Innovation

March 2, 2026

Novel behavioral, mental health care model for pediatrics improves care, gets national recognition 

The changes resulted in significant benefits, including a reduction in behavioral health boarding admissions by 78% and shortened length of stay by more than 50% .

By Jessica Pasley
November 12, 2025

Eleven Vanderbilt scientists among this year’s ‘highly cited’ researchers

They are among 6,868 scientists worldwide whose papers rank in the top 1% by citations for their fields of research and publication year in the Web of Science Core Collection over the past 11 years.

By Bill Snyder
October 22, 2025

Behind the curtain: Secrets of the volatile, delusional brain 

The VUMC approach, based on the “Feeling Safe Program” developed by British psychologist Daniel Freeman, targets specific factors that contribute to persecutory delusions, including worry, safety behaviors, avoidance and hallucinations (such as hearing voices).

By Bill Snyder
(AdobeStock)
October 14, 2025

VUMC researchers awarded $2 million to expand AI-powered medical record abstraction

The grant extension will expand applications in research, clinical trials, registries and national collaborations.

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
(AdobeStock)
August 25, 2025

Clinicians, patients cheer DAX, the AI ‘ear’ in Vanderbilt Health exam rooms

The program, called DAX Copilot, relieves clinicians from having to enter data into the electronic health record during patient visits and enables them to focus more fully on the patient.

By Bill Snyder
August 15, 2025

NICU babies are going home weeks earlier thanks to an iPad

The NICU Bridge to Home program is a remote monitoring initiative designed to support families during their transition from the hospital to home.
By Jessica Pasley
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
July 9, 2025

VUMC’s Section of Surgical Sciences and LG forge collaboration on AI initiatives for medical needs

The collaboration will center on the Molecular AI Initiative’s pioneering platform, which uses AI-driven 3D spatial multimodal research to build predictive, high-fidelity models of a patient’s disease at the molecular level.
By VUMC News and Communications
June 17, 2025

Rapid follow-up limits emergency department crowding, ‘boarding’ 

At Vanderbilt University Hospital, a Level 1 trauma center, ED arrival volumes have increased 8% over last year. In response, there's a newly developed rapid follow-up program for patients who can be referred safely to outpatient clinics for evaluation and treatment. 
By Bill Snyder
March 19, 2025

Alliance for Genomic Discovery completes 250,000 whole genomes to accelerate drug discovery

The milestone creates one of the largest, most comprehensive clinical genomic datasets of its kind; multiomic data to be added in next phase of program.
By VUMC News and Communications
March 12, 2025

Potential therapeutic for Duchenne muscular dystrophy takes step forward

Positive findings from a clinical trial support further study of the investigational drug ifetroban to treat cardiac complications, the leading cause of death in patients with DMD.
By Leigh MacMillan
February 3, 2025

Digital pathology aims to unlock secrets hidden in tissue samples

The pilot project, which is expected to digitize 500,000 slides over three years, aims to open avenues for research, assist with access to whole-slide images for education and clinical meetings (of tumor boards, for example), and facilitate planning for the implementation of digital pathology for diagnostic purposes. 
By Leigh MacMillan (video by Erin O. Smith and Donn Jones)