Latest IPPH Community News

A large multi center study published in JAMA Network Open found that adults who received the 2024–2025 COVID 19 vaccine were 40% less likely to be hospitalized and nearly 80% less likely to experience respiratory failure requiring ventilation or death, underscoring the vaccine’s strong protection against severe disease. Led by the IVY Network with Vanderbilt Health as the coordinating center, the findings highlight that updated COVID 19 vaccines remain highly effective despite viral evolution, reinforcing the importance of staying up to date with vaccination.

Dr. Velma McBride Murry Awarded APA Distinguished Scientific Award The American Psychological Association has awarded Vanderbilt University Medical Center Distinguished Professor Velma McBride Murry, PhD, with the APA Distinguished Scientific Award for the Applications of Psychology, recognizing her career of “exemplary integration of science and practice, reinforcing the value of psychology in addressing societal needs.”

Vanderbilt Health is leading an expanded national clinical trial, REVERSE LC, to test whether the immunomodulatory drug baricitinib can improve persistent neurological and cardiopulmonary symptoms of long COVID. Enrollment is now expanding to 13 additional sites across the U.S. Led by Wes Ely, MD, MPH, with expansion coordinated by Sean Collins, MD, MSc, the study aims to deliver urgently needed evidence to treat what Ely calls a “massive yet under recognized global public health problem.”

A new study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology found that more than 40% of women test for pregnancy several days before their expected period, increasing the likelihood of confusing results, such as false negatives or early positives followed by negatives, that may reflect very early pregnancy loss. Alexandra Sundermann, MD, PhD, said the findings highlight the need for clearer, evidence-based guidance, as testing too early can lead to unnecessary emotional distress and misunderstanding of results.

A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology found that notifying women during mammography visits about their eligibility for lung cancer screening significantly increased uptake of low dose CT scans, surpassing researchers’ enrollment targets at two academic medical centers. Stephen Deppen, PhD, MA, and colleagues demonstrated that coordinating lung cancer screening with mammography serves as a powerful “teachable moment,” helping close long standing gaps in lung cancer screening among eligible women.

A new JAMA Pediatrics study introduced the nation’s first pediatric acute care atlas, mapping hospital service and referral regions across the U.S. using more than 28 million encounters to improve research, policy, and health system planning. John Graves, PhD, of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said the atlas provides a powerful, data driven foundation for better understanding how children access acute care and for informing strategy, performance measurement, and policymaking nationwide.

New VIGH Grant Supports Epilepsy Study in Africa's Sahel Region In this region, treatment gaps affect up to 96% of patients, leaving millions without care. Edwin Trevathan, MD, MPH, received a $2.8 million federal grant in collaboration with in-country investigators to launch a five-year study focused on the epidemiology and genomics of epilepsy in Africa's Sahel region. The project is funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the NIH.