Discoveries
Vanderbilt Mourns the Loss of Conrad Wagner
Mar. 16, 2023—Dr. Conrad Wagner passed away on March 13, 2023. Connie joined the Department of Biochemistry as an Assistant Professor in 1961 and maintained an active laboratory studying one-carbon metabolism and folic acid until becoming emeritus Professor of Biochemistry in 2015. His research was part of an internationally recognized division of nutrition within the department for...
Cardiovascular research pioneer Inagami mourned
Mar. 16, 2023—Tadashi Inagami, PhD, DSc, Vanderbilt University Professor of Biochemistry, emeritus, who helped characterize the biochemical basis for hypertension, heart failure and vascular disease, died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 13 after a brief illness. He was 92. “Tad was an exceptional scientist in the hypertension research field and brought international recognition to Vanderbilt and the Biochemistry...
Scientists resurrect a ‘dead’ antibody to study protein
Mar. 16, 2023—Scientists from Vanderbilt University, the Universidad de la República in Uruguay, and other research centers have achieved a scientific tour de force — resurrecting a “dead antibody” to reveal the mysteries of cytochrome c, a versatile protein that is an essential part of the cell’s energy-generating capacity, and of life itself. Cytochrome c is primarily...
Study establishes mediator of alpha cell proliferation, important for diabetes treatment
Mar. 16, 2023—By Leah Mann The lab of Wenbiao Chen, associate professor of molecular physiology and biophysics, identified a signaling pathway for hyperaminoacidemia-induced alpha cell proliferation. Hyperaminoacidemia, or an excess of amino acids in the bloodstream, occurs when the function of glucagon, a pancreatic hormone that raises glucose levels and breaks down amino acids, is disrupted. In...
VUMC’s Aspirnaut program to install science lab at Wynne High School in Arkansas
Mar. 10, 2023—A chemical biology research lab fit for an academic medical center is being installed at Wynne High School (WHS) in Wynne, Arkansas, as part of a pilot project of Aspirnaut STEM pipeline at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Aspirnaut, a K-20 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Pipeline for Diversity and Wellness, celebrated its 15th year...
Sex counts in the brain as seasons change
Mar. 10, 2023—Photoperiod, or length of day, influences seasonal changes in disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder, with these changes being more prevalent in females. Not incidentally, there are known sex differences in the brain’s reward pathway, where release of dopamine into the nucleus accumbens (NAc) has been implicated in mood disorders. In eNeuro, Alexis Jameson,...
Vanderbilt and Deerfield Management celebrate Ancora Innovation, a collaboration for accelerating drug discovery, potential life-changing therapeutics
Mar. 9, 2023—Vanderbilt University leaders hosted visitors from the health care investment firm Deerfield Management, including its president and managing partner, James Flynn, on Feb. 23 for a series of events celebrating the ongoing collaboration between Vanderbilt and Deerfield to rapidly advance new therapeutics from the research bench to patients. “Advancing basic and translational science to develop...
Sanders promoted to Vice Dean of Basic Sciences
Mar. 8, 2023—By Leah Mann Chuck Sanders, Aileen M. Lange and Annie Mary Lyle Chair of Cardiovascular Research and professor of biochemistry and medicine, has recently been promoted from associate dean for research to vice dean of the Vanderbilt School of Medicine Basic Sciences. Sanders received his Ph.D. in chemistry/biochemistry at Ohio State University under the mentorship...
A new view of a cholesterol carrier
Feb. 10, 2023—High density lipoprotein (HDL) is often referred to as “good cholesterol.” However, cholesterol is just one of many types of cargo HDL can carry. In addition to shuttling cholesterol from blood to the liver, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) can also transport proteins, metabolites and small RNAs (sRNA). The discovery of HDL’s multifaceted functions has driven researchers...
Five Vanderbilt faculty elected as 2022 American Association for the Advancement of Science fellows
Feb. 3, 2023—Five Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center faculty members were elected as 2022 fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. They were selected by a group of their AAAS peers. “The ranks of AAAS fellows include the likes of W.E.B. Du Bois, Thomas Edison and Margaret Mead, in addition to many...