Department of Biochemistry

aspergillus culture
October 7, 2015

Rational design of novel antifungals

Structural and molecular details of an anti-fungal target’s interaction with inhibitors suggest ways to design better treatments for fungal infections.

By VUMC News and Communications
October 2, 2015

The yin and yang of COX-2

New findings add to the understanding of how the enzyme COX-2 works, which is critical to the development of COX-2-targeted anti-inflammatory drugs.

By Sanjay Mishra
October 1, 2015

VICC investigators land Komen breast cancer grants

Two Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) investigators — Jennifer Pietenpol, Ph.D., B.F. Byrd Jr. Professor of Oncology and director of VICC, and Valerie Jansen, M.D., Ph.D., medical oncology fellow — have received new cancer research grants awarded by Susan G. Komen, the world’s largest nonprofit funder of breast cancer research.

By VUMC News and Communications
September 17, 2015

Strong scores put VICC among top NCI centers

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) has been recognized for the impact of its research programs and excellence in patient care by a panel of National Cancer Institute (NCI) reviewers, receiving an overall “exceptional” score as part of the renewal of the Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG).

By VUMC News and Communications
August 26, 2015

Framework for studying cell responses

Vanderbilt investigators have developed a framework for studying cellular responses that could be used to identify the agents driving a range of biological processes in health and disease.

By Leigh MacMillan
August 25, 2015

How the cell makes morphine

Vanderbilt investigators have discovered how mammals, including humans, produce the painkiller morphine.

By Sanjay Mishra
August 12, 2015

Origins of neuroblastoma

Vanderbilt researchers are exploring how neuroblastoma tumors begin and progress, knowledge that could provide new treatments for this pediatric cancer.
By Leigh MacMillan
August 7, 2015

Bridging the antibiotic gap

Vanderbilt researchers have discovered how certain molecules with antibiotic properties are synthesized, findings that could lead to new drugs that overcome the increased antibiotic resistance in bacteria.
By Sanjay Mishra and Bill Snyder
July 27, 2015

Anticancer olive compounds

Compounds found in olives and olive oil have anticancer activity, which may contribute to the cancer preventive properties attributed to the Mediterranean diet.
By Leigh MacMillan
July 16, 2015

Study reveals how protein helps cells tolerate DNA damage

Vanderbilt and Stanford investigators have discovered how a protein that's part of the DNA replication "machinery" helps cells tolerate DNA damage.
By Leigh MacMillan
July 16, 2015

Biochemistry’s Hodges stays grounded in joy of discovery

Albert Einstein once wrote, “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” For Emily Hodges, Ph.D., that awakening occurred in a high school science class taught by Trudy Anderson, Ed.D. “She made science exciting,” Hodges said.
By VUMC News and Communications
July 9, 2015

Guengerich named interim editor of noted journal JBC

Vanderbilt University’s F. Peter (Fred) Guengerich, Ph.D., has been named interim editor-in-chief of the Journal of Biological Chemistry (JBC).
By Bill Snyder
June 25, 2015

Photo: Leon W. Cunningham Award

By VUMC News and Communications