Research Archive — Page 109 of 139

White wireframe illustration of a human heart on a blue architectural blueprint grid.
May 9, 2019

Blueprint for rebuilding the heart

Young-Jae Nam and colleagues are discovering how to express specific factors in connective tissue cells to turn them into heart muscle cells.

Microscopic view of loosely arranged pink connective tissue with thin fibers and scattered dark purple cell nuclei.
May 9, 2019

The dynamic basement

Vanderbilt scientists led by Andrea Page-McCaw have discovered a new way to analyze repair of basement membranes — important structural and functional components of tissues.

Portrait of William Tansey, Ph.D., wearing glasses, a dark jacket, and a light blue collared shirt against a brown background.
May 3, 2019

Researchers putting the brakes on lethal childhood cancer

Malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) is one of the most aggressive and lethal childhood cancers. Although rare — about 20 to 25 new cases are diagnosed annually in the United States — there is no standard effective treatment for the disease, which is driven by loss of an anti-cancer protein called SNF5. The chances are very small that a child will survive a year after MRT diagnosis.

Open orange prescription bottle lying on its side with numerous green-and-white capsules spilled onto a white surface.
April 25, 2019

A new antibiotic’s mechanism of action

Vanderbilt investigators have characterized how a new first-in-class antibacterial drug works, which will guide the development of additional compounds that overcome antibacterial resistance.

Stylized green tree shaped like a human head, with leaves blowing away to the right, standing on grass against a white background.
April 25, 2019

Immune ‘pruning’ in schizophrenia

Ariel Deutch and colleagues have discovered that overactive brain immune cells during adolescence may contribute to schizophrenia.

Medical illustration of the stomach and intestines, with the stomach highlighted in red and an enlarged bacterium-like form shown inside it.
April 25, 2019

Receptor’s role in stopping H. pylori

The immune receptor NOD1 may be a prime target for preventing or treating H. pylori infections — the most significant risk factor for stomach cancer, Vanderbilt researchers have discovered.