Research

June 13, 2024

Study shows transplant volumes decreased, costs rose following federal policy change

The new policy changed liver allocations from a regional service area to an “acuity circles” system that assigns donor livers as far as 500 nautical miles away based on the acuity of recipients.

By Matt Batcheldor
June 13, 2024

Multicenter study identifies method of preoxygenation that prevents hypoxemia and cardiac arrest during emergency tracheal intubation

Preoxygenation is the administration of supplemental oxygen prior to the start of a procedure to increase the content of oxygen in the lung and decrease the risk of hypoxemia

By Nancy Humphrey
June 12, 2024

Scientists find antibodies that block parainfluenza virus infection

The antibodies may have clinical benefit as antiviral drugs to treat potentially life-threatening infections in elderly and immunosuppressed patients.

By Bill Snyder
June 12, 2024

Obesity-cancer connection discovery suggests strategies for improving immunotherapy 

The study reported in the journal Nature provides a mechanistic explanation for the “obesity paradox” — that obesity can contribute to cancer progression but also improve response to immunotherapy.

By Leigh MacMillan
June 12, 2024

Study shows a simple blood test can predict cardiorespiratory fitness

The researchers tested the feasibility of using a simple set of proteins from blood to capture a molecular fingerprint of cardiorespiratory fitness.

By Matt Batcheldor
June 10, 2024

Vanderbilt researchers establish biomedical informatics training program in Mozambique

Building sustainable biomedical informatics training and research capacity to address gaps in Mozambique’s national HIV response will help the country leverage newer data-driven and genetics-based approaches for personalized HIV care and molecular epidemiology of the disease.

By Kristen Centers
June 7, 2024

Discovery raises hopes for new cancer therapy

The study connected the Hippo signaling pathway to phosphoinositides, a particular type of lipid, or fat molecule, which regulates cell functions that are critical in cancer, obesity and diabetes.
By Bill Snyder
June 5, 2024

A novel astrocyte cell in the retina: study

A full understanding of retinal cell types and their functions could point to novel therapeutic targets for diseases that affect the visual system, such as glaucoma — a leading cause of blindness for people over age 60.
By Leigh MacMillan
June 4, 2024

Grant funds research for therapies to prevent stomach cancer

The funds will help launch a clinical trial in the U.S. with one of the therapies and compare it with another therapy from an ongoing clinical trial in Japan.
By Tom Wilemon
June 4, 2024

Research raises hope for treating potentially lethal blood condition

Roughly 1 in 10 people over age 70 will develop CHIP, an explosive, clonal growth of abnormal blood cells that increases risk of blood cancers and death from cardiovascular, lung and liver disease.
By Bill Snyder
June 3, 2024

Genetic variation associated with low white blood cell count impacts clinical decisions

People whose white blood cell levels are near the edge of the “healthy” reference range will hit a clinical decision point that has consequences such as diagnostic procedures and altered treatments.
By Leigh MacMillan
May 31, 2024

VUMC-led team reports potential new way to stimulate weight loss

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System have demonstrated in a small clinical study that “turning up the heat” on fat may help people lose weight and reduce their risk of obesity-related cardiovascular and metabolic disease.
By Bill Snyder
May 31, 2024

Antibodies may aid effort to fight influenza B: study

The findings reported in the journal Immunity support the development of a monoclonal antibody for prevention and treatment of influenza B — and will help guide efforts to develop a universal influenza vaccine.
By Bill Snyder