Reporter Feb 20 2015
Antibiotics with anticancer potential
Feb. 25, 2015—A series of experimental antibiotics may be a good starting point for developing new anticancer drugs.
Contributors to coronavirus ‘fitness’
Feb. 24, 2015—Understanding the role that host membrane modification plays in coronavirus replication is essential for developing novel approaches to block the viruses that cause SARS and MERS.
Tiny model of diabetes
Feb. 20, 2015—Vanderbilt University researchers have created a zebrafish model of skeletal muscle insulin resistance that could help improve diabetes treatment.
‘Stretched’ cells promote cancer
Feb. 19, 2015—Mechanical stress appears to be a critical factor in activating normal tissue-associated fibroblasts to generate cancer-associated fibroblasts.
Vitamin D found to have no impact on blood pressure
Feb. 19, 2015—Despite prior epidemiologic and experimental data to the contrary, new research shows that vitamin D supplementation does not reduce blood pressure in individuals with prehypertension or stage I hypertension and vitamin D deficiency.
Workshop explores President’s Precision Medicine Initiative
Feb. 19, 2015—The Precision Medicine Initiative is a national effort announced by President Obama during his State of the Union address to provide more effective treatment and prevention strategies for individuals by taking into account their unique genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors.
Mencio honored for service, dedication to military families
Feb. 19, 2015—Gregory Mencio, M.D., director of Pediatric Orthopaedics at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, was recently honored for his long-term dedication to military families at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Discovery Lecture to explore acculturation’s impact on health
Feb. 19, 2015—Elena Fuentes-Afflick, M.D., MPH, an expert on the effect of acculturation — adoption of the cultural traits of another group — on health outcomes, will deliver the next Flexner Discovery Lecture on Thursday, Feb. 26.
Autism Partnership founder to speak Feb. 23
Feb. 19, 2015—The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center will welcome Autism Partnership founder and co-director John McEachin, Ph.D., on Monday, Feb. 23, at 4:10 p.m. as he presents a lecture titled “Helping Children with ASD Become More Responsive Learners.” A reception will be held following the lecture.
Photo: It takes a village
Feb. 19, 2015—Christmas Village, a three-day November shopping extravaganza run by a volunteer board made up of Pi Beta Phi alumnae, raised $388,000 for the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center from its most recent event.
Time on ECMO machine gave former patient new lease on life
Feb. 19, 2015—Eric Scelzi was a healthy 15-year-old boy who enjoyed soccer and competitive cycling. But in three days in 2011, he went from having a headache to fighting for his life.
Study sheds light on a ‘guardian’ protein of brain function
Feb. 19, 2015—Mitochondria not only are the cell’s main power producers, they are also the chief cooks and bottle washers.
