Cancer

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

Alcohol use disorder and addiction continue to shape public health in widespread and complex ways, influencing everything from metabolic disease and cancer risk to brain function and behavior. During Alcohol Awareness Month, we highlight the remarkable work of our community, whose research spans from molecules to behavior to shed light on this disorder. 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. This 2025–26 roundup highlights some of the year’s most exciting advances, showing the extraordinary value of sustained support for biomedical science. Read More

Katrin Karbstein, the co-leader of the Cancer Cell Biology Research Program in the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, will now expand her focus to support her department’s mission across research, service, and education, with a special focus on faculty affairs. Read More

Ann Richmond outlines a promising therapeutic strategy that may re-sensitize treatment-resistant tumors to immunotherapy. The research introduces a three-drug combination that enhances immune activity and suppresses tumor-promoting immune cells. Read More

Laboratory of Genome Integrity chief André Nussenzweig will present the Vanderbilt School of Medicine Basic Sciences Apex Lecture on Monday, Dec. 25, 2025. Read More

Vanderbilt researchers led by Ann Richmond have identified a promising drug combination that targets three key pathways in advanced melanoma, potentially restoring the immune response in patients resistant to standard immunotherapy. Although the work is preclinical, the use of drugs already in clinical trials for other conditions could accelerate testing in humans. Read More

Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology William Tansey and Professor of Biochemistry Stephen Fesik are rewriting the playbook for defeating cancer. After ten years of research, the two School of Medicine Basic Sciences investigators are preparing to advance a cancer drug to clinical trials. Read More

Kathleen DelGiorno has received a Research Scholar Award from the American Cancer Society to study pancreatic cancer development. She will focus on the role of two fatty acids that are known to be involved with tumorigenesis. Read More