Department of Medicine Archives
NIH grant bolsters research on heart disease, cholesterol
Jan. 21, 2021—Thanks to major funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have made major inroads in understanding how high-density lipoprotein (HDL), commonly known as good cholesterol, in some cases may actually contribute to the development of atherosclerosis.
Study finds genetic clues to pneumonia risk and COVID-19 disparities
Jan. 21, 2021—Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and colleagues have identified genetic factors that increase the risk for developing pneumonia and its severe, life-threatening consequences.
Congenital Heart Program gains accreditation from ACHA
Jan. 21, 2021—The Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA) has awarded the Vanderbilt Adult Congenital Heart Program status as an Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Accredited Comprehensive Care Center — the first in Tennessee.
Bick selected as first VUMC Discovery Scholar in Health and Medicine
Jan. 14, 2021—Alexander Bick, MD, PhD, assistant professor of Medicine in the Division of Genetic Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, has been selected as the first VUMC Discovery Scholar in Health and Medicine.
VUMC now leads world in heart transplantation
Jan. 12, 2021—Vanderbilt University Medical Center performed more heart transplants in 2020 than any other center in the world — 124 adult hearts, 23 pediatric hearts and VUMC’s first heart-lung transplant since 2006.
Mitochondrial stress and hypertension
Jan. 12, 2021—Oxidative stress and toxic products called isolevuglandins in mitochondria play a role in endothelial dysfunction and hypertension — and getting rid of them with a special “scavenger” molecule has therapeutic potential.
Microbial RNA and rheumatoid arthritis
Jan. 11, 2021—Small RNAs — short stretches of genetic material — from microbes may be playing a role in rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.
Vitamin D activation and cancer risk
Jan. 7, 2021—Vitamin D protection against colon cancer varies according to parathyroid hormone response, particularly among women.
Functional seizures associated with stroke, psychiatric disorders in electronic health records study
Jan. 7, 2021—In a large-scale study of electronic health records, Vanderbilt University Medical Center investigators have determined the prevalence of functional seizures and characterized comorbidities associated with them.
Genome editing technique “rescues” mice from accelerated aging disorder: study
Jan. 6, 2021—Researchers from the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Vanderbilt University Medical Center for the first time have used a novel genome-editing technique to “rescue” mice from progeria, a rare genetic disease that causes accelerated aging.
Arthritis drug may treat immunotherapy-related heart complication
Dec. 22, 2020—by Tom Wilemon A drug typically prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis may also be effective in treating a rare but potentially deadly heart complication some cancer patients experience after taking immunotherapies, according to a study published in Cancer Discovery and co-led by investigators at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The researchers demonstrated that the drug abatacept reduced...
HERO-TOGETHER study seeks health care workers who receive COVID-19 vaccine
Dec. 21, 2020—Health care workers, who have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, will be the first tier of Vanderbilt University Medical Center employees to receive vaccine to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection.
