NEWS!

Sanders-Bush named ASPET fellow

Elaine Sanders-Bush, professor emerita of Pharmacology, has been named a member of the inaugural class of Fellows of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET). Sanders-Bush was one of 22 fellows, including Fred Guengerich (Biochemistry).

Carrasco, Merryman honored with endowed chairs

Nancy Carrasco (MPB) and David Merryman (Biomedical Engineering) have been named as holders of endowed chairs. Carrasco is now the Joe C. Davis Chair in Biomedical Science, and Merryman is the Walters Family Chair. All eight of the new endowed chair holders were recognized at a ceremony held September 16.

Wente, Macara named ASCB Fellows

Provost Susan Wente (CDB) and Cell and Developmental Biology Chair Ian Macara have been named 2019 American Society for Cell Biology Fellows! Fellows are recognized for their meritorious efforts to advance cell biology and/or its applications and for their service to the ASCB.

NIDA award for Calipari

The National Institute on Drug Abuse has announced that Erin Calipari (Pharmacology) will receive one of its Avenir Awards to conduct research on the genetics and epigenetics of substance abuse.

Rathmell honored as achiever, visionary, inspiration

Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery honored three women with the 2019 Louisa Nelson Award, including Kim Rathmell (Medicine), as leaders in Nashville’s business and cultural communities. Rathmell was recognized at a ceremony alongside poet Ciona Rouse and community activist Rasheedat Fetuga.

Monteggia named to BBRF Scientific Council

Lisa Monteggia (Pharmacology) is one of six new members of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation’s Scientific Council. Members of the council review grant applications and award grants to support scientists conducting research on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illnesses.

Art unveiling reception for Basic Sciences

On October 9, Basic Sciences unveiled the new artwork that will adorn its U1202 MRBIII conference room for the next year. Check out the artwork – including a commissioned piece and work from our own students, postdocs, staff, and faculty – on our Instagram page (or in person!).

PMI has new interim Chair, Vice Chair for Research

The Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology has named Alice Coogan (PMI) as its new Chair and Eric Skaar (PMI) as its new Vice Chair for Research. Coogan is filling the vacancy left by Samuel Santoro (PMI), who led the Department of Pathology starting in 2003 and oversaw its merge with Microbiology and Immunology in 2011.

How to engage lawmakers

MSTP graduate student Joe Luchsinger (Winder lab, MPB) wrote a Nature Careers piece detailing his experiences advocating for science and science funding within the government. Read his story and see how you, too, can engage with your representatives.

New faculty featured in MyVU

Two Basic Sciences faculty have been featured in the MyVU newsletter. Houra Merrikh, who joined the Department of Biochemistry in January of this year, and Nancy Carrasco (MPB), who arrived this past July as the new chair of the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics.

Chancellor’s Public Voices fellows named

Three faculty members, including Tony Capra (Biological Sciences) and Renã Robinson (Chemistry), have been selected as the Spring 2020 Chancellor’s Public Voices Fellows, an opportunity that will allow them to develop highly tailored plans to communicate and promote their scholarship and public profile on the national and international stages.

Vanderbilt Prize winner delivers lecture on treating heart muscle disorders

Christine Seidman (Harvard Medical School) was named the 14th recipient of the Vanderbilt Prize in Biomedical Research, and delivered a lecture on the advances in genetics that might help us devise new ways to treat cardiomyopathies. Seidman will also be mentoring graduate student Megan Rasmussen, who was named the 2019 Vanderbilt Prize Scholar, for a year.

Postdocs recognized for their contributions

The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs held three events to commemorate National Postdoc Appreciation week, held September 16-20.

Winn awarded APS fellowship

Nathan Winn, a postdoc in the lab of Alyssa Hasty (MPB), has been awarded one of the American Physiological Society’s inaugural postdoctoral fellowships.

Biochemistry names new travel award recipients

The Department of Biochemistry has announced graduate students Kelly Barnett (Emily Hodges lab), Sarah Glass (Fred Guengerich lab), and Taha Mohamed (David Cortez lab) as the 2019 recipients of its Graduate School Travel Award.

Pua receives New Innovator Award

An NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, designed to support “unusually innovative” research from early-career investigators, has been awarded to Heather Pua (PMI).

New Discoveries

ID’ing DNA replication-associated proteins

The lab of David Cortez (Biochemistry) has identified 593 proteins that are enriched and 101 proteins that are depleted at replication forks. This new searchable resource has been extensively validated and was published in Cell Reports.

Identifying a male-killing gene

The lab of Seth Bordenstein (Biological Sciences) has identified wmk as the gene that is likely responsible for the male-killing phenotype in flies infected with Wolbachia bacteria.

Clarifying GABAA’s role in autism, epilepsy, and intellectual disabilities

Research from the lab of Jing-Qiong Kang’s (Neurology) lab has shed light on how different GABRB3 mutations can lead to drastically different epilepsy phenotypes.

