Research, News & Discoveries

For years, people thought of dopamine as the “reward molecule,” fueling cravings for drugs and other substances by giving users a hit of pleasure. But recent studies by Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research investigators, such as Erin Calipari, have challenged that assumption. Read More

Sanders-Bush’s legacy ... extends far beyond scientific achievements into mentorship and a commitment to widening the gates of the discipline to welcome scientists of all backgrounds. Read More

Karissa Culbreath, PhD’08, is an Albuquerque, New Mexico, native with a successful career as a clinical microbiologist. Culbreath’s love of science started from the time she was young and took her from Albuquerque to Nashville to Chapel Hill, North Carolina—and eventually back to Albuquerque. Read More

GSAs allow graduate students to fill leadership roles, making them a pivotal part of building their departments’ legacy on behalf of all graduate students. Each department GSA is unique, with its own mission statement and events designed to promote an environment that helps trainees thrive. Read More

Cohen was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of epidermal growth factor, a protein produced in the body that influences the development of nerve and skin tissues by stimulating cell growth and differentiation. The discovery of EGF launched an entire field of research into growth factor signaling and had major impacts on human health. Read More

The Office of Biomedical Research Education and Training’s Career Development ASPIRE program has been hosting an internship program for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows for eight years. The internship program, an invaluable resource for trainees interested in non-academic roles in the biomedical industry, has facilitated just over 200 internships to date through partnerships with a wide range of organizations. Read More

From age-related diseases to understanding the interventions that extend lifespan, Vanderbilt University scientists grow their focus on aging research to improve quality of life. Read More

In this issue of Vestigo, as Vanderbilt University celebrates 150 years of existence, we glance back at biomedical research that has taken place here with an eye to the future. Read More

Dylan Burnette, associate professor of cell and developmental biology, and Olivia Perkins, a graduate student in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, were awarded prizes in the 2022 Nikon Small World and Nikon Small World in Motion competitions. Read More

At a time when many schools of medicine are reducing their commitment to basic science, how did the Vanderbilt School of Medicine Basic Sciences come about? Read More