Life Sciences Innovation: Tennessee Health Care Shapes The State’s Future

Courtesy of Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Medical research has a significant presence in Tennessee, with globally recognized research institutions, including Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), both in Memphis, attracting intellectual capital to the state. 

Collaboration is Key

“The discoveries our scientists at UT Health Science Center make every day inform solutions to many of the health problems impacting our region and are an essential part of our mission to support healthy Tennesseans and thriving communities,” says Dr. Jessica Snowden, vice chancellor for research at UT Health Science Center. 

“Not only does work like this impact the lives of the people who live and work in Tennessee, but it also establishes our scientists as national leaders and collaborators.” 

Snowden says new potential therapies for cancer, blood disorders, seizures and more are being developed and tested in partnership with pharmaceutical companies, and the entrepreneurial pipeline is growing. 

The UTHSC’s Office of Research collaborates across its campus in Memphis and across the state with other UT system partners. 

“We’re developing forums for people to share ideas with potential colleagues across the system, looking toward ways to incentivize and reward collaborative projects, and proactively identifying funding opportunities that we can engage multidisciplinary teams to pursue,” Snowden says. 

Also in Memphis, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a global leader in developing treatments and cures for childhood cancer, sickle cell disease and other life-threatening disorders. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. 

Courtesy of Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Vanderbilt University Medical Center: World-Class Research and Patient Care

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is one of the nation’s longest-serving and most prestigious academic medical centers, and the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine is among the nation’s leading research-intensive medical schools. 

Susan Meyn, VUMC’s associate vice president for research resources, says its extensive network of more than 80 specialized research laboratories, known as cores, supports biomedical research and provides shared resources to all School of Medicine investigators and trainees. 

“The research and clinical studies attract not only patients from around the country but also talented trainees, staff and faculty,” Meyn says. 

BioVU: A Diverse and Valuable Resource

One of the most sought-after research resources is BioVU, a world-leading DNA bank. 

“It is one of the most diverse biobanks in the world,” Meyn says. “VUMC research has advanced clinical care, changed scientific paradigms and influenced health policy with far-reaching impact. The ultimate goal of VUMC’s work is to provide the best possible patient care. VUMC patients are the most valuable research partners, and VUMC researchers highly value patient and community engagement.”