Nancy Cox

February 24, 2026

Study identifies medical conditions that could predict future Alzheimer’s disease

The findings could suggest ways to intervene before clinical symptoms of memory and cognitive impairment become apparent.

By Leigh MacMillan
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
Jennifer (Piper) Below, PhD. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
March 19, 2025

Jennifer Below named director of Vanderbilt Genetics Institute

The Vanderbilt Genetics Institute is the intellectual hub for genomics research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University.

By John Howser
Alexander Bick, MD, PhD, and Nancy Cox, PhD. (photo by Donn Jones)
September 25, 2024

Alexander Bick named head of Genetic Medicine

Bick will succeed Nancy Cox, PhD, who has led Genetic Medicine since she came to VUMC in 2015. Genetic Medicine is one of 13 divisions in the Department of Medicine.

By Bill Snyder
Participants in the Genetic Counseling Research Symposium were (back row from left) Lucas Richter, MM, CGC, Fellowship in Genomics Outcomes Research, (FIGOR); and Mikaela Bradley, Makenna Martin, Cecilia Kessler, and Joan Kornkven, Master’s in Genetic Counseling degree program, Class of 2024, (front row from) left, Mary Hurley, Class of 2024; Jill Slamon, MA, MS, CGC, Advanced Research Training for Genetic Counselors certificate program; Toni Lewis, MS, FIGOR; Lianna Paul, and Serena Fleming, Class of 2024; and MGC program director Martha Dudek, MS, CGC. (photo by Susan Urmy)
March 12, 2024

Genetic Counseling Research Symposium debuts on April 5

The Master of Genetic Counseling degree program at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine will hold its first Genetic Counseling Research Symposium April 5 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in room 202, Light Hall.

By Bill Snyder
Nancy Cox, PhD, receives the American Society of Human Genetics Leadership Award from ASHG president Brendan Lee, MD, PhD. Photo courtesy of ASHG.
November 10, 2023

After 40 years, genetics still surprises VUMC’s Nancy Cox

As she looks back on her 40-plus year career, what surprises Nancy Cox, PhD, an internationally known geneticist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, is how much progress has been made, and yet how much more there is to learn about the role genetic variation plays in human disease.

By Bill Snyder
October 3, 2023

Research fellowship for genetic counselors established at Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine has received a grant to establish a research fellowship for genetic counselors that will prepare them to contribute more fully to the advancement of personalized medicine.
By Bill Snyder
July 26, 2023

Nancy Cox receives American Society of Human Genetics Leadership Award

Nancy Cox, PhD, director of the Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, is the recipient of the 2023 ASHG Leadership Award from the American Society of Human Genetics.
By Bill Snyder
July 8, 2021

Study finds genetic risk factors for severe COVID-19 illness

A massive worldwide collaboration including researchers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) has identified several genetic factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19 illness.
By Bill Snyder
June 16, 2021

VUMC joins national effort to improve disease prediction in diverse populations

Vanderbilt University Medical Center will participate in a new federal initiative aimed at improving the use of polygenic risk scores (PRS) to predict complex diseases in diverse populations.
By Bill Snyder
April 30, 2020

EHRs, biobanks and Mendelian diseases

Electronic health records and biobanks can be effectively combined to detect and study Mendelian diseases such as cystic fibrosis.
By Leigh MacMillan
April 23, 2020

VUMC joins global effort to explore COVID-19 genetics

Vanderbilt University Medical Center investigators have joined an international genetics effort to make advances as quickly as possible on understanding and treating COVID-19.
By Leigh MacMillan
January 13, 2020

Vanderbilt-led team discovers new genetic disease and defines underlying mechanism

An international research team has discovered a new genetic syndrome caused by mutation of a single gene and named it CATIFA, an acronym for its core symptoms.
By Leigh MacMillan