Research

December 12, 2019

A new anti-seizure target?

Vanderbilt neurologists have identified a protein modification that could be targeted to reduce neuronal excitability in epilepsy.

By Leigh MacMillan
December 12, 2019

Study examines HIV drug’s potential to treat Alzheimer’s

A drug used to treat and prevent HIV/AIDS is showing promise as a potential therapy for Alzheimer’s disease.

By Bill Snyder
December 12, 2019

New tool may speed antibody, vaccine research

By Allison Whitten
December 12, 2019

Gregor Mendel would be proud

A computational method that uses hospital billing codes and electronic health records can identify genetic disease cases before clinical teams do.

By Paul Govern
December 5, 2019

Study reveals mysteries of critical brain receptor complex

Poorly functioning AMPARs have been linked to a wide range of neurological and psychiatric disorders including seizures, Alzheimer’s disease, major depression and autism spectrum disorder. Understanding how AMPARs are formed and operate is essential for the rational design of pharmacological compounds that, by tuning AMPAR activity up or down, could improve treatment of these conditions.

By Bill Snyder
Patrick Hu, MD, PhD, has been named assistant dean for Physician-Researcher Training and director of the Office for Medical Student Research.
December 4, 2019

Genetic screen in worms reveals critical step in insulin synthesis

The identification of a protein important for insulin synthesis may hold clues for understanding the pathogenesis of diabetes.

By Leigh MacMillan
November 27, 2019

Study finds ‘frozen’ fear response may underlie PTSD

To explore how fear becomes entrenched, VUMC researchers traveled down the precise neuronal pathways in the brains of mice that trigger fear responses, and which normally extinguish the behaviors once the danger has passed.
By Bill Snyder
November 21, 2019

Study explores potential new class of antidepressants

Researchers at VUMC have taken a major step that could ultimately facilitate development of a new class of antidepressants which may relieve symptoms more rapidly and effectively and with fewer side effects than current medications.
By Bill Snyder
November 19, 2019

Getting the goods on obesity

Obesity and two post-operative complications linked with it have associated genetic variants in common, suggesting that obesity may be the culprit.
By Paul Govern
November 18, 2019

Understanding cell division

Vanderbilt researchers have uncovered another piece in the puzzle of how cells divide — a process that goes awry in cancer cells.
By Cayetana Arnaiz Yépez
November 14, 2019

SPI-Hub resource delivers intel on biomedical journals

SPI-Hub, is a new online knowledge resource that gives biomedical scientists an efficient means to identify journals in which to publish their work.
By Paul Govern
November 14, 2019

Blueprint for treating epilepsy

Structural details of a protein that is essential to normal brain function could improve treatments for epilepsy and other seizure disorders.
By Bill Snyder
November 14, 2019

RSV transmission in the Middle East

Understanding how RSV is transmitted, which strains dominate and how new strains emerge around the globe will guide better vaccine and anti-viral drug design.
By Laura Powell