News
New structures offer insight into how a bacterial motor powers bacterial chemotaxis, a key infectious process
Jul. 12, 2024—Bacteria existed for millennia before humans and have been infecting us from the beginning. Although we can treat infections through pharmaceuticals, bacteria continue to become resistant to treatment thanks to their rapid evolution. Bacterial infections remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in 2024, resulting in nearly eight million annual deaths globally. One key...
Hodges lab sheds new light on mechanisms of gene regulatory divergence between species
Jul. 12, 2024—Closely related animal species can look physically different, but you might be surprised to learn that those differences can result not only from DNA sequence changes that alter proteins’ structure or function, but also because changes in the DNA affect how those proteins are expressed. To add to that, not all differences between species can...
David Cortez wins Protein Society award for contributions to basic protein science
Jul. 12, 2024—David Cortez, the Richard N. Armstrong Ph.D. Professor of Innovation in Biochemistry and chair of biochemistry, won The Hans Neurath Award, a 2024 Protein Society Award, for recent contributions of exceptional merit to basic protein research.
Pietenpol to receive ASCO’s highest honor
Jul. 12, 2024—Jennifer Pietenpol, PhD, Executive Vice President for Research, and chief scientific and strategy officer for Vanderbilt University Medical Center, will be recognized at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) with one of its highest honors.
Kimryn Rathmell named American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
Jun. 23, 2023—Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD, was recently inducted as a American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) fellow for her record of volunteer service, dedication and commitment to the organization.
Ascano and Jackson named 2023 Chancellor Faculty Fellows
Jun. 7, 2023—Thirteen outstanding faculty members from across the university have been selected for the 2023 cohort of Chancellor Faculty Fellows. This group is composed of highly accomplished, recently tenured faculty from a wide variety of disciplines and areas of expertise. “As we reflect on the 150th anniversary of our founding, we’re asking our university community to...
Osheroff honored with APMEC mentoring award
Jun. 2, 2023—Dr. Neil Osheroff was the keynote speaker at the 20th annual Asia Pacific Medical Education Conference (APMEC) in Singapore and received their MILES (Mentoring, Innovation, and Leadership in Educational Scholarship) Award. APMEC, an Asian medical education conference, had over 1,000 delegates in attendance. I am sharing a picture of the award ceremony. Pictured here is...
Vanderbilt and Bruker establish first of its kind Mass Spectrometry Center of Excellence
May. 2, 2023—Vanderbilt University and Bruker Daltonics, a manufacturer of scientific instruments for molecular and materials research, are collaborating to establish a Mass Spectrometry Center of Excellence housed in the Mass Spectrometry Research Center at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Basic Sciences. The MSRC is a university-wide facility serving the university and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. It...
Cortez lab work featured in Research News article
May. 2, 2023—An international collaboration steered by David Cortez, Richard N. Armstrong, Ph.D. Chair for Innovation in Biochemistry, explored how cells tolerate DNA damage and genome instability—and they arrived at conclusions that will redirect research into DNA replication as a target for cancer and disease therapeutics.
Vanderbilt Mourns the Loss of Tadashi Inagami
Mar. 16, 2023—Tadashi Inagami, PhD, DSc, Vanderbilt University Professor of Biochemistry, emeritus, who helped characterize the biochemical basis for hypertension, heart failure and vascular disease, died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 13 after a brief illness. He was 92. “Tad was an exceptional scientist in the hypertension research field and brought international recognition to Vanderbilt and the Biochemistry...
Vanderbilt Mourns the Loss of Conrad Wagner
Mar. 16, 2023—Dr. Conrad Wagner passed away on March 13, 2023. Connie joined the Department of Biochemistry as an Assistant Professor in 1961 and maintained an active laboratory studying one-carbon metabolism and folic acid until becoming emeritus Professor of Biochemistry in 2015. His research was part of an internationally recognized division of nutrition within the department for...
Wan named Pew Scholar in Biomedical Sciences
Jun. 14, 2022— William Wan, assistant professor of biochemistry at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Basic Sciences, has been named a 2022 Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences. “As a Pew Scholar, our lab will use and develop cutting-edge methods like cryo-electron tomography to determine how Ebola virus infects host cells,” Wan said. “Being chosen as a Pew Scholar...
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!