Vanderbilt Genetics Institute Archives
Genetics and blood pressure
May. 19, 2022—Including polygenic risk scores for blood pressure may improve predictive models to identify people at risk for treatment-resistant hypertension.
Gene network linked to Type 2 diabetes
May. 5, 2022—Vanderbilt researchers used a novel analytical approach to identify a network of genes associated with Type 2 diabetes, including 31 genes that had not previously been associated with the disease.
Calculating risk for uterine fibroids
Apr. 26, 2022—Vanderbilt researchers have constructed a polygenic risk score for uterine fibroids that will be useful for exploring causes of these benign tumors and identifying novel drug targets and therapies.
High blood pressure genes improve heart surgery survival in children
Mar. 24, 2022—Vanderbilt researchers have found that children with a genetic makeup that predicts high blood pressure as adults are more likely to survive congenital heart defect repair surgery.
Study links depression scores, white blood cell count
Dec. 2, 2021— by Emily Stembridge Researchers across four health care systems, including Vanderbilt University Medical Center, have found that increased depression polygenic scores are associated with increased white blood cell count, highlighting the importance of the immune system in the etiology of depression. Despite a wide understanding of depression as a psychiatric disorder, depression’s underlying biological...
Study links genetic variants, protein expression and human diseases
Oct. 21, 2021—An international research team has developed a new resource that connects genetic variants and protein expression, which is expected to speed the identification of genes that cause disease — and point to novel treatment strategies.
Medical diagnoses in musicians
Sep. 6, 2021—Vanderbilt researchers mined electronic health records to find medical diagnoses that are more or less prevalent among musicians, who are present in large numbers in “Music City.”
Study finds genetic risk factors for severe COVID-19 illness
Jul. 8, 2021—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.
Genetics of hydrocephalus
Jul. 8, 2021—Fluid build-up in the brain — hydrocephalus — increases pressure and risk for brain damage; Vanderbilt researchers have now identified genes and signaling pathways associated with the condition.
VUMC joins national effort to improve disease prediction in diverse populations
Jun. 16, 2021—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.
Genetic ancestry and hypertension risk
Apr. 29, 2021—Racial disparities in hypertension risk are due in part to genetic differences between ancestries, Vanderbilt investigators find in a study of participants in the Million Veteran Program.
Functional seizures associated with stroke, psychiatric disorders in electronic health records study
Jan. 7, 2021—In a large-scale study of electronic health records, Vanderbilt University Medical Center investigators have determined the prevalence of functional seizures and characterized comorbidities associated with them.