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Madison Adolph, PhD, left, David Cortez, PhD, and Archana Krishnamoorthy are studying fundamental processes involved in DNA replication.

Researchers discover that protein switches functions to regulate DNA replication

Jul. 22, 2021—Vanderbilt biochemists have discovered what the DNA damage response protein RADX does — and how it does it.

From left, Dan Roden, MD, Ayesha Muhammad, Jonathan Mosley, MD, PhD, and Sara Van Driest, MD, PhD, found that a genome-wide approach can improve the prediction of drug responses.

For more precise drug treatments, ‘squeeze’ the genome: study finds

Jul. 22, 2021—Large-scale studies will be required to identify the complexity of genetic variations that affect how patients respond to a given drug and whether they will have side effects, according to researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Jeremy Kerr, left, and his son Tyler, right, pose with Sam McKenna, MD, DDS, who performed corrective jaw surgery to repair their underbites and crossbites.

Father, son benefit from jaw reconstruction guided by 3D virtual planning

Jul. 21, 2021—by Jill Clendening A middle school basketball game set off a long, painful journey for Mt. Juliet resident Jeremy Kerr, 49, that ended in 2019 when he had orthognathic, or corrective, jaw surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center to address both an underbite and crossbite. “After someone shot the ball, another player jumped first and...

Members of the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Vanderbilt recently celebrated receiving an additional grant from the Bernard Osher Foundation.

Grant bolsters Osher Center for Integrative Medicine

Jul. 15, 2021—The Bernard Osher Foundation has given an additional $2.1 million to the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Vanderbilt. This grant supplements the original endowment established in 2014 through the Bernard Osher Foundation’s leadership and commitment to holistic medicine.

From left, MacRae Linton, MD, Huan Tao, MD, PhD, Jonathan Brown, MD, and colleagues have discovered a potential new target for preventing atherosclerosis.

Nature’s “recycler” could reduce heart disease risk: study

Jul. 8, 2021—Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have identified potential new targets for the prevention of atherosclerosis through the enhancement of autophagy, a natural process for recycling damaged cellular material.

From left, Scott Borinstein, MD, PhD, Jonathan Mosley, MD, PhD, and Sara Van Driest, MD, PhD, found that some healthy African Americans are having bone marrow biopsies they don’t need. (photo by Erin O. Smith)

Gene variant linked to unnecessary bone marrow biopsies in African Americans

Jun. 28, 2021—A gene variant that lowers white blood cell levels and is common in individuals with African ancestry contributes to unnecessary bone marrow biopsies, according to a study published June 28 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

NBA player brings message of hope to Camp T.A.L.K.S.

Jun. 23, 2021—The children of Camp TALKS (Talking and Learning with Kids who Stutter) were excited to welcome Michael Kidd-Gilchrist — NBA player and person who stutters — to camp recently, where they were able to listen to his story and advice. Kidd-Gilchrist, an advocate for the stuttering community, recently launched Change & Impact, a stuttering initiative focused on improving access to health care and expanding services and resources for those who stutter.

Racial Equity Task Force releases initial recommendations

Jun. 21, 2021—The Racial Equity Taskforce created by Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine last summer has released 62 primary recommendations and 152 sub-recommendations around eight themes.

Nerve repair advances lead to improved restoration of facial sensation

Jun. 9, 2021—VUMC’s oral and maxillofacial surgeons care for patients with facial trauma and perform orthognathic surgery, which corrects jaw irregularities and realigns the jaws and bite. These specialists also perform benign tumor and cyst resection and reconstructive surgery, so they are very familiar with measures to preserve and, in some cases, repair the trigeminal nerve.

Wilson County resident provides handmade quilts to VWCH nurses

Jun. 9, 2021—ICU nurses at Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital (VWCH) were recently surprised with a thoughtful gift –unique handmade quilts for every single nurse in the unit.

Award recognizes hands-on contributions to health IT at VUMC

Jun. 9, 2021—Chetan Aher, MD, assistant professor of Surgery, and Wael Alrifai, MD, assistant professor of Pediatrics and Biomedical Informatics, are the inaugural winners of the Physician Builder Award, sponsored by the Vanderbilt Clinical Informatics Center (VCLIC). They received trophies made from Lego building blocks and gift certificates.

VUMC team develops potential treatment for life-threatening microbial inflammation

Jun. 8, 2021—A cell-penetrating peptide developed by researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center can prevent, in an animal model, the often-fatal septic shock that can result from bacterial and viral infections.