Research

June 3, 2021

‘Secret shopper’ study sheds light on barriers to opioid treatment for women

After a 2020 Vanderbilt University Medical Center study showed women have a difficult time accessing treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), investigators analyzed comments received from the study’s participants to further shed light on barriers to care, which included everything from long on-hold times to difficult interactions with clinic receptionists during phone calls seeking appointments.

By Jill Clendening
June 3, 2021

VUMC team discovers new genetic disease

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have discovered a new genetic disease that causes a severe form of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension, a rapid drop in blood pressure upon standing that can cause fainting.

By Bill Snyder
June 3, 2021

Predictive model identifies patients for genetic testing

Patients who, perhaps unbeknownst to their health care providers, are in need of genetic testing for rare undiagnosed diseases can be identified en masse based on routine information in electronic health records (EHRs), a research team reported June 3 in the journal Nature Medicine.

By Paul Govern
May 26, 2021

Vanderbilt researchers present new data on clinical trials at ASCO 2021

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center researchers will present data on clinical trials involving targeted therapies, immunotherapies and drug combination synergies at the 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, June 4-8. The meeting is a virtual event this year.

By Tom Wilemon
(iStock photo)
May 25, 2021

Heat for hypertension in autonomic failure

Heat therapy could offer a novel nonpharmacologic approach for treating the overnight hypertension that affects patients with autonomic failure.

By Leigh MacMillan
May 24, 2021

Analysis reveals macrophages associated with kidney cancer recurrence

A white blood cell, the TREM2/APOE/C1Q-positive macrophage, has been identified as a potential biomarker to predict recurrence of the most common type of kidney cancer and as a possible target for drug development.

By Tom Wilemon
May 20, 2021

New clue to lung scarring

Vanderbilt neonatology team pinpoints signaling pathways involved in the progressive lung fibrosis that occurs in rare genetic diseases.
By Bill Snyder
May 20, 2021

Beta cell regeneration

Vanderbilt researchers dissected the complex microenvironment of the pancreatic islet to discover the signals that drive beta cell regeneration — as a possible treatment for diabetes.
By Leigh MacMillan
May 20, 2021

Type 2 diabetes medication shown to benefit asthma patients

Type 2 diabetes patients who also have asthma are benefitting from a diabetes medication, typically given to help the pancreas produce more insulin, that also improves asthma symptoms and may reduce lung and airway inflammation.
By Craig Boerner
May 20, 2021

VUMC is pacesetter for national aspirin study

According to an innovative large-scale clinical trial reported last week in the New England Journal of Medicine, a single daily baby aspirin (81 mg) or a single daily adult aspirin (325 mg) are equally safe and effective for prevention of adverse cardiovascular events for patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
By Paul Govern
May 13, 2021

People at high genetic risk for colorectal cancer benefit more from lifestyle changes

People with a high polygenic risk score for colorectal cancer could benefit more at preventing the disease by leading healthy lifestyles than those at lower genetic risk, according to a study by Vanderbilt researchers published in the April issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
By Tom Wilemon
May 12, 2021

Nominations sought for Vanderbilt Prize Student Scholar

Nominations for the 2021 Vanderbilt Prize Student Scholar are now open. The deadline is June 1.
By Bill Snyder
May 6, 2021

VUMC to lead national study to treat severe COVID complications

The Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (VICTR) has been awarded a major federal grant to lead a national trial of treatments targeting the Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone System (RAAS) in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
By Bill Snyder