Research, News & Discoveries

Since its February 2025 publication in Nature Cell Biology, a groundbreaking study from the Burnette Lab has drawn more than 44,000 Article Accesses—amplified by Vanderbilt’s new open access agreement with Springer Nature. The study reveals the existence of blebbisomes, massive, motile extracellular vesicles that behave almost like mini cells. Packed with organelles and capable of delivering immune-modulating proteins, blebbisomes may one day serve as therapeutic couriers or targets in cancer treatment. Read More

Members of the diabetes and metabolic research community gathered at Vanderbilt for a symposium honoring Dr. Alan Cherrington, whose monumental contributions to diabetes research and metabolic regulation have revolutionized therapeutic strategies for diabetes management throughout his career. Read More

Researchers discovered that the protein tenascin-C is a crucial molecular player in the aggressiveness of anaplastic thyroid cancer. The results could lead to better targeted therapeutics for thyroid cancer. Read More

Researchers from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University have figured out how two bacterial elements present in only some Helicobacter pylori strains lead to molecular changes in host tissues that favor the development of gastric cancer. Read More

University of California, San Diego, Professor of Pharmacology Jin Zhang will present the Vanderbilt School of Medicine Basic Sciences Apex Lecture on April 17, 2025. Read More

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

University of California, San Diego, faculty member Ryan Hibbs delivered a School of Medicine Basic Sciences Apex Lecture on March 27, presenting about muscle acetylcholine receptors in development and disease. Read More

Meet Ashley Haddard, the senior program manager for research for the Department of Pharmacology in the Vanderbilt School of Medicine Basic Sciences. 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

Anne Taylor, PhD'23, sat down with us to discuss her experience studying basic science at Vanderbilt and how it played a role in her career. Taylor is now a fellow at the Center for Opioid Research, Education & Outreach at the Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy. Read More