Simon Vandekar Archive — Page 1 of 1

Illustration of clinicians and biostatisticians working collaboratively on research
June 17, 2026

Biostatistics faculty elected to leadership posts in top statistics societies

Three Department of Biostatistics faculty have won new leadership roles and honors in the American Statistical Association and the International Statistical Institute

By Paul Govern
Light blue hexagonal graphic labeled “RESI,” with four circled letter fragments forming the words “Robust,” “Effect,” “Size,” and “Index” along chart-like arrows.
June 12, 2026

Second Vanderbilt Health team wins NIH Replication Prize

Led by Simon Vandekar, PhD, a group of biostatisticians earned the honor for tools that help brain researchers tell strong, trustworthy findings from weak ones. Vanderbilt Health teams took two of 15 total NIH prizes.

By Paul Govern
Four-panel diagram comparing rTMS with and without symptom provocation for nicotine dependence and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Provoking tobacco imagery or obsessive thoughts produces craving or OCD symptoms that decline with treatment, while neutral images or thoughts produce little symptom change.
June 6, 2025

New study highlights potential boost to brain stimulation therapy through targeted symptom provocation

This is the first large-scale meta-analysis to examine whether deliberately triggering symptoms immediately before administering rTMS enhances treatment outcomes.

By Danny Bonvissuto
Blue-toned collage of multiple brain MRI scans shown in axial, sagittal, and coronal views, with technical scan labels around the images.
November 27, 2024

New research points way to more reliable brain studies

A new study in Nature identifies research strategies for tying brain function and structure to behavior and health.

By Paul Govern