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Ever wonder what about the ROI on biomedical research looks like? At the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Basic Sciences, scientists are delivering answers—by driving discoveries that are already improving human health and paving the way for tomorrow’s treatments. From tackling cancer and Alzheimer’s to pioneering antibiotic resistance solutions, we are shaping the future of medicine. This roundup highlights some of the year’s most exciting advances—showing the extraordinary value of sustained support for biomedical science. Read More

Lisa M. Monteggia and Matthew J. Tyska are among the 471 scientists elected as 2024 fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Dean John Kuriyan was also recently elected a member of the 2025 class of fellows of the American Association for Cancer Research academy. Read More

“This transformative agreement allows Vanderbilt researchers to benefit from Nature’s tremendous influence and reach,” University Librarian Jon Shaw said. “Our research findings will reach global audiences immediately upon publication, speeding up scientific innovation and progress. This collaboration not only strengthens Vanderbilt’s reputation but will aid in attracting top faculty, students and partnerships to the university.” Read More

Peanuts cause the highest number of food allergy–related deaths in the U.S. Basic scientists at Vanderbilt uncover how the allergy works and suggest new potential treatments. Read More

Great Britain’s Wellcome Trust has recognized Vanderbilt’s Carrie K. Jones and the University of Glasgow’s Andrew Tobin with their prestigious Discovery Award. The pair will study how blocking the M5 muscarinic receptor in the brain counteracts opioids’ addictive properties, which could lead to new treatments for preventing or addressing opioid addiction. Read More

Tae Hyun Hwang, a national leader in the use of AI to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment, will lead a new “Molecular AI” initiative within Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He was jointly recruited by the Department of Surgery and the newly established Center for Computational Systems Biology led by Ken Lau. Read More

Researchers from the Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, in collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim, developed a compound that can treat both negative and positive symptoms of schizophrenia in rodents. The compound holds promise as an investigational tool and an inspiration for novel schizophrenia therapies. Read More

The Center for Computational and Systems Biology, launching at Vanderbilt University in early 2025, will focus on analyzing vast amounts of data to look for new ways to tackle human diseases and conditions. Read More

A leading chemical biologist working on ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides, Doug Mitchell has joined the School of Medicine Basic Sciences as the William Kelly Warren Sr. Professor of Biochemistry and director of the Vanderbilt Institute for Chemical Biology. He also has been named professor of chemistry. Read More

As 2024 comes to a close, we take a look back at the accomplishments and contributions to science and society made by School of Medicine Basic Sciences community members throughout the past year. The efforts of our faculty, trainees, staff, and collaborators have resulted pioneering discoveries that tangibly benefit society. Read More