Faculty Spotlight: Matt Alexander, M.D., Ph.D.

VI4 Curation Team
July 9, 2021
Dr. Alexander earned his undergraduate degree from Duke University and his M.D./Ph.D. from the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He's an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Molecular Physiology & Biophysics at Vanderbilt researching the role of adaptive immunity in the pathogenesis of hypertension and associated cardiovascular disease... Click Dr. Alexander's photo to continue reading.

Nick Markham, MD, PhD

Nick
Markham, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor in Medicine
Assistant Professor in Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology
https://wag.app.vanderbilt.edu/PublicPage/Faculty/Details/47084

The Markham Lab investigates C. difficile bacterial toxin pathogenesis and the mechanisms of microbially influenced colorectal cancer tumorigenesis. Our long-term goal is to understand how changes in the human microbiome affect epithelial cell signaling events and inflammatory responses in colorectal cancer. Because our interests are grounded in defining microbiological and immunological mechanisms associated with tumorigenesis and cancer progression, the VI4 is an excellent fit for our program. We recently obtained a fundable impact score on an award from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The title of this proposal is “Gastrointestinal cell type-specific signaling and C. difficile toxin pathogenesis.” A second project has gained momentum and originated as part of the Vanderbilt Colon Molecular Atlas Project (ColonMAP). Our focus is to understand how the disrupted spatial organization of the gut microbiota known as invasive biofilm formation may accelerate colorectal cancer. We have recently obtained pilot funding from the VICC Gastrointestinal SPORE program to develop a novel single-cell RNA-sequencing technology. The method uses oligonucleotide barcodes conjugated to C. difficile toxins for determining how such toxins affect pro-tumorigenic transcriptional programs in the colon. These basic science research projects ideally will form the foundation for exciting opportunities to translate discoveries into therapeutic and diagnostic strategies.

Publications on PubMed.gov

nick.markham@vumc.org

Colorectal cancer, C. difficile, cancer biology, microbiome, transcriptomics, organoids, microbial toxin pathogenesis

Graduate Student Spotlight: Nicolas Gray Shealy

VI4 Curation Team
June 29, 2021
Nicolas grew up in Columbia, SC and attended the College of Charleston. After graduating in 2018, he participated in a post-baccalaureate experience program (PREP) at the Medical University of South Carolina, working in the lab of Amy D. Bradshaw Ph.D. He came to Vanderbilt University in the fall of 2019 via Interdisciplinary Graduate Program and ultimately joined the lab of Mariana Byndloss D.V.M, Ph.D. His thesis project is centered around understanding the mechanisms bacterial pathogens use to take full advantage both of the human host and the gut microbiota. He is specifically looking into the metabolism of short-chain fatty acids and amino acids... Click the image on the left to continue reading.

It took a weekend to design a COVID-19 vaccine, and why we might not be prepared next time.

Taylor Engdahl
June 18, 2021
On January 11th, 2020, scientists around the globe awoke to the public deposition of the entire genome for the novel coronavirus – later known as SARS-CoV-2. That weekend, researchers at the University of Texas at Austin designed a vaccine based on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which adorns the surface of the virus. Just two weeks later, scientists at the NIH's Vaccine Research Center started testing the vaccine in animals. This initial design was licensed for use in the first three FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines. Many contributing factors lead to the expediency of this vaccine design, none of which compromised safety. But how could we rapidly develop a vaccine for a novel virus while other viral targets have remained elusive?... Click the image to the left to continue reading.

Faculty Spotlight: Dawn C. Newcomb, Ph.D.

VI4 Curation Team
June 9, 2021
Dr. Newcomb earned her undergraduate degree from North Carolina State University in 2002 and her Ph.D. from University of Michigan in 2007. She trained as a post-doctoral fellow in Dr. R. Stokes Peebles, Jr. M.D. laboratory at Vanderbilt University focusing on lung inflammation, viral infections, and T cell immune responses. In 2014, Dr. Newcomb started her laboratory at Vanderbilt to study how sex hormones regulate mechanisms of airway inflammation in asthma. Dr. Newcomb currently has 2 R01s to study these mechanisms...... Click Dr. Newcomb's photo to continue reading.

Guide to: Anitbody Terms

May 24, 2021
Most of the vaccines that protect us from viruses do so by stimulating your body to produce antibodies. Antibodies are y-shaped proteins that circulate in the blood and recognize and fight off pathogens such as viruses. Immune cells called B cells recognize the pathogens and make a range of antibodies in response to an infection.... Click the infographic to learn more!

Guide to: Coronavirus Terms

May 24, 2021
Coronavirus terminology can be confusing. You may see the terms SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, and coronavirus used interchangeably, but these words don't mean the same thing. Coronavirus refers to an entire family of viruses. They were named coronaviruses because, under a microscope, protrusions on the virus surface resemble a crown (or corona). Many coronaviruses cause mild, cold-like symptoms, and we may have been infected with them before unknowingly.... Click the infographic to learn more!

Guide to: COVID-19 Vaccines

May 24, 2021
Viruses are remarkably simple for how much devastation they cause. SARS-CoV-2 is composed of a ball of protein and lipids (or fats) that contains genetic material (or RNA) inside. Different vaccine approaches either use parts of the virus (e.g., the genetic material or proteins) or the whole virus to generate an immune response to fight the infection.... Click the infographic to learn more!
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