How H. pylori contributes to cancer

The lab of Richard Peek (Medicine) and collaborators have published research that suggests that chronic infection with the gastric invader can lead to gastric adenocarcinoma through the stimulation of Lrig⁺ progenitor cells.

Generic drug protects against C. difficile infection

Work from the labs of David Aronoff (Medicine) and Eric Skaar found that misoprostol, a generic drug from the ‘70s designed to prevent gastrointestinal ulcers in people taking NSAIDs, protects mice against severe CDI and promotes the recovery of mouse gut microbiota following antibiotic perturbation.

Know Your Core

Did you know that Basic Sciences boasts 19 cores that can help you with an assortment of needs and techniques? We’ll be featuring them each month so that you can get to know them. Maybe they can help you with that project you’ve been putting off… Just don’t forget to acknowledge them in your publications!

The Vanderbilt Mouse Neurobehavioral Laboratory (MNL) provides specialized equipment and analysis software to perform a broad range of behavioral phenotyping – from basic physiological responses to pharmacological treatments to complex cognitive and social/emotional processing. This core offers two major service options: (1) self-service, where customers are trained to use equipment and perform all testing themselves, and (2) full service, where the Core Director develops a test battery in consultation with the PI and where trained MNL staff performs and analyzes the behavioral tests.

External Funding Opportunities

Basic Experimental Studies with Humans

The NIH has recently announced the publication of new funding opportunities specifically for research involving human subjects that aims to understand the fundamental aspects of phenomena without an immediate or apparent application. See their FAQs here and keep on the lookout for these opportunities.

NSF predoctoral fellowships

The National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program is open to doctoral students in a variety of STEM disciplines. The deadlines vary, but they cluster in the week of October 21. Make sure to reach out to your administrative officer at least one month before the deadline to begin working on your submission.

NIH Loan Repayment Program

The LRP has made some changes (including raising the yearly maximum from $35K to $50K), so make sure you visit their website to learn more and to apply by November 15.

DARPA Young Faculty Award

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Young Faculty Award (YFA) program will provide high-impact funding to elite researchers early in their careers to develop innovative new research directions in the context of enabling transformative Department of Defense capabilities. Applications must be submitted by November 19.

NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology

The NSF is soliciting applications for their Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB), which must be submitted by 5:00 PM (in the applicant’s local time zone) on November 19. This fellowship is meant for early-career postdocs, so doctoral students are invited to look this grant. Please visit their website to find out all eligibility requirements.

New NIH F33 grant opens for NIGMS-funded PIs

This F33 is targeted toward experienced scientists who wish to make major changes in the direction of their research careers or who wish to broaden their scientific background by acquiring new research capabilities. Standard application dates apply to this grant (next deadline: December 8). Visit the program announcement for more details.

F series NIH fellowships for predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees

The NIH has a series of fellowships available to doctoral students and postdocs that can help you distinguish yourself and support your research. Visit their website to find out more about each type of fellowship. The next deadline is December 8.

Internal Funding Opportunities

School of Medicine Research Staff Awards

To recognize the invaluable efforts that research staff at all levels provide, VUMC grants three School of Medicine Research Staff Awards to Research Assistants, Senior Research Specialists, Research Nurses, Core Facility Managers, Core Research Assistants, and Research Support Staff from across the research enterprise. Nominations must be submitted by October 21.

Academic Pathways Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Academic Pathways Postdoctoral Fellowships program at Vanderbilt is designed to bridge fellows between academic training and entry-level faculty positions. For more information, visit their website. The application window will be open October 1 to November 1.

Call for TIPS proposals

The Office of the Provost has issued a call for proposals for Trans-Institutional Programs, designed to support new ideas, cutting-edge research, and the development of infrastructure by supporting emerging and existing trans-institutional centers and institutes. Pre-proposals are due October 29. More information is available here.

Call for Chancellor Faculty Fellows nominations

The Office of the Provost has issued a call for nominations of associate professors to appointment as Chancellor Faculty Fellow, which provides research support of $40,000/year for two years. Nominations are due November 8. More information is available here.

Call for University Course Proposals

The Office of the Provost has issued a call for proposals for University courses to enable faculty to introduce and teach innovative courses to students from across each of the schools and colleges. Proposals are due November 12. More information is available here.

Global Research and Engagement Micro-Grants

The Office of the Provost invites faculty to submit proposals for the Global Research and Engagement Micro-Grants to help with the opportunity to pursue international research, scholarship, and creative expression projects, or to pursue strategic, time-sensitive opportunities for global research and engagement. Applications for this grant are received on a rolling basis through June 2020, and winners are announced monthly.

VINSE pilot funding available

The Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science Engineering (VINSE) announced that funding is now available to provide Vanderbilt investigators the opportunity to utilize VINSE tools to obtain preliminary results for new research initiatives. Typical awards range from $500 to $2,000 for up to 6 months on a fiscal year basis and are designed to cover VINSE user fees. For more information about this funding opportunity or to apply visit the VINSE website.

Faculty Spotlight: Erkan Karakas, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics