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Diermeier commends Class of 2021 for leadership during year of adversity
Chancellor Daniel Diermeier thanked the Class of 2021 for leadership that “sets the bar high for future generations of Vanderbilt students” during his first Commencement address at the university’s in-person and virtual ceremony on May 15 at Vanderbilt Stadium. During his inaugural Commencement address, Diermeier spoke to more than 4,850 graduating seniors and their guests at the stadium as well as those watching online. Vanderbilt’s 146th class graduated after a year rocked by a raging COVID-19 pandemic, a resulting global economic crisis, and racial justice protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd. MORE
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Dr. Anthony Fauci encourages Class of 2021 to lead by unifying country around shared health goals
Dr. Anthony Fauci, America’s leading expert on infectious disease research, called on the Class of 2021 during his Graduates Day address to use the skills they honed at Vanderbilt to help Americans come together on what should be a universal goal: defeating the COVID-19 pandemic. Fauci spoke virtually to the 2021 graduates and their families on May 14. Fauci is the 2021 recipient of Vanderbilt University’s prestigious Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal, one of the university’s highest honors, which is given to individuals who define the 21st century and exemplify the best qualities of the human spirit. MORE
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COVID-19 vaccination required for students in fall 2021
Vanderbilt University today announced it will require new and returning students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for the 2021–22 academic school year. The requirement applies to all undergraduate, graduate and professional students this fall, and it will be handled in a manner consistent with other university policies governing student vaccine requirements. Accommodations for medical exemptions can be requested through the Student Access office and religious exemptions can be requested through the Equal Opportunity and Access office. MORE
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FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH
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Research Snapshot: Neuroimaging study discovers alterations in brain circuits that contribute to alcohol use disorder
A novel neuroimaging study [at the Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research] provides the first evidence that a small region of the brain, called the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, has gender-based network structural connectivity differences in early abstinence from alcohol. Through the brain-imaging technique Diffusion Tensor Imaging, the researchers used 3D modeling to identify the structural nerve tract connections of the BNST, which regulates stress responses and anxiety-like behaviors during abstinence from alcohol. This is the first time that BNST structural networks in early abstinence have been studied in humans. The key finding was that women in the abstinence group showed stronger overall BNST network structural connectivity compared with women in the control group, a difference that was not seen in men. Women in early abstinence from alcohol use disorder show important alterations in brain connectivity that could underlie anxiety-induced relapse. [This research is supported by the National Institutes of Health.] MORE
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Research Snapshot: Vanderbilt astronomers lead preparation for supermassive black hole analysis
A team of international astronomers and physicists led by postdoctoral fellow in multi-messenger astrophysics Nihan Pol and Stephen Taylor, assistant professor of physics and astronomy, used realistic simulations of low-frequency gravitational waves to predict that within the next several years astronomers will likely be able to detect and study the most massive black holes in the universe. This work is a foundation for extracting the underlying astrophysics of galaxies and the pairs of supermassive black holes that produce gravitational waves—the stretching and squeezing of spacetime predicted by Einstein’s general theory of relativity—once those waves are detected. As the team waits for the signal to reach its crescendo, they found that this detection will also arrive packaged with more information about the multiple pairs of black holes giving off the low-frequency gravitational waves. [This research is supported by the National Science Foundation Physics Frontiers Center.] MORE
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Vanderbilt student group strives to ‘move the needle’ on COVID-19 vaccinations
A Vanderbilt student-led initiative has partnered with the Division of Administration to drive greater awareness within the university community on the benefits of COVID-19 vaccinations. Noah Lustbader, a first-year student and vice president of the Vanderbilt Initiative for Public Health Equality, reached out earlier this spring to the Division of Administration about student interest in making a difference by helping to reduce vaccine hesitancy among staff and others on campus. Of particular concern might be staff who are not able to be in front of a computer frequently to access information. Lustbader and the other students then reached out Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of health policy and professor of preventive medicine, who is an internationally renowned infectious disease specialist. Schaffner discusses the importance of COVID-19 vaccinations and dispels inaccuracies that could be causing vaccine hesitation within the Vanderbilt and broader community. MORE
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Ask an Expert: Why is it important for child-bearing aged women to seek preventative care during the pandemic?
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Research Snapshot: Study proves poor maternal heart health results in preterm birth, low birthweight and cesarean birth
With researchers from the University of Massachusetts Boston, James Muchira, a postdoctoral fellow in the Vanderbilt School of Nursing, has confirmed the correlation between poor maternal cardiovascular health and adverse childbirth outcomes. For every heart health risk factor a mother has, likelihood of an adverse childbirth outcome—defined as preterm birth, low birthweight and cesarean birth—increases. Clustering of risk factors is more likely found among women who are not college educated, who have an annual income of less than $40,000 and who identify as non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic and American Indian/Alaska Natives. Maternal high blood pressure is the strongest predictor of an adverse childbirth outcome. MORE
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LaLonde named associate vice chancellor for community engagement
Kristine LaLonde, a former Nashville Metro Council member and veteran public servant, educator and community volunteer, will join Vanderbilt University’s Division of Government and Community Relations as associate vice chancellor for community engagement. LaLonde most recently served as director of shared strategy for the Nashville Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency, where she collaborated with colleagues and community partners to create greater opportunity for Nashvillians living in poverty. She worked across Metro departments and with nonprofit partners and other government agencies to create more effective systems of support for those in the community experiencing homelessness, including serving on the team that established emergency accommodations for unsheltered residents in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. MORE
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May 25: The Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy to host book launch and talk on ‘Faithful Presence’ with author Gov. Bill Haslam
The Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy, the Fetzer Institute, and Vanderbilt Divinity School will present a discussion on the role that religious faith plays in politics as explored in Faithful Presence: The Promise and the Peril of Faith in the Public Square, a new book by former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, May 25, from noon to 1 p.m. CT. The discussion will be virtual and is open to the public. Registered participants may submit a question for consideration by the moderator. MORE
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VUbrief summarizes Vanderbilt news items to inform our Congressional community of developments at the university. Visit our website for past issues of VUbrief. Vanderbilt University Office of Federal Relations (202) 216-4361
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