Douglas Ruderfer

(iStock)
May 15, 2024

Treatment-resistant depression linked to body mass index: study

Genetic factors are a small but significant contributor to severe depression that does not respond to standard therapy, according to researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital.

By Bill Snyder
March 27, 2024

Higher genetic risk of obesity means working out harder for same results 

Study authors used activity, clinical and genetic data from the National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Research Program to explore the association of genetic risk of higher body mass index and the level of physical activity needed to reduce incident obesity. 

By Craig Boerner
March 8, 2024

Douglas Ruderfer to direct new Center for Digital Genomic Medicine

Douglas Ruderfer, PhD, whose research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center explores the intersection of genomics, biomedical informatics and psychiatry, has been named director of a newly established Center for Digital Genomic Medicine.

By Bill Snyder
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
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November 30, 2021

Study examines genetic risk for suicide attempt

New research from Vanderbilt identifies the first replicated genomic region contributing to risk of suicide attempt and confirms that genetic risk for the trait is not driven solely by risk for psychiatric disorders.

By Paul Govern
June 3, 2021

Predictive model identifies patients for genetic testing

Patients who, perhaps unbeknownst to their health care providers, are in need of genetic testing for rare undiagnosed diseases can be identified en masse based on routine information in electronic health records (EHRs), a research team reported June 3 in the journal Nature Medicine.

By Paul Govern
January 15, 2020

VUMC study to use artificial intelligence to explore suicide risk

Investigators will use computational methods to shed light on suicidal ideation and its relationship to attempted suicide, predict suicidal ideation and suicide attempt using routine electronic health records (EHRs) and explore the genetic underpinnings of both.
By Paul Govern
January 31, 2019

Study explores genetic risk for suicide attempt

Using data from the UK Biobank and Vanderbilt’s BioVU, a new study in the journal Molecular Psychiatry finds that approximately 4 percent of suicide attempt risk is captured by genotype data.
By Paul Govern
June 14, 2018

Shared genetics may shape treatment options for certain brain disorders

Symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, including psychosis, depression and manic behavior, have both shared and distinguishing genetic factors, an international consortium led by researchers from Vanderbilt University and Virginia Commonwealth University is reporting.
By Bill Snyder