News: Genome Maintenance Research Program

Transcription factors — proteins that regulate gene expression — play critical roles in cell fate decisions and are frequent targets of mutation in a variety of human cancers.

For the second time, cancer researchers at Vanderbilt have discovered a protein that—when genetically manipulated to impede it from interacting with a gene responsible for cancer genesis—effectively melts tumors in days.

David Cortez, PhD, Richard N. Armstrong Professor of Innovation in Biochemistry and professor of biochemistry, has been named interim chair in the Department of Biochemistry beginning Jan. 1, 2021.

Vanderbilt researchers have uncovered another piece in the puzzle of how cells divide — a process that goes awry in cancer cells.

The Kidney Cancer Association is recognizing the research accomplishments and leadership achievements of W. Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD, with its top honor, the Eugene P. Schonfeld Award.

James Dewar and colleagues have identified a role for the enzyme topoisomerase II in reducing replication errors during the final stage of DNA synthesis.

Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD, director of the Division of Hematology and Oncology, received an award that honors women who embody the achievement, vision and inspiration of the founder of a local distillery.

Investigators have discovered how a DNA repair pathway protein shields sites of damage to avoid mutations and maintain genome integrity.

Neil Osheroff, PhD, received the Distinguished Career Award for Excellence in Teaching and Educational Scholarship from the International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE).

Larry Marnett and colleagues have developed what may become the first agent for targeted PET imaging of cancer tissues, such as ovarian cancer, that express high levels of the COX-1 enzyme.