Department of Medicine Archives

Vanderbilt mourns loss of former Rheumatology director Thomas

Nov. 21, 2022—James Ward “Tom” Thomas II, MD, former director of Vanderbilt’s Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, died Nov. 16 following a battle with cancer. He was 74.

Surgery for hereditary breast cancer

Nov. 17, 2022—Similar rates of bilateral mastectomy in women with inherited mutations in high- and moderate-penetrance genes raises concerns about possible overtreatment of some patients, Vanderbilt researchers report.

A marker for mortality

Nov. 17, 2022—A urine biomarker of inflammation was associated with increased mortality and multiple lifestyle factors, suggesting that modifications could help reduce premature mortality.

Highly multiplexed, untargeted MALDI imaging mass spectrometry data reveal the localization of various lipids and metabolites to specific functional regions of the nephron, the kidney's filtering unit (right).

Grants spur efforts to create molecular ‘atlases’ of organs

Nov. 17, 2022—Vanderbilt researchers have received three grants totaling $13.6 million from the National Institutes of Health to develop molecular “atlases” of the brain, kidney, eye and other tissues.

VUMC adopts updated kidney function equation to better guide patient care decisions

Nov. 17, 2022—In December Vanderbilt University Medical Center will again update the equation used for estimating kidney function with the goals of improving health equity and better guiding patient care decisions.

Study supports removing race from estimate of kidney function

Nov. 17, 2022—An in-depth analysis by Vanderbilt investigators of published research studies supports removing race from the calculation of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) — an assessment of kidney function.

Study finds inherited link to appendix cancer

Nov. 11, 2022—A Vanderbilt study is the first to show inherited risk factors for appendiceal cancer.

Jacek Hawiger, MD, PhD, third from right, with study team members, from left, Katherine Gibson-Corley, DVM, PhD, Yan Liu, MD, Jozef Zienkiewicz, PhD, Huan Qiao, MD, PhD, and Ruth Ann Veach.

Hawiger still blazing a trail in inflammation research

Nov. 10, 2022—Vanderbilt research describes a new investigational peptide drug that can penetrate immune and nonimmune cells, and block inflammatory signaling in a preclinical model of atopic dermatitis — eczema.

The clinical trial group includes, from left, Gordon Bernard, MD, Katherine Cahill, MD, Kevin Niswender, MD, PhD, Pingsheng Wu, PhD, and R. Stokes Peebles, MD.

Clinical trial at VUMC tests novel treatment for asthma

Nov. 10, 2022—VUMC has begun enrolling patients with asthma in a clinical trial of a novel treatment: a medication approved to treat diabetes and obesity.

Study explores CVD risk for people with HIV

Nov. 10, 2022—A Vanderbilt study found that among people with HIV infection, three types of CD4+ T helper cells are associated with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) that are not explained by CVD risk.

Infectious Diseases Society of America honors Wright

Nov. 10, 2022—Vanderbilt's Patty Wright, MD, is one of two recipients of the 2022 Watanakunakorn Clinician Award from the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Brady named Executive Vice Dean for Academic Affairs

Nov. 1, 2022—Donald Brady, MD, has been appointed to an expanded oversight role of Executive Vice Dean for Academic Affairs for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.