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Chancellor, provost visit Fort Campbell to strengthen partnership
Vanderbilt’s longstanding partnership with the U.S. Army is centered around partnering researchers and active-duty soldiers with innovative ideas to develop high-impact technologies that can be quickly commercialized and put to use by the Army. On Jan. 24, Chancellor Diermeier and Provost Raver visited Fort Campbell army installation in Kentucky to learn more about the partnership’s successes and opportunities for deepened engagement. MORE
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FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH
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National Institutes of Health—Understanding the molecules and brain circuits recruited by stressful experience
Stressful experiences can lead to adaptive or detrimental behaviors. Understanding how stress can affect our brains can help understand basic brain function and is also essential to discerning causes and treatments for some diseases. A group of researchers led by Jeffrey Conn, professor of pharmacology at Vanderbilt, explored how specific types of neurons within the prefrontal cortex, the brain area involved in decision-making, mood and motivation, responded to acute stress in models. They found that one type of inhibitory neuron was persistently activated after acute stress, and this research implicated a receptor that has been targeted by the Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery (WCNDD) for drug development. According to Conn, “the new understanding provided by these studies has direct implications for the development of potential drugs for treatment of major depression, anxiety and other disorders associated with excessive stress responses.” Research was supported by National Institutes of Health. MORE
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National Institutes of Health—Vanderbilt researchers discover new spontaneous signaling pathway in the brain
The brain is constantly firing and controlling purposeful action potentials—electronic messages used by neurons to communicate with each other and allow the brain to function. Conversely, the way spontaneous neural communication happens in the brain has been found to make use of a different process. Ege Kavalali, William Stokes Chair in Experimental Therapeutics and chair of pharmacology, and postdoctoral researcher Baris Alten worked with Heidi Hamm, Aileen M. Lange and Annie Mary Lyle Chair of Cardiovascular Research and professor of pharmacology, to discover the mechanism of one of the modulation pathways involved in spontaneous signaling . . . . Knowing the mechanism of action for spontaneous release is critical for creating new drugs that can target that process. This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health. MORE
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National Science Foundation—Researchers aim to define host-parasite interactions by modeling the effects of coinfection on community dynamics
Research conducted at Vanderbilt has been published in a new study . . . that models how parasites interact to affect their host’s behavior. The results of the research, conducted by Faith Rovenolt, BA’20, and Ann Tate, assistant professor of biological sciences, reinforce an understanding of the influence of disease in community dynamics. The pair created a new model to study coinfection of hosts and developed a table of known interactions between parasites infecting the same hosts. Flour beetles are a great system to test questions about parasitic interactions and community dynamics because they are well-studied and frequent agricultural pests. This work was partly inspired by a 1948 study focused on the interactions between two species of flour beetles. The paper was among the first to suggest that parasites could alter community dynamics of their hosts. This research was funded by the National Science Foundation. MORE
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New fund to sustain Vanderbilt rocket team successes
A devoted and longstanding Vanderbilt University supporter has combined his interest in space exploration with his enthusiasm for the university’s rocket team, winners of an unprecedented seven NASA Student Launch national championships in 10 years. Mark F. Dalton, JD’75, emeritus trustee and former chair of the Vanderbilt Board of Trust, has established the Dalton Vanderbilt Aerospace Design Laboratory Fund to support the vision for the future of the exceptional interdisciplinary program in the School of Engineering. The aerospace design lab is home to Vanderbilt rocketeers who also have won eight NASA payload design awards, the Association Aeronautique Astronautique de France Pierre Contensou Medal, the Abe Zarem Award for Distinguished Achievement in Aeronautics from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a host of other awards from the AIAA, despite the lack of a formal aerospace program in the engineering school. The $100,000 gift will provide immediate support for the lab to expand research projects, increase the competition budget, and nurture career development of its members through liaisons with new space companies. MORE
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Adams named new associate provost in expanded research collaboration initiative
