Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition

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
Clostridium difficile bacterium, 3D illustration
January 28, 2026

Gut microbiome differs according to C. diff symptom status

In a study of children with symptomatic or asymptomatic C. diff, symptom status loomed as the strongest association with differences in gut microbial abundance and diversity.

By Paul Govern
February 5, 2024

Vanderbilt performs its first pediatric living donor liver transplant

Young Cameron Campbell recently became the first pediatric patient to receive a living donor liver transplant at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

By Jessica Pasley
The study found that some children with mystery digestive symptoms may actually have undiagnosed alpha-gal syndrome, commonly known as the red meat allergy linked to tick bites.
April 13, 2023

Children’s mystery symptoms may be alpha-gal syndrome

A Vanderbilt study found that some children with mystery digestive symptoms may actually have undiagnosed alpha-gal syndrome, commonly known as the red meat allergy linked to tick bites.

By Nancy Humphrey
November 3, 2022

C. diff infections drop in children

The number of pediatric infections caused by Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) decreased from 2013 to 2019, likely due to an increase in antibiotic stewardship programs and improved hospital contact protocols, Vanderbilt researchers found.

By Sarah E. Glass
July 1, 2022

New Clinician Spotlight: Saeed Mohammad

Saeed Mohammad, MD, MS, recently joined Vanderbilt University Medical Center as director of the Pediatric Solid Organ Transplant Center at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

By VUMC News and Communications
March 24, 2022

Mohammad to direct Pediatric Solid Organ Transplant Center

Saeed Mohammad, MD, MS, has been named director of the Pediatric Solid Organ Transplant Center at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
By Matt Batcheldor
March 3, 2022

Multidisciplinary team helps treat airway, upper GI issues in children

Vanderbilt's Complex Aerodigestive Evaluation Team focuses on complicated airway and upper digestive issues for chronically ill children.
By Jessica Pasley
March 4, 2021

Probiotic protection

A probiotic factor given early in life to mice prevented intestinal inflammation in adulthood, providing a rationale for probiotic intervention in individuals at high risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease.
By Anivarya Kumar
August 13, 2019

Host-microbe interactions in the gut

Vanderbilt investigators demonstrated that intestinal cells promote beneficial microbe behavior — the findings support developing microbiota-based therapies for intestinal health.
By Leigh MacMillan
June 14, 2018

Grant bolsters Hiremath’s research on esophageal disorder

Girish Hiremath, MD, MPH, assistant professor of Pediatrics, has received a Junior Faculty Development Grant from the American College of Gastroenterology Institute for Clinical Research and Education.
By Leigh MacMillan
July 5, 2017

Bile acids, microbiota and colon cancer

Bile acids produced by a western diet alter the composition of the gut microbiota and promote intestinal carcinogenesis.
By Leigh MacMillan
May 1, 2017

Clue to recurrent C. diff infection

Children who experience recurrent C. diff infections may have fecal inflammatory markers that could predict risk and improve management of these infections.
By Sanjay Mishra