Research

February 11, 2026

Vaccination cuts risk of COVID-19 respiratory failure or death by 80%

Researchers at Vanderbilt Health and around the country continue to evaluate the effectiveness of vaccines approved by the Food and Drug Administration to reduce the severity and lethality of respiratory infections caused by the ever-mutating SARS-CoV-2 virus.

By Bill Snyder
February 11, 2026

Heart preservation technique increases pool of organs available for transplant

The technique, termed REUP (rapid recovery with extended ultraoxygenated preservation), avoids traditional methods that reanimate the heart within or outside the donor’s body.

By Matt Batcheldor
February 9, 2026

AI finds patient-level statin barriers in clinical notes

A novel AI framework found documented intolerance to statins in 6.4% of all adult patients, contraindications in 0.7%, and statin deferral in 2.9%.

By Paul Govern
February 9, 2026

Vanderbilt research uncovers new clue to insulin resistance

The latest findings could lead to more targeted ways to increase insulin-stimulated glucose uptake by muscle and exercise tolerance.

By Bill Snyder
Members of the Vanderbilt Health team are evaluating the efficacy of the immunomodulatory drug baricitinib for treating the persistent neurological and cardiopulmonary symptoms of long COVID. (photo by Donn Jones)
February 6, 2026

Vanderbilt Health to lead expanded multisite study of immunomodulation in long COVID

The public health burden of long COVID is estimated to be the largest seen from an emerging disease in the past century, yet there remain no effective interventions.

By Jill Clendening
February 6, 2026

New analytical approach identifies novel risk genes for colorectal cancer

The study advances understanding of risk for colon and rectal cancers and points to targets for developing new treatments.

By Leigh MacMillan
February 5, 2026

‘Liberation’ from acute dialysis may enhance recovery of kidney function

Researchers at Vanderbilt Health and three other centers compared conventional dialysis to a conservative dialysis strategy.
By Guillermo Sanchez, PhD
February 4, 2026

Vanderbilt Health’s Vineet Agrawal, Fabian Bock among 2026 ASCI Young Physician-Scientist awardees

Since 2014, 27 Vanderbilt faculty members have received the annual award, which recognizes “notable achievements” by researchers early in their first faculty appointments.
By Bill Snyder
February 4, 2026

Clinical trial led by Vanderbilt Health seeks to refine lung cancer biopsy standards

The development of better biopsy approaches is driven by the fact that lung cancer kills more than 130,000 Americans annually, and survival depends on early diagnosis, which requires biopsy to be definitive.
By Jill Clendening
February 4, 2026

Broad genetic study reveals new drug target for asthma

The findings could bring relief to the more than 26 million people in the United States with asthma, a chronic and complex inflammatory disease of the airways.
By Bill Snyder
January 28, 2026

Gut microbiome differs according to C. diff symptom status

In a study of children with symptomatic or asymptomatic C. diff, symptom status loomed as the strongest association with differences in gut microbial abundance and diversity.
By Paul Govern
January 21, 2026

New donor organ storage method helps reduce rates of severe primary graft dysfunction

Methods such as the cold storage system make it possible to preserve organs for longer after donation, expanding the pool of available organs.
By Matt Batcheldor
January 21, 2026

Study details the downsides of testing for pregnancy too early

More than 40% of the women reported that they tested their urine for human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone released by the placenta, four or more days before their expected periods.
By Bill Snyder