Doug Adams, Daniel F. Flowers Professor and Distinguished Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, will lead a new university initiative to secure mega awards from external sponsors. The appointment was announced February 11 by Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs C. Cybele Raver. It is among six new initiatives announced that include strengthening the university’s support of research, furthering connections and collaboration with Vanderbilt University Medical Center and further defining the future of graduate education. Most of his time will continue to be devoted to his role as a faculty member and lead at LASIR—the Laboratory for Systems Integrity and Reliability. He also is head of the Soldier-Inspired Innovation Incubator for Discovering Research-Based Solutions, which [is] building on Vanderbilt’s partnership agreement with Army Futures Command . . . to position Vanderbilt as a national model for soldier-integrated research innovation. That collaboration falls under his duties as associate provost, which will involve building other partnerships in the private sector as the federal government as well. MORE
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Board of Trust to host investiture of Chancellor Daniel Diermeier
The Vanderbilt University Board of Trust will host a series of events April 8–9 as part of the investiture of Vanderbilt’s ninth chancellor, Daniel Diermeier, including a formal ceremony with academic regalia and honored guests. An investiture is one of the oldest traditions in academia, an occasion for conferring new roles to university leaders and faculty. Though Diermeier began leading Vanderbilt on July 1, 2020, the Board of Trust postponed the investiture to help protect the health and safety of the community during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. MORE
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‘Black Excellence in Research and the Future of Diversity in Academia’ virtual event scheduled for Feb. 22
In recognition of Black History Month, the School of Medicine Basic Sciences’ monthly virtual Lab-to-Table Conversation will celebrate Black excellence in research and discuss the future of diversity in academia. The event will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 22, from noon to 1 p.m. CT. The discussion is free and open to the public. Registration is required. The panel will discuss the impacts of Black scientists on their fields of study, the current faculty climate, how inclusion and equity can continue their upward trajectory, STEM pipeline development, and access and hopes for the future of diversity in academia. MORE
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Chancellor’s Lecture Series hosts Billie Jean King and Candice Lee discussing a new era of equality in sports
Sports icon and champion of equality Billie Jean King will discuss the past, present and future of sports as part of the Vanderbilt Chancellor’s Lecture Series and the university’s yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of Title IX. The virtual event, which will be broadcast Tuesday, March 1, at 4 p.m. CT, is hosted by Vanderbilt Chancellor Daniel Diermeier and will feature Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Affairs and Athletic Director Candice Lee in conversation with King. Kicking off Women’s History Month, the event is presented in partnership with Votes for Women, Nashville Public Library Foundation. In “Game, Set, Match: A New Era of Equality in Sports,” Lee and King will discuss a range of issues, including the legacy of Title IX and paths forward for future generations. Registration is required for this virtual event, which is open to all. Please note: This virtual event will be available to the public only at the time of streaming: March 1 at 4 p.m. CT. MORE
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Vanderbilt’s English Language Center participates in resettlement of Afghan evacuees
The Vanderbilt University English Language Center recently collaborated with the Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE), a nonprofit humanitarian organization, to help with its resettlement efforts for Afghan evacuees in Nashville. The ELC supports the university’s internationalization, diversity, equity and inclusion efforts through language instruction and targeted resources for international students, faculty, staff and scholars and has continued to make community engagement part of its work. Last fall, ELC Language Teaching Specialist Carrie Cargile, who has experience working with refugees in the United States and abroad, noted the opportunity to aid in local resettlement efforts and attended NICE’s community interest meeting. At that meeting, NICE representatives shared anticipated needs, with housing as the main area requiring community support. The organization sought volunteer groups to set up homes with furniture and household items that families would need to settle in Nashville. MORE
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Engineering senior represents Vanderbilt in the Jeopardy! National College Championship airing now on ABC
Sam [Blum, an engineering science major,] is representing Vanderbilt University in the Jeopardy! National College Championship airing now on ABC. His episode airs at 7:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, one of the quarterfinals dates. Sam’s episode is the second one in the one-hour show, 7-8 p.m. CT. Three Vanderbilt students are previous Jeopardy! competitors. Zach Terrill was a finalist and earned a third-place finish in 2012. Eric Turner was a semifinalist in 2014 and Carson Smith was a quarterfinalist in 2018. Gautam Hans, associate clinical professor of law, competed in the quarterfinals of the Professors' Tournament in December 2021. 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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