Basic Sciences | Vanderbilt University

3D graphic of a human neck in which the spine is visible, but the focus of the image is a thyroid gland over the spine. The image seems to glow in pinkish tones and the thyroid has yellow/orange light emanating from it.

PFAS—‘forever chemicals’—directly shown to alter thyroid structure and function

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

Mar. 23, 2026

Targeting immune suppression to overcome melanoma resistance

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

Feb. 16, 2026

RNAscope of representative anaplastic thyroid cancer samples showing staining for TNC or fibroblast-activating protein. Credit: Hartmann, H. A. et al. (2025). Tenascin-C promotes tumor progression in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma via Wnt activation. Endocrinology, 166(4), Article bqaf030. https://doi.org/10.1210/endocr/bqaf030

Vanderbilt researchers identify key molecular driver in aggressive thyroid cancer

Researchers discovered that the protein tenascin-C is a crucial molecular player in the aggressiveness of anaplastic thyroid cancer. The results could lead to better targeted therapeutics for thyroid cancer. Read More

Apr. 3, 2025

Harnessing a key growth pathway to reprogram tumor-associated macrophages

Researchers in the lab of Vivian Weiss, assistant professor of pathology, microbiology, and immunology, recently published a review article in Cancer Research that describes the role of the Wnt pathway in TAMs and tumor biology. Read More

Jan. 3, 2024