| NEW YEAR, NEW OPPORTUNITIES
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A look ahead in 2024
As you have read in previous issues of Basically Speaking, our researchers achieved remarkable scientific breakthroughs last year, contributing to key advances in a variety of fields, including neuroscience, systems biology, structural biology, genome maintenance, and drug discovery; the coming year promises to bring even more.
I extend heartfelt recognition to the dedication and creativity with which our faculty, students, postdocs, and staff have tackled difficult problems concerning the basic understanding of fundamental biology and health issues. Their tireless efforts toward unraveling the complex underpinnings of disease are inspiring.
I would also like to give a warm welcome to the new members of our Basic Sciences faculty who bring fresh perspectives and expertise to our collaborative endeavors. I am confident that the coming year will be marked by more breakthroughs that reshape our understanding of human health.
Warm regards,
John Kuriyan
Dean of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine
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VCAR joins Discovery Vanderbilt
The Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, led by Erin Calipari (Pharmacology), has joined the cadre of research centers supported by Discovery Vanderbilt. VCAR researches ways of understanding how addiction and substance use disorder develops in the brain, with the goals of developing new pharmaceutical strategies and destigmatizing addiction so it ceases to be seen as a personal failing.
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Colorectal cancer ‘cartography’ reveals an avenue to improved immunotherapy
New findings reported Dec. 7 in the journal Cell by Ken Lau (Cell and Developmental Biology) and Robert Coffey (Medicine) could lead to new ways of bringing colorectal tumors into the harsh and potentially curative light of immunotherapy.
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Study uses new tools, machine learning to investigate major cause of blindness in older adults
Kevin Schey (Biochemistry), in conjunction with an international collaboration, developed new protocols to study which molecular pathways might be important in the aging retina and what might cause deposits in the eye that confer higher risk for age-related macular degeneration.
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Gut microbiota metabolite protects against obesity: study
Bacteria residing in the small intestines produce a compound that protects against obesity, Mariana Byndloss (Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology) and graduate student Catherine Shelton have discovered.
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Potential schizophrenia treatment enters phase I trials
A potential schizophrenia treatment—discovered through the Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery and developed through Neumora Therapeutics—has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in phase 1 clinical trials.
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Bone metabolism changes with aging
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ACNP elects new members
The American College of Neuropsychopharmacology has announced its new cohorts of associate members, members, and fellows, including three Basic Sciences-affiliated faculty:
- Associate members: Cody Siciliano (Pharmacology)
- Members: Erin Calipari (Pharmacology)
- Fellows: Paul Newhouse (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences)
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Kit Neikirk named Marshall Scholar
Postbaccalaureate research intern Kit Neikirk (Antentor Hinton Jr. lab) has been named a 2024 Marshall Scholar by the British government. Neikirk will pursue a master’s in public health and an advanced degree in biomedical imaging at University of Edinburgh and University College London, respectively.
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Hinton invited to Thought Leaders Rountable, joins editorial board
Antentor Hinton Jr. (Molecular Physiology and Biophysics) was invited to the Thought Leaders Roundtable, an annual Research!America event that this year focused on "actionable solutions to comprehend and tackle the complexities of trust in science." According to Hinton, "The outcomes are intended to be implemented and advocated for across various science agencies."
Hinton was also asked to be an associate editor for the bioenergetics section of Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences.
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The Lord of the Rings leaves it all on the court
In this new article, Vice Dean of Basic Sciences Chuck Sanders (Biochemistry) offers insightful analogies between J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of The Rings and the costs involved when heart and soul are invested in scientific research.
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Fifth annual BRET Winter Showcase enchants audiences
Langford Hall was transformed into a hub of creativity and community on Dec. 14 as the fifth annual BRET Winter Showcase, sponsored by the Biomedical Research Education and Training program, unfolded to the delight of students, faculty, and the broader Vanderbilt community.
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VBI video wins first place
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CSB Symposium 2024
Registration is now open for the Center for Structural Biology Symposium 2024! The event is scheduled for March 28 and features scientific talks from preeminent structural biologists, a poster session, and Science Jeopardy hosted by Ray Blind (Medicine). Visit the symposium website for more info and program updates.
