Research

(photo by Erin O. Smith)
March 9, 2026

Review of firearm-related deaths among Tennessee children highlights public health crisis

Study findings support the use of location-based prevention strategies and resource allocation to high-risk communities.

By Jessica Pasley
March 5, 2026

Thyroid cancer ‘atlas’ points to cell types that contribute to disease progression

A multi-institutional study led by Vanderbilt Health investigators provides a spatial understanding of thyroid cancer evolution and identifies cell types that may predict aggressive disease in both children and adults.

By Evan Dorian
March 3, 2026

Study led by Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt looks at international cohort with rare cancer

Novel research is paving way for less invasive therapies for gliomas in pediatric patients.

By Jessica Pasley
February 27, 2026

Multiple surgeries that open chest don’t add extra risk for transplant patients: Study

Researchers retrospectively reviewed 552 Vanderbilt Health patients from Jan. 2024 to Dec. 2025, placing them in 3 groups: those with no sternotomies, those with one, and those with two or more.

By Matt Batcheldor
February 27, 2026

Demographic and histologic factors influence risk of colon polyp recurrence

Vanderbilt Health study supports shift toward dynamic surveillance that extends monitoring for patients with specific demographic and histologic risk profiles.

By Leigh MacMillan
February 27, 2026

‘Kindlins’ are a key to kidney formation

Kindlins regulate cell signaling during the formation of ureteric buds, a key step in the development of the kidneys’ urine collection system.

By Bill Snyder
February 25, 2026

Patients with atrial fibrillation face higher bleeding risks when treated with 2 common medications

While diltiazem remains an effective option for heart rate control in selected patients, bleeding risk posed by anticoagulants should be considered.
By Jake Lowary
February 24, 2026

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine ranks seventh in NIH support of disease-fighting research

Six clinical departments and two basic science departments at VUSM ranked in the top 10 among medical school departments nationwide in fiscal year 2025.  
By Bill Snyder
February 24, 2026

Study identifies medical conditions that could predict future Alzheimer’s disease

The findings could suggest ways to intervene before clinical symptoms of memory and cognitive impairment become apparent.
By Leigh MacMillan
February 20, 2026

Ancient teeth, enduring patterns: Mummy study supports oral-cardiovascular disease link

CT scans of 37 Egyptian mummies found strong correlations between oral disease and calcified blood vessels, offering new evidence that the link between dental and cardiovascular health spans 4,000 years of human history.
By Bill Snyder
February 20, 2026

Five honored at Translational Science and Research Forum

Translational research brings discoveries from the laboratory and preclinical studies forward to clinical trials and studies in humans.
By Paul Govern
February 18, 2026

Vanderbilt research offers new hope for preventing repeated C. diff infections

Treatment options are limited for the more than 500,000 people in the U.S. who are diagnosed annually with C. diff infections, but researchers are working on potential vaccines, therapeutic antibodies and — most recently — nanobodies, to prevent and treat C. diff infections.
By Bill Snyder
February 18, 2026

Novel vaccine protects against C. diff disease and recurrence

New study represents a major step forward for vaccine development for C. diff, the leading cause of health care- and antibiotic-associated infection.
By Leigh MacMillan