Vanderbilt University School of Engineering

Photo of the exterior of Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt shows the four new floors added atop the pediatric facility. (photo by Anne Rayner)
February 24, 2026

Grant supports study to improve detection of parathyroid glands in pediatric endocrine neck surgery 

Researchers will study the validity of near-infrared autofluorescence to improve detection of parathyroid glands during endocrine neck surgery, now looking at pediatric patients.

By Evan Dorian
Michael Topf, MD, wears a model of a new head-mounted augmented reality system that can guide surgeons during operations to excise head and neck cancer.
August 26, 2025

Grant supports development of head-mounted augmented reality system to guide tumor resection 

The technology will allow surgeons to rely less on a fallible mental construction of the resection plane, thereby reducing the risk of human error affecting the procedure. 

By Evan Dorian
July 21, 2025

Multicenter trial confirms near-infrared autofluorescence increases detection of parathyroid glands

Damage to these glands can cause hypoparathyroidism, a condition that can lead to low levels of calcium and elevated levels of phosphorus in the blood.

By Jill Clendening
Jennifer Herington, PhD, and Todd Giorgio, PhD, during their in-person visit to ARPA-H in July.
November 14, 2024

VUMC receives $3.3 million ARPA-H award to develop at-home therapy for preterm labor

This project will be the first to apply drug conjugates in the field of obstetrics.

By Danny Bonvissuto
August 21, 2024

Study tests wearable technology to detect problem behavior before it happens

The goal of the wearable technology is to improve behavioral assessment of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities by predicting the precursors of problem behaviors and using that information to adjust therapeutic approaches.

By Nancy Humphrey
February 16, 2024

Waddell Walker Hancock Cancer Discovery Fund names first scholars

A research endeavor that seeks to develop a new cancer immunotherapy utilizing nanobody delivery and targeted heating of tumors has received funding from the Waddell Walker Hancock Cancer Discovery Fund.

By Tom Wilemon
January 11, 2024

New NIH grant funds novel brain network approach to improve epilepsy surgery

Investigators received a $3.2 million grant to develop novel brain network-based measures to guide surgical decisions and improve outcomes in the field of epilepsy surgery. The project builds upon work recently published by VUMC investigators in the journal Brain.
By Holly Fletcher
August 24, 2023

Study shows Vanderbilt-developed technology assists surgeons in identifying parathyroids

A team of surgeons and biomedical engineers have shown the use of probe-based near infrared autofluorescence technology helps confirm the identification of parathyroid glands during endocrine surgery
By Jill Clendening
June 8, 2023

Novel technology helps identify parathyroids during pediatric endocrine surgery

A Vanderbilt study found that a probe technology that uses near-infrared autofluorescent lighting helps positively identify and preserve childrens' parathyroids during endocrine surgery.
By Christina Echegaray
September 22, 2022

Vanderbilt study uses AI to speed mpox drug trials

A machine learning algorithm developed by researchers at Vanderbilt performs as well as humans at identifying skin lesions in clinical photographs of people with monkeypox.
By Paul Govern
August 16, 2022

Nanoparticles boost anti-cancer immunity

An ingenious targeted nanoparticle approach developed by Vanderbilt researchers reduced tumor burden in a model of ovarian cancer.
By Bill Snyder
February 13, 2020

Clinical trial tests device that detects parathyroid glands

Vanderbilt is testing a device to assist in locating parathyroid glands during surgery.
By Jill Clendening
December 5, 2019

Winning pitch

John Wilson, PhD, assistant professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Vanderbilt University, received a $50,000 research grant at the 2019 Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Ambassador Breakfast.