Chuck Sanders

There's a tendency to view the past as a "failed" state, assuming that evolution drives toward optimization. This isn't necessarily true. There is a vast, complex history we have yet to fully understand—and we should strive to uncover it. Read More

Polycystic ovarian syndrome  is a complex endocrinological disorder with widespread prevalence, affecting approximately one in ten women worldwide. Treatment for PCOS typically involves extensive lifestyle modification and medications to help manage reproductive symptoms and insulin resistance, but there are no treatments that directly target hyperandrogenism. Because of this, women with PCOS often feel unsatisfied with the quality of their care and are belabored by the changes necessary to live out their daily lives. Read More

Charles Darwin, serenely composed in anticipation of the Voyage of the Beagle. The intrepid CEO of The Protein Society, Raluca Cadar, again used her special Carpathian “connections” to set up our Annual TPS Halloween interview, this year with none other than Charles Darwin.  We listen in on his conversation with… Read More

Kate Mittendorf, a graduate of the biochemistry department who is now a research assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, sat down with us to discuss their experience studying basic science at Vanderbilt and how it played a role in their career. Read More

By Chuck Sanders, vice dean of the School of Medicine Basic Sciences and professor of biochemistry Joseph Lee Heywood was acquainted with suffering. Having grown up on the New Hampshire/Massachusetts border, as a young man he made his way west to Iowa in search of opportunity. However, before things could… Read More

Karen Davis, the program coordinator for the Center for Structural Biology, enjoys feeling like she is "a part of something bigger” than herself, both in and out of the office. She is a huge soccer fan and coaches two co-ed recreational soccer teams at the Nashville Youth Soccer Association. Read More

“You’re nervous because you don't know what to expect and excited to see whatever it is you get to see,” Schlafly said of the visit. "I had seen a lab before, but I must say, it’s a pretty humbling experience to go from thinking there is no one at all who knows about your really weird, rare disease to walking into a lab and learning that everyone there is in some way working to cure my issue.” Read More

By Chuck Sanders, Vice Dean of the Vanderbilt School of Medicine Basic Sciences Everyone, including me, has strong opinions about the most prestigious scientific journals such as Cell, Science, and Nature, but we all agree we’d like our papers to be published in these “pinnacle” venues! At least in an… Read More

Chuck Sanders, Vice Dean, Vanderbilt School of Medicine Basic Sciences British author J.R.R. Tolkien had a lot to say about the creative process and I’d like to explore how his thoughts relate to the pursuit of cutting-edge scientific research. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion provides both the mythological underpinning… Read More

Vice Dean Chuck Sanders conducted his annual Halloween Interview, this time with Sesame Street’s Count von Count, a much loved and highly respected expert on teaching numerical skills to children.  Here is a transcript of their conversation. CS:   Mr. von Count, let me say what an incredible honor it… Read More