News
Manny Ascano promoted to associate professor with tenure!
Feb. 14, 2022—Manuel Ascano, Jr., Ph.D., Biochemistry Department has been promoted to Associate Professor with tenure! Dr. Ascano is also the Associate Professor or Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, the Director of Graduate Studies for Biochemistry, and Dean Faculty Fellow. His research focuses on DNA/RNA detection and regulation in innate immunity & viral pathogenesis. The research program of the Ascano laboratory is centered on...
Pietenpol named chief scientific and strategy officer
Feb. 10, 2022—Jennifer Pietenpol, PhD, director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC), Benjamin F. Byrd Jr. Professor of Oncology and Executive Vice President for Research for Vanderbilt University Medical Center, is stepping down on June 30 from her long-held role as the Cancer Center’s director to focus on a combined leadership role for VUMC as chief scientific...
Eichman named AAAS Fellow
Feb. 10, 2022—Congratulations to Dr. Brandt Eichman, newly elected AAAS Fellow!
Kevin Schey named ARVO 2022 Gold Fellow
Dec. 16, 2021—The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology named Kevin Schey, Ph.D., a 2022 Gold Fellow. This honor recognizes Dr. Schey’s service and mentorship in advancing research for vision science worldwide. ARVO seeks to understand, treat, prevent, and cure vision disorders.
Former Chair of Biochemistry Michael Waterman has died
Nov. 12, 2021—On November 7, 2021 Michael Waterman, former chair of the Department of Biochemistry, passed away. Waterman was chair of biochemistry for 18 years and helped develop the department into a place where faculty could thrive. “Mike believed in empowering faculty,” David Cortez, current chair of the department, said. “He always pushed to have the concerns and...
Breann Brown & Will Wan awarded NIH grants for high-risk, high-reward research
Oct. 5, 2021—Vanderbilt scientists Breann Brown and Will Wan, PhD’14, have received 2021 National Institutes of Health Director’s Awards for their unconventional, bold approaches to research that advances knowledge and enhances health. These grants are awarded from the NIH Common Fund’s High-Risk, High-Reward Research Program, which supports “highly innovative and unusually impactful biomedical or behavioral research proposed...
Cohen Innovation Award Recipient, Dr. Houra Merrikh, highlighted in VU news
Sep. 28, 2021—Houra Merrikh, professor of biochemistry has been selected to receive a one-year research award from the Stanley Cohen Innovation Fund. The award will support groundbreaking and paradigm-shifting research, including Merrikh’s study of the molecular drivers of evolution that enables cancer to develop resistance to drugs. Established through philanthropy in 2019 and named after the late Nobel laureate...
Ascano receives Chancellor’s Award for Research
Aug. 30, 2021—Manny Ascano is the 2021 Channcellor’s Award recipient for ground-breaking cancer research. Chancellor Daniel Diermeier, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Cybele Raver and Faculty Senate Chair Mark Magnuson, Louise B. McGavock Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, presented awards to 13 faculty members during the Fall Faculty Assembly on Aug. 26. The awards recognize...
An interview with Chuck Sanders, newly elected president of the Protein Society
Aug. 25, 2021—This summer, Chuck Sanders, associate dean for research, professor of biochemistry, and Aileen M. Lange & Annie Mary Lyle Chair in cardiovascular research at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Basic Sciences, took the helm of the Protein Society as president with a term until 2024. Sanders was voted in as president of the society by...
Susan G. Komen funds VICC breast cancer initiatives
Jul. 20, 2021—Jul. 15, 2021, 10:22 AM by Tom Wilemon Susan G. Komen has announced breast cancer research grants totaling $14 million, including funding for three separate initiatives led by Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) researchers. The funding focused on two key areas — research to better detect and treat stage IV metastatic breast cancer and research to...