Sean Collins

Members of the Vanderbilt Health team are evaluating the efficacy of the immunomodulatory drug baricitinib for treating the persistent neurological and cardiopulmonary symptoms of long COVID. (photo by Donn Jones)
February 6, 2026

Vanderbilt Health to lead expanded multisite study of immunomodulation in long COVID

The public health burden of long COVID is estimated to be the largest seen from an emerging disease in the past century, yet there remain no effective interventions.

By Jill Clendening
December 17, 2024

Immune-suppressing drug does not improve COVID-19 recovery: study

Previous studies suggested that fostamatinib may suppress inflammatory responses triggered by COVID-19 and mitigate ongoing lung injury, decreasing mortality and oxygen requirements.

By Bill Snyder
October 25, 2024

Asthma drug does not speed COVID-19 recovery: study

The study, a randomized and controlled clinical trial, tested the effectiveness of montelukast in 1,250 outpatients with acute post-COVID-19 symptoms.

By Bill Snyder and Shantell Kirkendoll
April 25, 2024

Advance in the treatment of acute heart failure identified

A multicenter study led by Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy in Nashville has identified a potential new treatment for acute heart failure, a leading cause of hospitalization and death.

By Bill Snyder
December 6, 2023

Study connects patients who visit the ED with acute flare-ups of chronic back pain with remote integrative health coaching program

Vanderbilt will pilot an eight-session remote integrative health coaching program for patients who visit the emergency department with acute flare-ups of chronic low back pain.

By Danny Bonvissuto
From left, Sean Collins, MD, MSc, Wesley Self, MD, MPH, Jessica Collins, program director, Vanderbilt Coordinating Center, and Matt Shotwell, PhD, play key roles in a now-international clinical trial platform that is investigating therapies aimed at reducing complications in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
January 5, 2023

VUMC-led COVID-19 clinical trial platform goes international

The ACTIV-4 Host Tissue clinical trial platform, which is designed to investigate therapies targeting the host tissue response to COVID-19 to mitigate lung injury, is now being expanded internationally.

By Bill Snyder
September 16, 2021

VUMC team to test personalized acute heart failure treatment

Researchers at Vanderbilt have been awarded a five-year, $4 million federal grant to test whether a personalized medicine strategy will improve outcomes for patients hospitalized with acute heart failure.
By Bill Snyder
July 26, 2021

VUMC, NIH launch clinical trial to test novel therapies to protect host tissue against COVID-19

Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers, supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), are leading a nationwide clinical trial to explore the safety and effectiveness of a group of novel drugs designed to protect patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at high risk of poor outcomes.
By Craig Boerner
May 26, 2021

VUMC researchers receive grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to develop biomarkers to improve the diagnosis of acute heart failure

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) have received a four-year, $6.2-million grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health to develop a novel panel of biomarkers to improve the diagnosis of acute heart failure (AHF).
By Bill Snyder
May 6, 2021

VUMC to lead national study to treat severe COVID complications

The Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (VICTR) has been awarded a major federal grant to lead a national trial of treatments targeting the Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone System (RAAS) in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
By Bill Snyder
April 15, 2021

Self-care program for acute heart failure patients studied as standard practice

Up to 25% of patients with acute heart failure (AHF) face mortality or hospital readmission within one month after being treated in the emergency department (ED).
By Kristin Smart
February 24, 2021

Collins takes on new VCC, IMPH leadership roles

Sean Collins, MD, MSci, professor of Emergency Medicine, has taken on new leadership roles in the Vanderbilt Coordinating Center (VCC) and the Vanderbilt Institute for Medicine and Public Health (IMPH).
By Emily Stembridge
December 17, 2020

Heart failure study seeks to reduce hospitalizations

A national study led by researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center has found that many patients who arrive at the emergency department (ED) with acute heart failure can be safely discharged with self-care guidance and frequent phone appointments, avoiding the need for hospitalization.
By Bill Snyder
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