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ASPIRE student and postdoc Job Search Series kicks off
The ASPIRE Job Search Series will kick off with a "Resumes/Industry CVs" session at 11:00 a.m. on Jan. 11 in 411 Light Hall. Learn tips for clearly and concisely presenting your professional skills and accomplishments. Graduate students and postdocs planning to apply for the ASPIRE Mock Interview Day or ASPIRE on the Road for Spring 2024 should plan on attending this session to help them prepare their resumes/CVs for these opportunities.
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Second annual VIRAL International Symposium
The second annual symposium of the Vanderbilt International Researchers Alliance, “Research and Stories,” is scheduled for April 18 at the Community Event Space on Greek Row. Registration is open and abstracts are due by Feb. 20. All international trainees are encouraged to share their stories as international researchers through talks, posters, or just at the happy hour!
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2024 Vanderbilt Brainhack
Vanderbilt will be hosting its first-ever brainhack event on Jan. 20–21. Wondering what a brainhack is? Here’s a snippet from their website: “Whether you’re looking to solve the mysteries of your current research or kickstart a fun, collaborative venture, our open hacking projects are your ticket to an adventure in innovation and creativity.”
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Call for proposals: Basic Sciences Innovation Fund
The School of Medicine Basic Sciences is excited to announce the inauagural Innovation Ignition Fund. The pilot program supports promising, early-stage small molecule therapeutic projects to the point where they are ready for major funding, industry partnership, and/or spin-off to sustain momentum toward their potential success. The IIF is presented in collaboration with the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Innovation.
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SOM faculty awards are open for nominations
Nominations for the 2024 School of Medicine Faculty Awards are open until 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 2.
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Beyond the Lab Season 7
In the Beyond the Lab series, the ASPIRE Program interviews Vanderbilt Ph.D. and postdoctoral alumni about their career paths. Season 7 offers new episodes covering career-related questions such as paths since training at Vanderbilt, specific details of job duties, skills obtained after Ph.D. training, and work-life balance. New epsidoes drop on Tuesdays. Find Beyond the Lab on its website or on Apple podcasts.
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CISR office hours
The Cell Imaging Shared Resource hosts weekly office hours on the first Tuesday of each month at 9:00–11:00 a.m. Have questions about imaging, analysis, sample preparation, or scheduling? Stop by and ask them anything!
Find CISR staff in 704 Light Hall or T-2216 MCN.
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New OPA postdocs Slack team
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ARC Program
The Advancing Research Careers (F99/K00 and UE5) is part of the National Institutes of Health’s efforts to promote diversity within the biomedical research workforce and is designed as a structured program to enhance participation of trainees from diverse backgrounds as they transition from predoctoral research training to postdoctoral research and career development.
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Have a job opening you’d like to promote? Send us a link or a description and contact info, and we’ll post it here for three issues. Renew postings anytime!
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About this issue's bannerThis acrylic painting was created by Xinyu Dong (Cell Developmental Biology) from the lab of Roy Zent (Medicine). It was inspired by Henri Matisse’s Dance II and shows a nephrologist dancing on a kidney with his favorite cell types: proximal tubule cells and podocytes.
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We regularly update our website with some of the latest VU Basic Sciences news stories. Check it out.
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About the newsletterThis newsletter recognizes the achievements and latest discoveries of students, postdocs, faculty, and staff associated with Basic Sciences departments, centers, and cores or who carry out basic biomedical research at Vanderbilt.
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Help friends and family keep up with Basic Sciences!
Basic Sciences has a number of communication avenues that you or your loved ones can use to keep up with what's going on here. If they're not already getting the Reading List, Vital, and Lab-to-Table Conversations announcements, send them to our subscription center!
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Keep up with biomedical science seminars
To receive weekly email notices about upcoming seminars focused on the biomedical sciences, please email Tracy O'Brien. To submit your event for the weekly email, send it to the "bioseminar" email address.
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Send us your news Got an announcement or an upcoming event? Did we miss out on celebrating you or your lab's successes? Let us know!
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