Getting bang for your buck
Precancer Detection
Vanderbilt cell and developmental biologists have made progress in understanding the origins of cancer by studying the precise timing of cellular growth. Their work suggests that colorectal cancer often arises from multiple normal cells in the intestinal lining, not just a single cell. The researchers developed a highly precise molecular “clock” that can track the timing of cellular events at a single-cell level. Their research provides valuable insights into the complex origins of colorectal cancer.
Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia
The successful clinical trial of VU319, a drug for memory loss in people with Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia, marks a significant step forward in the development of Alzheimer’s treatments.
Researchers at the Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery have completed a phase I single ascending dose clinical trial that demonstrated target engagement and no adverse effects. This milestone highlights Vanderbilt’s ability to drive discovery from research to clinical impact.
WCNDD researchers have also created a new compound that could potentially treat both the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. They propose a novel target and mechanism that could improve cognition—a negative symptom—while also treating the positive symptoms, such as hallucinations.
Further research building on these findings could lead to the development of new compounds that are effective without adverse effects, providing a new therapeutic approach for addressing the comprehensive symptoms of schizophrenia.
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