News
Erves co-develops ‘PoRT’ scale to gauge perception of trust and distrust in biomedical research among minority populations
May. 18, 2023—A Vanderbilt University Medical Center-led team has developed a scale to measure trustworthiness in biomedical research among minority populations — a landmark tool for researchers to use to improve their own trustworthiness, and thus participation in research. The Perceptions of Research Trustworthiness (PoRT), described in an original investigation published in JAMA Network Open, is a groundbreaking tool designed...
Harris named Department of Medicine’s Executive Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs
May. 17, 2023—Bryan Harris, MD, MPH, MMHC, assistant professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases within the Department of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, has been named executive vice chair for Clinical Affairs for the department, effective July 1. He succeeds Cecelia Theobald, MD, MPH, who is moving into new roles as VUMC’s Chief...
Self and colleagues awarded $31.6 million federal grant to pursue phenotyping research on acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pneumonia and sepsis
May. 16, 2023—Vanderbilt University Medical Center has received a six-year, $31.6 million federal grant to lead a national effort to better understand acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pneumonia and sepsis, which together kill hundreds of thousands of people in the United States each year. Grant HL168478 is jointly funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute,...
GLP1 receptor agonists are more effective than DPP4 inhibitors in reducing adverse cardiovascular events in veterans with diabetes, says Roumie
May. 15, 2023—GLP1 receptor agonists — a class of diabetes medications — are associated with fewer major adverse cardiovascular events than another type of diabetes drug (DPP4 inhibitors) in older veterans with no prior heart disease. The findings, reported May 9 in Annals of Internal Medicine, will aid clinicians in choosing a diabetes drug regimen for older patients....
Pettit and Vanderbilt colleagues discuss the dangers of misinformation regarding the HIV epidemic
May. 12, 2023—We write as infectious diseases specialists who live and work as HIV physicians and researchers in Tennessee to correct the record regarding numerous falsehoods in the guest opinion column on April 25 entitled: “Why Tennessee’s decision to reject federal AIDS funding was the right move”. The effectiveness of HIV antiretroviral treatment is unequivocal. As a result...
Antoon investigates psychiatric comorbidities in adolescents and children to better understand self-harm risks
May. 10, 2023—The United States is in the midst of a mental health crisis with rising rates of hospitalization for suicide and self-harm events among children and adolescents. A recent study, “Characteristics Associated with Serious Self-Harm Events in Children and Adolescents,” set to be published in the June issue of Pediatrics, looked at how best to determine which children...
Heerman named Chief of General Pediatrics
May. 9, 2023—Bill Heerman, MD, MPH, associate professor of Pediatrics, has been named chief of the Division of General Pediatrics, effective May 1. Heerman, who has spent his entire career at Vanderbilt, was selected following a national search led by Kathryn Edwards, MD, who retired at the end of 2022, and S. Todd Callahan, MD, MPH, professor...
Mild-to-moderate COVID-19 cases can alter upper respiratory tract microbiota for several weeks, says Rosas-Salazar
May. 8, 2023—The microbes that live in our upper respiratory tract (URT microbiota) play a role in respiratory health. Disturbances of the URT microbiota during respiratory infections can impact disease severity, immune response, and even development of chronic lung diseases such as asthma. Justin Turner, MD, PhD, Suman Das, PhD, and colleagues used ribosomal RNA gene sequencing to...
Rise in pinkeye cases may be associated with Covid-19, says Schaffner
May. 5, 2023—Pinkeye — an inflamed, itchy and painful eye — is common during allergy season. But now some doctors are concerned the ailment may also be associated with a new coronavirus subvariant. Health experts say they have not conclusively linked the condition, formally called conjunctivitis, to the subvariant Arcturus. But anecdotal reports suggest the subvariant may produce fever and conjunctivitis,...
Fritz discusses risks associated with increased food insecurity in Tennessee
May. 4, 2023—A rising number of Tennessee families are choosing to skip meals or change their spending habits as food costs continue to increase. In a Fall 2022 poll of more than 1,000 Tennessee parents, the Vanderbilt Center for Child Health Policy found that over 40% of families reported low or very low food security — a 10% increase...