Christopher Williams Archives

Selenium signal found in colorectal cancer: study

Jun. 29, 2023—An antioxidant transporter of the trace mineral selenium that protects against inflammatory bowel disease has the opposite effect in colorectal cancer, where it promotes tumor growth, researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have reported.

Among those honored at last week’s event were (front row, from left) Pratik Pandharipande, MD, MSCI, Seth Smith, PhD, Kimberly Vinson, MD, Jessica Ancker, PhD, MPH, Nancy Davis, MD, Uyen Tran, MD, Tonia Rex, PhD, Adam Yock, PhD, DABR, Christopher Williams, MD, PhD, David Raiford, MD, (back row, from left) Adam Wright, PhD, Paul Moore, MD, Daniel Fabbri, PhD, John Penn, PhD, Rebecca Swan, MD, Alexander Gelbard, MD, Jennifer Lindsey, MD, Michael Savona, MD, Kathryn Lindley, MD, Sarah Jaser, PhD, and Douglas Johnson, MD, MSCI.

Directorships honor VUMC leaders and philanthropic partners

Sep. 8, 2022—by Doug Campbell Last week, Vanderbilt University Medical Center held a Directorship Celebration to honor 21 leaders from across the enterprise in clinical care, research, education and administration. “Endowed directorships support the excellence of our leading physicians and scientists,” said Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, CEO of VUMC and Dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine....

VUMC faculty members attending the meeting of the American Society for Clinical Investigation included, from left, Wesley Ely, MD, MPH, Patrick Hu, MD, PhD, Lorraine Ware, MD, Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD, Consuelo Wilkins, MD, MSCI, Christopher Williams, MD, PhD, Lori Jordan, MD, PhD, Natasha Halasa, MD, MPH, ASCI Council Member Julie Bastarache, MD, Eric Tkaczyk, MD, PhD, and James Crowe Jr., MD.

VUMC a national leader in physician-scientist training

Apr. 21, 2022—Physician-scientists from Vanderbilt University Medical Center were well represented at the recent annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI), Association of American Physicians (AAP) and the American Physician-Scientist Association.

Jennifer Pilat, left, Sarah Short, PhD, Christopher Williams, MD, PhD, and colleagues are studying a biomarker for assessing disease severity and cancer risk in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Potential biomarker for IBD severity, cancer risk identified

Feb. 4, 2021—A selenium transport protein produced in the colon may be a novel biomarker for assessing disease severity and cancer risk in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Attendees take part in last week’s online Medical Scientist Training Program seminar.

Medical Scientist Training Program adapts to COVID-19 challenges

Apr. 16, 2020—The Medical Scientist Training Program has been intentional in approaching the challenges presented by COVID-19.

Protein loss promotes cell migration

Feb. 28, 2019—The protein kinase STK17A plays a novel role in epithelial cells and its loss may contribute to colorectal cancer invasion and metastasis, Vanderbilt researchers report.

Novel insights on “leaky” gut

Jul. 19, 2018—A protein involved in binding cells together helps maintain the integrity of the intestinal mucosa and plays a protective role in ulcerative colitis.

Burroughs Wellcome Fund award expands opportunities for physician-scientists

Jun. 21, 2018—Vanderbilt University has received a five-year, $2.5-million Physician Scientist Institutional Award from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund to help bolster the dwindling number of active physician-scientists in the United States.

Williams to lead physician-scientist training program

May. 19, 2016—Christopher Williams, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of Medicine and Cancer Biology, was recently named associate dean for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine’s Physician-Scientist Education and Training Program (PSTP) and director of the Medical Science Training Program (MSTP).

Study identifies potential colon cancer biomarker

Feb. 11, 2016—A protein that suppresses a key cancer pathway in the colon may be a potential biomarker for colitis-associated tumors, researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center reported last month in the journal Gut.

Study explores protein’s role in inflammation-associated cancer

Jul. 23, 2015—An antioxidant protein may protect against colon cancer that develops in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, suggesting new strategies for reducing colon cancer risk in these patients.

Medical societies honor VUMC’s Cover, Williams

Jun. 11, 2015—Two physicians from Vanderbilt University have been elected to membership in two of the nation’s oldest and most respected medical honor societies — the Association of American Physicians (AAP) and the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI).