Cell And Developmental Biology

Kathleen DelGiorno, assistant professor of cell and developmental biology at the School of Medicine Basic Sciences, delivered a Kairos Lecture focused on the pathogenesis of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Read More

Congratulations to our School of Medicine Basic Sciences faculty members who were promoted or received new appointments between January and March 2026! These individuals significantly enrich our pursuit of pathbreaking research and contribute to the growth and success of our school. Read More

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

Meet Caroline Bodnya, a Ph.D. candidate in the lab of Vivian Gama in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology. Read More

Kathleen DelGiorno, assistant professor of cell and developmental biology at the School of Medicine Basic Sciences, will deliver an upcoming Kairos Lecture on Thursday, April 23. Read More

In honor of the 2026 Women’s History Month, the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Basic Sciences is highlighting female faculty from our school. We asked them to reflect on their journeys and the changes they have experienced in how biomedical research and academia treat their women. Read More

Recent work from the labs of Vivian Weiss and Ethan Lee shows a direct connection between exposure with PFAS—also known as “forever chemicals”—with changes in the morphology and function of thyroid tissue Read More

Department of Cell and Developmental Biology faculty are unraveling the mysteries of human cells one discovery at a time. Read More

A new study reveals mechanistic underpinnings of Crohn’s disease, including some vulnerabilities within the ascending colon. This work challenges the assumption that all regions of the gut respond similarly to inflammation, argues for region-specific treatments for the disease, and highlights a potential new target for treatment within the ascending colon. Read More

The lab of Kris Burkewitz just made a key discovery: How cellular machineries are structured and organized within a cell has implications for healthy aging. “We didn't just add a piece to the puzzle—we found a whole section that hasn't even been touched,” Eric Donahue, first author of the study, said. Read More