Department of Pathology Microbiology and Immunology

Jennifer Gaddy, PhD
February 24, 2026

Jennifer Gaddy elected to American Academy of Microbiology 

Gaddy is a leading researcher in bacterial pathogenesis, innate immunity and reproductive immunology.

By Paul Govern
C. difficile bacteria (image courtesy of CDC/Jennifer Oosthuizen)
February 18, 2026

Vanderbilt research offers new hope for preventing repeated C. diff infections

Treatment options are limited for the more than 500,000 people in the U.S. who are diagnosed annually with C. diff infections, but researchers are working on potential vaccines, therapeutic antibodies and — most recently — nanobodies, to prevent and treat C. diff infections.

By Bill Snyder
February 18, 2026

Novel vaccine protects against C. diff disease and recurrence

New study represents a major step forward for vaccine development for C. diff, the leading cause of health care- and antibiotic-associated infection.

By Leigh MacMillan
(iStock)
February 13, 2026

Anti-Marburg antibody from Vanderbilt Health sent to Ethiopia during outbreak

There currently are no approved treatments or vaccines to protect against the infection, which can cause internal bleeding, organ failure, and in roughly 50% of cases, death.

By Bill Snyder
George C. Hill, PhD. (photo by Anne Rayner)
February 5, 2026

Vanderbilt Health mourns loss of pioneering scientist George C. Hill, professor emeritus

Dr. Hill transformed medical education at Vanderbilt and conducted groundbreaking research on African sleeping sickness.

By Holly Fletcher
(Adobe Stock)
January 16, 2026

Vanderbilt Health team finds potent antibody that neutralizes two dangerous viruses

The single administration of an antibody that provides cross-protection against both RSV and hMPV infection could provide logistical and economic advantages over the need to develop and administer multiple virus-specific monoclonal antibodies.

By Bill Snyder
January 2, 2026

Division of Animal Care leader Jeanne Wallace to retire

At Vanderbilt Health, Wallace recruited and built a team of veterinarians and operations managers to provide a high-quality animal care program to support researchers with Vanderbilt Health and Vanderbilt University.
By John Howser
November 7, 2025

Romney Humphries named vice chair of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology

Humphries also will serve as executive medical director of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Clinical Service Center.
By Bill Snyder
November 4, 2025

AI can speed antibody design to thwart novel viruses: study

While the study focused on development of antibody therapeutics against existing and emerging viral threats, the implications of the research are much broader.
By Bill Snyder
October 29, 2025

Alice Coogan to retire; Adam Seegmiller to succeed as chair of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology

The Department of PM&I continues to be one of the leading and most innovative of its kind in the nation.
By John Howser
October 23, 2025

New resources help people take action to prevent inherited diseases

To launch a connection search, someone with a specific gene variant signs up to meet others who share that variant, beginning a process of discovering new connections with unknown relatives and encouraging family members to get tested.
By Tom Wilemon
October 9, 2025

Mariana Byndloss honored by microbiology society

Byndloss, who joined the Vanderbilt faculty in 2018, studies the links between the gut microbiota (the microorganisms that reside in the intestines), host metabolism and disease.
By Leigh MacMillan
July 8, 2025

Vanderbilt, Parse Biosciences scientists envision an antibody ‘atlas’ for measles, mumps, rubella

Researchers will scan the landscape of plasmablasts, the first antibody-producing, B-type immune cells that respond to MMR infection.
By Bill Snyder