Drug Discovery

A new potential treatment for schizophrenia discovered through the Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery at Vanderbilt University has entered phase 1 clinical trials, marking the fifth WCNDD therapeutic to advance into human testing. Read More

Vanderbilt’s Dr. Benjamin P. Brown is improving the way the field of drug discovery creates machine learning algorithms to predict a protein’s interactions with a small molecule. These improvements bring ML closer to fulfilling its potential in the field—something that has not been realized after more than a decade of work. 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

Started in June 2025, a new collaborative science project called diffUSE involving Vanderbilt University, Cornell University, and the University of California, San Francisco, could be the next watershed moment. The $5 million, three-year project led by the Astera Institute will advance our understanding of protein motion. Using diffuse scattering, an overlooked signal measured by X-ray crystallography, the project will determine how protein dynamics are characterized, leading to a new paradigm in dynamic structural biology. Read More

The Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology held its annual Student Research Symposium on Aug. 1, drawing a record number of registrants and poster presenters. Organized by the Chemical Biology Association of Students, the event showcased cutting-edge research, interdisciplinary collaborations, and exceptional contributions from both trainees and faculty. Read More

Researchers from the Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, in collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim, developed a compound that can treat both negative and positive symptoms of schizophrenia in rodents. The compound holds promise as an investigational tool and an inspiration for novel schizophrenia therapies. Read More

In this episode of Quantum Potential, Craig Lindsley, William K. Warren, Jr. Professor of Medicine, University Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry, Chemistry and Pharmacology and executive director of the Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, joins Provost C. Cybele Raver to discuss transformative research exploring how subtle tweaks to brain chemistry could change the way we treat neurodegenerative diseases and chronic pain. Lindsley shares how academic-industry collaborations drive innovation in drug discovery and highlights how Vanderbilt’s scientific workflow is enabling the broader research community to build on its breakthroughs. Read More

Corey Hayford, PhD’21, sat down with us to discuss his experience studying basic science at Vanderbilt and how it played a role in his career. Hayford is now a principal data engineer at Cellarity. Read More

Ashley Brady, PhD’03, assistant dean of biomedical career engagement and strategic partnerships in the BRET Office of Career Development ASPIRE Program and associate professor of medical education and administration, sat down with us to discuss her experience studying basic science at Vanderbilt and how it played a role in her career. Read More

Researchers from the Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, in collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim, developed a compound that can treat both negative and positive symptoms of schizophrenia in rodents. The compound holds promise as an investigational tool and an inspiration for novel schizophrenia therapies. Read More