vanderbilt’s neurovascular chip project moves into new phase

Nov. 18, 2014—Vanderbilt researchers will play a key role in the second phase of the federal "tissue chip for drug screening" program.

Treatments for frog fungus

Jul. 25, 2014—The fungicide amphotericin B may be a useful treatment for a frog fungus that is killing amphibians worldwide.

Repair protein’s DNA recognition motif

May. 23, 2014—Insights into the workings of DNA damage response proteins such as SMARCAL1 could suggest new ways to improve genome integrity and prevent cancer.

Vanderbilt University honors 20 as emeriti faculty

May. 9, 2014—Twenty retiring faculty members were recognized during Vanderbilt’s Commencement ceremony May 9, when the university honored their years of service and bestowed on them the title of emeritus or emerita faculty.

Kudos: Read about faculty and staff awards and achievements

Jan. 10, 2014—Read about faculty and staff awards and achievements in the latest edition of "Kudos."

Frog-killing fungus paralyzes amphibian immune response

Oct. 17, 2013—A fungus that is killing frogs and other amphibians around the world releases a toxic factor that disables the amphibian immune response, Vanderbilt University investigators report Oct. 18 in the journal Science.

Vanderbilt-led team to develop ‘microbrain’ to improve drug testing

Jul. 24, 2012—Creating a device out of human cells that simulates brain chemistry is the goal of a $6.4 million grant which is part of major new federal initiative to develop a series of “organs on a chip” designed to improve the drug development process.