Pharmacology

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

BrightFocus Foundation’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research program has awarded a three-year, $300,000 research grant to Monica Santisteban, assistant professor of Medicine, Neurology and Pharmacology, to investigate the role of the renin angiotensin system in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Read More

For the nearly 30 percent of major depressive disorder patients who are resistant to treatment, ketamine provides some amount of normalcy, but it requires frequent treatment and can have side effects. Vanderbilt researchers now show in proof-of-concept experiments that it may be possible to extend ketamine’s antidepressant effect from about a week to up to two months. Read More

Heidi Hamm,, the Aileen M. Lange and Annie Mary Lyle Professor of Cardiovascular Research and former chair of the Department of Pharmacology, and Eric Skaar, the Ernest W. Goodpasture Professor of Pathology and director of the Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation have been elected members of the National Academy of Sciences in recognition of their “distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.” Read More

Congratulations to our School of Medicine Basic Sciences members who were promoted or received new appointments between January and March 2025. These individuals significantly enrich our pursuit of pathbreaking research and contribute to the growth and success of our school. Read More

Meet Ashley Haddard, the senior program manager for research for the Department of Pharmacology in the Vanderbilt School of Medicine Basic Sciences. Read More

Triple-negative breast cancer accounts for 10 percent of breast cancer cases in the U.S. annually. As T-cells that normally kill cancer cells often become exhausted and stop, Vanderbilt pharmacologists are seeking chemotherapy or targeted therapy approaches that can enhance the T-cell killing of cancer cells. Read More

New research by Vanderbilt pharmacologists has uncovered inconsistencies in the active ingredient levels of a dietary supplement often referred to as corydalis. The work, published in Frontiers in Pharmacology, highlights concerns regarding the efficacy and authenticity of these widely used supplements. Read More

New research reveals that alcohol use can cause long-lasting changes in the brain’s dopamine system, even during abstinence. Vanderbilt researchers found that even after a month without alcohol, key regulators of dopamine activity remained altered, potentially increasing the risk of relapse. The study also challenges long-held assumptions about how gene expression relates to brain function, opening new doors for precision treatments in alcohol use disorder. Read More

Peanuts cause the highest number of food allergy–related deaths in the U.S. Basic scientists at Vanderbilt uncover how the allergy works and suggest new potential treatments. Read More