Lorena Infante Lara

Celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the School of Medicine Basic Sciences by revisiting 10 scientific discoveries and achievements from our short history. Read More

The biochemistry lab of Doug Mitchell discovered the enzyme responsible for a rare chemical modification that doesn't exist in human cells, which can potentially become a new target for developing antibiotics that selectively kill bacteria without harming our own cells. Read More

In honor of the 2026 Women’s History Month, the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Basic Sciences is highlighting female faculty from our school. We asked them to reflect on their journeys and the changes they have experienced in how biomedical research and academia treat their women. Read More

Recent work from the labs of Vivian Weiss and Ethan Lee shows a direct connection between exposure with PFAS—also known as “forever chemicals”—with changes in the morphology and function of thyroid tissue Read More

Joyonna Gamble-George, PhD’16, believes that science is humanitarianism. Thanks to her upbringing and her Vanderbilt training, through the roles she has had—from entrepreneur to research scientist to policy fellow—she has focused on helping people in her personal and professional lives. Read More

Two new compounds developed at the Vanderbilt University Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery will enable research into a protein family with ties to Alzheimer’s disease, setting the stage for the development of a different kind of therapeutic than is currently available. Read More

Whether they met at the bench or bonded over research setbacks, these alums prove that meaningful relationships can flourish alongside rigorous scientific training. In honor of Valentine’s Day, we asked them to share how they did it. Read More

The lab of Kris Burkewitz just made a key discovery: How cellular machineries are structured and organized within a cell has implications for healthy aging. “We didn't just add a piece to the puzzle—we found a whole section that hasn't even been touched,” Eric Donahue, first author of the study, said. Read More

Millions of Americans struggle with cocaine use, yet research tools don’t yet reflect real-world drug use. Vanderbilt scientists have developed a new approach that more accurately models how people use cocaine, strengthening efforts to understand addiction and develop better therapies Read More

Kavya Sharman, BS’16, PhD’22, channeled dual expertise in science and business into launching Phase Capital, a Nashville-based venture capital firm focused on tech bio. Today, she supports founders working to transform scientific discoveries into scalable applications across the U.S., all while maintaining close ties to her Vanderbilt alma mater and home. Read More