News
Vanderbilt invests in research space to bolster faculty productivity
Feb. 8, 2024—For the spring 2024 semester, Vanderbilt University opened 114,000 square feet of new and renovated lab space to support faculty and students as they pursue groundbreaking research. The spaces, which are in the Engineering and Science Building and 17th and Horton (formerly the Sony Building), house faculty from four colleges and schools and more than...
Innovation Ignition Fund
Jan. 8, 2024—The School of Medicine Basic Sciences and the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Innovation are piloting the Innovation Ignition Fund, which will de-risk small molecule therapeutic projects at the very early target-validation and lead-optimization stages. Selected projects will receive up to $500,000 over two years and industry mentorship from drug development experts...
Stone wins pitch competition for mock biotech company
Dec. 12, 2023—CryoSalt safeguards biological products with nature’s antifreeze. Based on research from scientists at UT, Knoxville, CryoSalt introduces a non-toxic, safe-to-consume cryopreservation reagent derived from bile salts that can protect cells and proteins from damaging ice crystals and temperature fluctuation. With CryoSalt, precious biologic drugs are better preserved and cheaper to store and transport, ultimately saving...
Qiangjun Zhou Receives R01 Grant
Nov. 24, 2023—Qiangjun Zhou, Ph.D., received his first R01 Grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) for his project title “Synaptic nanostructure and dysfunction in neurodevelopmental disorders” An R01 is for mature research projects that are hypothesis-driven with strong preliminary data. R01s provide up to five years of support, with a budget that reflects the costs...
Ken Lau named 2023 Stanley Cohen Innovation Fund Awardee
Nov. 8, 2023—Ken Lau, professor of cell and developmental biology, 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 in single cell genomics. This work will propel Vanderbilt forward as a leader in the field by leveraging novel technology to develop customized sequencing-based assays...
Riedmann named Godschalk Research Fund Inaugural Recipient
Oct. 27, 2023—Zenobia Godschalk and Mark Godschalk, BA’92, of Atlanta, Georgia, have established the Zenobia and Mark Godschalk Research Fund within the School of Medicine Basic Sciences to support novel research in biology or immunology. The inaugural award of the research fund has been presented to Kyle Riedmann, a cell and developmental biology graduate student in the lab of Julie Bastarache....
Tyska Lab Images Part of Quantum Potential World Premiere Immersive Performance
Oct. 25, 2023—Vanderbilt Blair School of Music professor Ji Hye Jung’s performance of “Velocities” by Joseph Schwantner was matched to live cell images. The images were captured in the lab of Matthew Tyska, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor, Cell and Developmental Biology in the School of Medicine Basic Sciences.
Ihrie and Irish Earn Cover of Clynical Cytometry
Oct. 12, 2023—Cyclic immunohistochemistry (cycIHC) uses sequential rounds of colorimetric immunostaining and imaging for quantitative mapping of location and number of cells of interest. Additionally, cycIHC benefits from the speed and simplicity of brightfield microscopy, making the collection of entire tissue sections and slides possible at a trivial cost compared to other high dimensional imaging modalities. However,...
Weaver Among Team Receiving $3M NSF Grant
Sep. 28, 2023—A team of Vanderbilt engineers, biologists and education specialists have received a $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation to advance large-scale biomanufacturing of cell-derived nanoparticles that can deliver precisely targeted drugs to the site of a disease. “Biomanufacturing is a growing but critical field that is reshaping how we diagnose and treat some...
Burkewitz Lab Awarded R56 Grant From NIA
Sep. 20, 2023—This grant will underwrite highly meritorious applications that if given the opportunity to revise their application could meet IC recommended standards and would be missed opportunities if not funded
Vivian Gama New Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusive Mentoring
Sep. 1, 2023—During a Cell & Developmental Biology reception, Dean John Kuriyan announced Vivian Gama has accepted the position of Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusive Mentoring
Megan Stanchfield Awarded Ruth Kirschestein NRSA Predoctoral Fellowship
Aug. 29, 2023—Megan Stanchfield, (Levin lab) was awarded 3 year Ruth Kirschstein NRSA Predoctoral Fellowship The Kirschstein-NRSA program is to enable promising predoctoral students with potential to develop into a productive, independent research scientists, to obtain mentored research training while conducting dissertation research. The F31 is also used to enhance workforce diversity though a separate program.
Neil Dani Honored with 2023 Rita Allen Foundation Scholar Award
Aug. 24, 2023—In a landmark achievement, Neil Dani, an assistant professor in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, has been named a 2023 Rita Allen Foundation Scholar. The prestigious grant program supports early-career biomedical scholars who adopt bold and innovative approaches to fundamental scientific questions in cancer, immunology, neuroscience and pain. Dani is the first-ever researcher in...
Department of Cell & Developmental Biology Celebrates the Promotions of Ken Lau and Jeff Spraggins
Aug. 12, 2023—In a recent reception held by The Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Department Chair Ian Macara was delighted to share various glowing remarks in support of the faculty promotions of Ken Lau to Professor, and Jeff Spraggins to Associate Professor
Gailey Awarded F31 from National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Jul. 15, 2023—Casey Gailey, (Miller lab) awarded F31 from National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke with her project titled: “NCAM drives synaptic remodeling in developing GABAergic neurons in C. elegans”