About

About the Vanderbilt Center for Extracellular Vesicle Research

The Vanderbilt Center for Extracellular Vesicle Research (CEVR) is a vibrant community of extracellular vesicle (EV) investigators working to uncover the molecular mechanisms that govern EV biogenesis, cargo, and function. Today, our EV Center is the only comprehensive EV Research Center in the US and the largest in the world, bringing together more than 100 faculty, trainees, and staff with expertise spanning basic, translational, and clinical research. We come together from Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Meharry Medical College to exchange ideas and forge collaborations that advance discovery and innovation across cancer biology, RNA biology, immunology, metabolism, infectious disease, neuroscience, cardiovascular biology, and regenerative medicine. By bringing together investigators with complementary expertise and providing access to cutting-edge technologies, shared resources, and collaborative opportunities, CEVR accelerates fundamental discoveries, fosters scientific innovation, and advances our understanding of EVs in health and disease.

Unlike traditional research cores, CEVR is built around scientific collaboration rather than a fee-for-service infrastructure. We provide Center members with no-cost access to specialized EV instrumentation, hands-on training, and expert consultation By lowering barriers to advanced technologies and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, we empower investigators to pursue innovative, high-impact research.

CEVR supports every stage of the research enterprise. We organize seminars, workshops, and our annual EV Research Retreat; foster trainee development through mentorship, networking, core vouchers, and travel awards; and catalyze new research through pilot funding and assistance with competitive grant applications. We also partner closely with industry to evaluate emerging technologies and accelerate the adoption of innovative approaches for EV isolation, characterization, imaging, and molecular analysis.The discoveries made by our CEVR community have established Vanderbilt as an international leader in EV research. Together, we are advancing our understanding of fundamental EV biology and engineering approaches, translating this knowledge into new diagnostics, therapeutics, and precision medicine that will shape the future of EVs as a tool in medicine.

The discoveries emerging from the CEVR community have established Vanderbilt as an international leader in extracellular vesicle research. Together, we are uncovering the fundamental principles of EV biology, developing transformative technologies, and translating these discoveries into new opportunities to understand, diagnose, and treat human disease.