VUMC researchers have developed a genetic method that clusters distantly related people to find rare variants that were present in a common ancestor.

Launched Sept. 17-19 during the World Cancer Congress in Geneva, Switzerland, “Rewriting Cancer” aims to enhance understanding and inspire audiences by exploring the most innovative, inclusive and impactful solutions for cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care globally.

The research focused on the very early stages of FPF, a serious progressive lung disease where for unknown reasons scar tissue builds up in the lungs over time.

Bick will succeed Nancy Cox, PhD, who has led Genetic Medicine since she came to VUMC in 2015. Genetic Medicine is one of 13 divisions in the Department of Medicine.

A real-world learning health system was established at VUMC a decade ago. Now, the National Human Genome Research Institute is awarding two five-year grants totaling $12 million to support VUMC’s participation in, and coordination of, a genomic-enabled learning health system (gLHS) network.

Neighborhoods that were discriminated against, called ‘redlined areas,’ are known to have higher levels of air pollution from industry and vehicles, especially diesel-fueled trucks, buses and cars.

Aldrich uses population-based cohorts and biobanks to investigate lung cancer; her research informed guidelines for lung cancer screening.