Vanderbilt Center for Immunobiology

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Jeffrey Rathmell, PhD. (photo by Donn Jones)
March 3, 2025

Jeffrey Rathmell named to leadership role in cancer research at the University of Chicago

Rathmell has been named chair of the Ben May Department for Cancer Research and director of the Ludwig Center at the University of Chicago, effective July 1.

By Bill Snyder
September 20, 2024

Fever drives enhanced activity, mitochondrial damage in immune cells

The mechanistic understanding of how cells respond to heat could explain how chronic inflammation contributes to the development of cancer.

By Leigh MacMillan
August 16, 2024

Rare diseases point to connections between metabolism and immunity

Science Immunology study suggests a new class of inborn errors of immunometabolism and could improve care for patients with these complex diseases.

By Leigh MacMillan
June 12, 2024

Obesity-cancer connection discovery suggests strategies for improving immunotherapy 

The study reported in the journal Nature provides a mechanistic explanation for the “obesity paradox” — that obesity can contribute to cancer progression but also improve response to immunotherapy.

By Leigh MacMillan
Jeffrey Rathmell, PhD, and Melissa Wolf, PhD. (photo by Susan Urmy)
April 22, 2024

Study reveals potential new way to stop a common kidney cancer

Vanderbilt researchers have identified cancer cell-specific genetic alterations that reprogram the immune “landscape,” thereby driving tumor growth, and discovered a potential new drug target for stopping it.

By Bill Snyder
Alyssa Hasty, PhD, left, Jeffrey Rathmell, PhD, and Kamran Idrees, MD, MSCI, are part of a multidisciplinary team that received a 2023 Endeavor Award from The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research to study the connection between obesity and cancer. Team members not pictured include Kathryn Wellen, PhD, Liza Makowski, PhD, and Kathryn Beckermann, MD, PhD.
October 24, 2023

Vanderbilt-led team receives 2023 Endeavor Award from The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research

A multidisciplinary team of investigators has received a 2023 Endeavor Award from The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research to support four closely linked projects exploring the fundamental mechanisms that drive the obesity-cancer connection,

By Leigh MacMillan
January 13, 2023

Study identifies potential new approach for treating lupus

A Vanderbilt study found that targeting iron metabolism in immune system cells may offer a new approach for treating systemic lupus erythematosus — the most common form of the chronic autoimmune disease lupus.
By Leigh MacMillan
July 20, 2022

Vanderbilt team tracks cellular and antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccine

In a technical tour de force, a collaborative team of Vanderbilt researchers has characterized the antigen-specific immune response to the Pfizer SARS-CoV-2 RNA vaccine.
By Leigh MacMillan
November 11, 2021

CRISPR screen identifies new anti-inflammatory drug target

A novel CRISPR screen developed by Vanderbilt researchers identified a promising new target for anti-inflammatory therapeutics.
By Leigh MacMillan
April 7, 2021

Study revises understanding of cancer metabolism

Tumors consume glucose at high rates, but a team of Vanderbilt researchers has discovered that cancer cells themselves are not the culprit, upending models of cancer metabolism that have been developed and refined over the last 100 years.
By Leigh MacMillan
May 19, 2020

Probing innate immunity

Manuel Ascano team validates an inhibitor of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway, which is important for cellular innate immunity against bacteria, viruses, and our own damaged DNA.
By Leigh MacMillan
October 31, 2019

Rathmell lands award from Lupus Research Alliance

Jeffrey Rathmell, PhD, is a 2019 recipient of the Dr. William E. Paul Distinguished Innovator Award in Lupus and Autoimmunity.
By Tom Wilemon
October 1, 2019

Pua lands NIH Director’s New Innovator Award

Heather Pua, MD, PhD, one of 60 investigators to receive the 2019 NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, will explore a novel type of cell signaling by RNAs in allergic airway inflammation.
By Leigh MacMillan
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