drug repurposing

December 3, 2025

Large-scale integration of genomics, proteomics and clinical records identifies cancer risk proteins and potential therapeutics

A new study identifies previously unreported protein biomarkers and candidate drug targets across six major cancer types and highlights approved drugs with potential cancer preventive effects.

By Leigh MacMillan
February 26, 2024

Study finds a role for AI in drug repurposing pipeline

Vanderbilt researchers are using artificial intelligence to search for existing drugs used for other problems that might help patients Alzheimer’s Disease.

By Paul Govern
January 9, 2024

VUMC receives $13 million grant to coordinate multisite clinical trial for Rett syndrome treatment

Vanderbilt University Medical Center received a $13 million Department of Defense grant to lead a multisite clinical trial that will evaluate repurposed FDA-approved drugs as treatment options for patients with Rett syndrome.

By Danny Bonvissuto
(iStock)
October 6, 2022

VUMC to test whether Alzheimer’s drug can ease lupus symptoms

Vanderbilt University Medical Center is partnering with Evergreen Therapeutics Inc. to test whether an Alzheimer’s drug, memantine, can improve cognitive symptoms associated with systemic lupus.

By Bill Snyder
(iStock)
January 20, 2022

New method enhances efforts to identify drug repurposing targets

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have developed a new method for identifying drugs for the repurposing trials that can lead to new indications for drugs already in use.

By Paul Govern
November 11, 2021

VUMC tests drugs for COVID outpatient treatment

By Paul Govern
August 12, 2021

Certain drug exposures correlate with reduced COVID severity: study

Analyzing electronic health records (EHR) of 9,748 patients diagnosed with COVID-19, Cosmin Bejan, PhD, Elizabeth Phillips, MD, and colleagues at Vanderbilt University Medical Center asked whether COVID disease severity correlated with any drugs that happened to be taken by these patients in the months leading up to their diagnosis.
By Paul Govern
April 19, 2021

VUMC aids national effort to repurpose drugs for COVID-19

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) has been named Data Coordinating Center (DCC) for a nationwide platform of studies aimed at “repurposing” existing drugs to treat mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19.
By Bill Snyder
July 23, 2020

VUMC’s program to repurpose drugs lands international acclaim

Vanderbilt University Medical Center is attracting international attention for its proposal to repurpose existing drugs for new uses in ways that can dramatically improve access to medicines by billions of people throughout the world.
By Bill Snyder
February 19, 2020

Vanderbilt University Medical Center among top 100 proposals for MacArthur Foundation $100 million grant

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation today unveiled a grant proposal from Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) as one of the highest-scoring proposals, designated as the “Top 100,” in its 100&Change competition for a single $100 million grant to help solve one of the world’s most critical societal challenges.
By Bill Snyder
September 24, 2019

Treating C. diff: new purpose for an old drug?

An inexpensive generic drug once used to prevent gastrointestinal ulcers in people taking daily NSAIDs protects against C. diff infection in mice.
By Paul Govern
July 8, 2019

Clinical study tests drug that may prevent cancer metastasis

A clinical study of a drug that may block cancer metastasis is currently enrolling patients at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.
By Leigh MacMillan
April 19, 2018

VUMC drug repurposing initiative gaining momentum

Drug repurposing involves establishing an additional approved indication for a drug already at market.
By Paul Govern