Division of Genetic Medicine

April 20, 2023

Genetics and chronic pain

Polygenic risk scores — scores that reflect the influence of common genetic variants — could be used to predict the likelihood of developing chronic overlapping pain conditions and guide biomarker and targeted prevention efforts.

By Bill Snyder
April 12, 2023

Research identifies new target that may prevent blood cancer

An international coalition of biomedical researchers co-led by Vanderbilt’s Alexander Bick, MD, PhD, has determined a new way to measure the growth rate of precancerous clones of blood stem cells that one day could help doctors lower their patients’ risk of blood cancer.

By Bill Snyder
March 28, 2023

Inflammation implicated in exfoliation syndrome

Computational genetics tools have implicated inflammatory pathways in exfoliation syndrome, the most common cause of secondary glaucoma, which can result in blindness.

By Leigh MacMillan
The research team included, from left, Hannah Poisner, Sydney Olson, J. Brett Heimlich, MD, PhD, Ningning Hu, MS, Alyssa Parker, Alexander Bick, MD, PhD, Joseph Van Amburg and Tara Mack.
February 2, 2023

Researchers clarify role of blood cell mutations in disease

Vanderbilt researchers have developed a new method to analyze mutations in blood stem cells that can trigger explosive, clonal expansions of abnormal cells.

By Bill Snyder
The study team included, from left, Linh Tran, Ruben Barricade, PhD, Jaren Perez, and Xin Zhen. (photo by Susan Urmy)
January 20, 2023

Study reveals new genetic disorder that causes susceptibility to opportunistic infections

An international consortium co-led by Vanderbilt’s Rubén Martínez-Barricarte, PhD, has discovered a new genetic disorder that causes immunodeficiency and profound susceptibility to opportunistic infections including a life-threatening fungal pneumonia. 

By Bill Snyder
Alexander Bick, MD, PhD, and colleagues are studying inflammation at the single-cell level in the rare disease RUNX1-FPD.
January 12, 2023

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative grant supports single-cell study of rare inherited disease

A multidisciplinary team led by Vanderbilt University Medical Center investigator Alexander Bick, MD, PhD, has been awarded a $2 million, four-year grant to study inflammation at the single-cell level in the rare disease RUNX1-FPD.

By Leigh MacMillan
January 12, 2023

VUMC’s Lang, Stover receive genetic counseling awards

Vanderbilt's Katie Lang, MS, CGC, and Samantha (Sam) Stover, MS, CGC, were recently honored at the 2022 Heart of Genetic Counseling Award ceremony.
By Danny Bonvissuto
November 17, 2022

Surgery for hereditary breast cancer

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.
By Leigh MacMillan
October 13, 2022

Study to search EHR for undiagnosed genetic diseases

A team at Vanderbilt University Medical Center will explore computational solutions to help address the problem of missed or delayed diagnosis for patients with rare genetic diseases.
By Paul Govern
August 3, 2022

Embryo screening for mental illness questioned

Report finds polygenic embryo screening (PES) does not provide an accurate measure of the risk of developing psychiatric disorders later in life.
By Bill Snyder
June 16, 2022

Scientists at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and 23andMe find genetic link to people’s ability to move to a musical beat

Vanderbilt researchers, in collaboration with 23andMe, have made a significant discovery about the biological underpinnings of musical rhythm.  
By Emily Stembridge
June 8, 2022

BioVU celebrates 15 years supporting personalized medicine

BioVU is celebrating its 15th year and has enabled hundreds of studies and publications exploring the genetic underpinnings of a host of conditions including cancer, heart disease and diabetes. 
By Lindsey Guerin
May 25, 2022

Study seeks to improve gender equity for liver transplantation waiting list

Women who need a liver transplant are more likely to spend more time on a waiting list, become too sick for transplant or die compared to men. To improve equity, a recently published Vanderbilt-led study suggests a sex adjustment to criteria for MELD (model for end-stage liver disease), which determines allocation of transplanted livers.
By Matt Batcheldor
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