Justin Balko

November 12, 2025

Eleven Vanderbilt scientists among this year’s ‘highly cited’ researchers

They are among 6,868 scientists worldwide whose papers rank in the top 1% by citations for their fields of research and publication year in the Web of Science Core Collection over the past 11 years.

By Bill Snyder
February 6, 2025

Waddell Walker Hancock Cancer Discovery Fund names two more scholars 

The funds will support Justin Balko’s research on breast cancer and Kathleen DelGiorno’s research on pancreatic cancer.

By Tom Wilemon
Mark Denison, MD, and Xiaotao Lu, MS, are among those on a new list of scientists whose papers have been cited the most frequently by other researchers. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
November 15, 2023

Twelve at Vanderbilt are among world’s highly cited researchers

Twelve current investigators at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University are on this year’s list of scientists whose papers have been cited the most frequently by other researchers.

By Bill Snyder
The study team included, from left, Paula Gonzalez-Ericsson, MD, Xiaopeng Sun, Justin Balko, PharmD, PhD, and Brandie Taylor, MS. (photo by Donn Jones)
October 4, 2023

Vulnerability found in immunotherapy-resistant triple-negative breast cancer

Vanderbilt researchers have discovered a druggable target on natural killer cells that could potentially trigger a therapeutic response in patients with immunotherapy-resistant, triple-negative breast cancer.

By Tom Wilemon
August 10, 2023

New leaders named to Vanderbilt-Ingram research programs

Seven new leaders have been appointed to guide Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center’s research programs.

By Tom Wilemon
November 17, 2022

Several from VUMC among most highly cited researchers

Nine current faculty members of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine have made this year’s list of scientists whose papers have been cited most frequently by other researchers.

By Bill Snyder
November 16, 2022

Cardiac antigen identified as mechanism for heart complication with immunotherapy-related myocarditis

Researchers from from Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center have identified the mechanism for the deadly heart inflammation myocarditis.
By Tom Wilemon
June 16, 2022

Breast cancer biomarkers of response

Vanderbilt researchers have identified blood-based biomarkers associated with complete responses to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer.
By Joshua Baker
August 12, 2021

Study identifies biomarker for breast cancer response to immunotherapy

A biomarker that has proven to be a predictor for response to immunotherapies in melanoma patients also has clinical relevance for breast cancer patients, according to a new study published in Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
By Tom Wilemon
December 22, 2020

Arthritis drug may treat immunotherapy-related heart complication

By Tom Wilemon
April 23, 2020

Health workers sought for hydroxychloroquine study

Health care workers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center at high risk of exposure to COVID-19 can participate in a randomized, controlled clinical trial testing the effectiveness of the drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in preventing infection.
By Bill Snyder
December 5, 2019

Balko lands Mary Kay Foundation grant for breast cancer research

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center's Justin Balko, PharmD, PhD, has received a $100,000 research grant from the Mary Kay Foundation.
By Tom Wilemon
July 22, 2019

Encephalitis identified as rare toxicity of immunotherapy treatment

Researchers are chronicling rare but serious toxicities that may occur with immune checkpoint inhibitors, the most widely prescribed class of immunotherapies.
By Tom Wilemon