School Of Medicine Basic Sciences

Prashant Donthamsetti, assistant professor of pharmacology at the School of Medicine Basic Sciences, will deliver an upcoming Kairos Lecture on Thursday, March 26. Read More

A new study from the laboratory of Cody Siciliano suggests that two widely used medications for alcohol use disorder—naltrexone and nalmefene—may be equally effective overall but individuals only respond to one of the two medications. The findings could help explain why clinical trials of naltrexone and nalmefene have produced conflicting results and may point toward a precision-medicine strategy for treating alcohol use disorder. Read More

Dr. Teru Nakagawa delivered the inaugural Kairos Lecture. Read More

Researchers identified a small molecule that improves the localization of a potassium channel frequently mislocalized and impaired in the genetic heart rhythm disorder known as long QT syndrome. The study provides proof of principle that future therapies aimed at correcting the underlying molecular defect in this potentially fatal genetic disorder could be viable. Read More

Two new compounds developed at the Vanderbilt University Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery will enable research into a protein family with ties to Alzheimer’s disease, setting the stage for the development of a different kind of therapeutic than is currently available. 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

Shan Meltzer was named a Sloan Research Fellow, one of the most competitive honors available to young investigators, for her research into how the neural circuits responsible for touch and pain processing are built and organized. 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

Dr. Teru Nakagawa, professor of molecular physiology and biophysics in the School of Medicine Basic Sciences, will deliver the inaugural Kairos Lecture on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. Read More

Whether they met at the bench or bonded over research setbacks, these alums prove that meaningful relationships can flourish alongside rigorous scientific training. In honor of Valentine’s Day, we asked them to share how they did it. Read More