Dear Alums and Friends,
In the previous issue of Vestigo, we paused to look back at 150 years of innovative research. In this issue, we look ahead to new and amazing research breakthroughs coming out of our laboratories and their potential impact in treating and eliminating specific diseases.
Widespread antimicrobial resistance has created both a global crisis and a challenge for physicians and researchers. Two recent discoveries from Basic Sciences labs provide promising new avenues to combat persistent and treatment-resistant pathogens. One remarkable finding comes from our researchers who have uncovered fascinating details about the molecular machinery that powers bacterial flagella. Their work, which clarifies the intricate workings of these microscopic propellers, suggests that disrupting the flagellar motor could render certain bacteria immobile and unable to infect host cells. Another team of researchers has discovered the first evolution-inhibiting chemical compound that prevents drug resistance from developing in bacteria in the first place, another potential tool in the fight against superbugs.
Another recent advance with major implications for the clinic is a new method that could revolutionize disease diagnosis and monitoring and open the door to the use of “liquid biopsies,” minimally invasive blood tests that could replace traditional tissue biopsies for certain conditions. The potential benefit to patients is huge, as liquid biopsies are generally safer, more accessible, and can provide real-time insights into disease progression and treatment response.
And of course, our researchers are continuing to use and expand on their work with assistance from artificial intelligence and machine learning. You may have noticed how pervasive AI is becoming in our culture, and certainly it has a role to play in biomedical research.
These are just a few examples of the transformative research taking place in our Basic Sciences laboratories. I am truly excited to see the real-world impact these innovations will have in the years to come. I invite you to explore the following articles to learn more about these, and more, remarkable discoveries.
Sincerely,
John Kuriyan
Dean of Basic Sciences
School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University