Division of Genetic Medicine

April 2, 2025

New gene discoveries target uterine fibroids

The research is another step toward development of targeted therapies aimed at reducing the incidence and medical burden of this common condition.

By Bill Snyder
April 1, 2025

Integrative approach reveals key inflammatory drivers of severe obesity

Severe obesity — a condition of being 100 pounds or more overweight — has doubled in the United States over the past two decades to 9.2%, with the greatest increases among women and Latino populations.

By Leigh MacMillan
Jennifer (Piper) Below, PhD. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
March 19, 2025

Jennifer Below named director of Vanderbilt Genetics Institute

The Vanderbilt Genetics Institute is the intellectual hub for genomics research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University.

By John Howser
(iStock image)
January 28, 2025

Inherited gene elevates prostate cancer risk in affected families

The inherited mutated gene WNT9B, which functions normally in embryonic prostate development, increases risk of adult prostate cancer.

By Craig Boerner
Alexander Bick, MD, PhD
January 14, 2025

Two VUMC physician-scientists named to medical honor society

They are among more than 3,500 ASCI members, 48 of whom are current, full-time faculty members of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

By Bill Snyder
December 18, 2024

VUMC part of multisite team investigating genetic markers of anorexia nervosa

With funding from the newly established Sarah Kyle Anorexia Nervosa Research Foundation, the researchers hope to identify biomarkers that will point to novel targets for prevention and treatment.

By Leigh MacMillan
December 10, 2024

Study identifies that higher West African ancestry may contribute to worse breast cancer outcomes 

The study found that West African genetic ancestry was associated with shorter disease-free survival, particularly for women with hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative breast cancer.
By Tom Wilemon
November 25, 2024

Potential treatment eyed for abnormal blood cell disorder

Research could lead to improved diagnosis and the first effective treatment for the disorder, called “clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminant potential,” or CHIP. 
By Bill Snyder
October 30, 2024

Genetic risk, sexual trauma associated with mental illness: study

Evaluating how genetic risk interacts with environmental risk factors such as sexual trauma is important for understanding how mental illness develops and identifying high-risk groups for early intervention.
By Leigh MacMillan
October 7, 2024

Kimberlyn Ellis selected as 2024 Vanderbilt Prize Student Scholar

Ellis is a computational geneticist with a long-term goal of bridging genomics, bioethics and health policy to promote equitable precision medicine for minority populations.
By Leigh MacMillan
October 7, 2024

VUMC hosts International Lung Cancer Consortium meeting 

The consortium is coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer with the aim of sharing data from ongoing lung cancer case-control and cohort studies.
By Tom Wilemon
September 27, 2024

Distant relatedness in biobanks harnessed to identify undiagnosed genetic disease

VUMC researchers have developed a genetic method that clusters distantly related people to find rare variants that were present in a common ancestor.
By Leigh MacMillan
September 25, 2024

Alexander Bick named head of Genetic Medicine

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.
By Bill Snyder
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