Department of Medicine

kidney x-ray
August 13, 2015

Million Veteran Program data spurs research in pharmacogenomics of kidney disease

A team of Vanderbilt and Nashville VA researchers, led by Adriana Hung, M.D., MPH, has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to use the Million Veteran Program (MVP) data to conduct diabetes research.

By Kathy Whitney
genetic sequence
August 6, 2015

Genotyping project to be an ‘engine of discovery’

Vanderbilt University researchers next month will launch a major initiative to acquire “dense genotypes” from 100,000 individuals whose medical histories are known.

By Bill Snyder
August 6, 2015

Rothman named to lead population health research efforts

Russell Rothman, M.D., MPP, professor of Medicine, Pediatrics and Health Policy, chief of the Section of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and director of the Vanderbilt Center for Health Services Research, has been named assistant vice chancellor for Population Health Research.

By Nancy Humphrey
Illustration of human intestinal tract
July 30, 2015

Study sheds light on human gut’s ‘pacemaker’ cells

The gut has its own built-in pacemakers, populations of specialized cells that control smooth muscle contraction in the stomach, small intestine and colon.

By Bill Snyder
July 29, 2015

In a zebrafish’s eye

Vanderbilt investigators demonstrate that a certain eye lens protein is evolutionarily conserved between zebrafish and rat, suggesting that zebrafish can be used as a model system to understand eye lens disorders such as cataracts.

By Sanjay Mishra
July 23, 2015

Study explores protein’s role in inflammation-associated cancer

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.

By Leigh MacMillan
July 16, 2015

Kitko to lead Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Program

Carrie Kitko, M.D., has joined Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt as associate professor of Pediatrics and director of the Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Program in the Division of Hematology/Oncology.
By Christina Echegaray
July 13, 2015

Hhex on cancer

A new mouse model demonstrates that the Hhex gene – which is linked to blood cancers – is critical for normal blood cell production.
By Henry H. Ong
July 10, 2015

Delivering cells for heart repair

A polymer hydrogel material developed by Vanderbilt scientists improved the delivery of stem cells for heart repair.
By Leigh MacMillan
July 9, 2015

VUMC lands major pharmacogenomics grant

Vanderbilt University Medical Center has received a five-year, $12.8 million grant from the federal government to develop better ways to predict how patients will respond to the drugs they’re given.
By Bill Snyder
June 29, 2015

Healthy diet linked to lower death rates among low-income residents in Southeastern U.S.

A low-fat diet rich in plants, whole grains and seafood, and low in red and processed meats, sweets and sugary drinks was linked with a lower risk of dying from heart disease, stroke, cancer or other diseases among a population of low-income, mostly African American individuals living in the Southeast.
By Craig Boerner
June 25, 2015

VUMC, Meharry and State Health Department receive NIH grant to establish AIDS research center

Vanderbilt University has received a five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to establish the Tennessee Center for AIDS Research with Meharry Medical College and the Tennessee Department of Health.
By Bill Snyder
June 11, 2015

Study: Why one kidney can work as well as two

Vanderbilt University researchers have come closer to solving a mystery that has puzzled scientists for more than a century: after the loss of one kidney, what causes the growth of the remaining kidney to take up the slack?
By Bill Snyder