Vanderbilt Genetics Institute

VGI community gathers at YMCA Lodge for its annual scientific retreat

This year, the VGI community gathered with colleagues to discuss the theme: “Into the Human Genetic Multiverse: Exploring infinite dimensions of genomic, clinical and multi-omic discovery.” Topics of discussion centered around how best to leverage various data types to accelerate paths to therapeutic intervention with speakers leveraging the full power of the infinity gauntlet during their presentation. The retreat concluded with lunch and an open invitation for participants to practice their hatchet throwing skills.

Millions get wrong genetic test, study finds

VGI investigators Elizabeth Phillips, MD and Matthew Krantz, MD publish their work in JAMA Network Open. Their research revealed that a genetic marker already used to flag risk of a life-threatening reaction to the antibiotic vancomycin also identifies patients at risk of that reaction to lamotrigine — and it is missing from the gene panels clinicians order before prescribing the drug. The consequence of this oversight could result in false reassurance about genetic disposition for a rare life-threatening drug reaction.

Ela Knapik discusses what fish can reveal about disease 

Ela Knapik still remembers the first zebrafish she saw under a microscope—two days old, no bigger than an eyelash, tail wiggling, heart visibly beating.” Zebrafish have captivated her interest ever since – today serving as a model organism to unravel biological mysteries such as musculoskeletal damage from BCARD syndrome, a rare connective-tissue disorder. In 2025, Knapik was named a 2025 fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science – for pursuing her curiosity with zebrafish, using them to investigate human disease at the genetic level.

Large-scale study uncovers 57 genetic hotspots into stuttering origins

Members of the Vanderbilt Genetics Institute led the largest genetic analysis of stuttering, which has demonstrated a clear genetic basis for the speech disorder, highlighting neurological pathways of risk. The study was published July 28 in the journal Nature Genetics. 

The accompanying video is produced by the research team to explain the results of the study.

Jennifer Below named director of Vanderbilt Genetics Institute

As the new director of the VGI, Dr. Below is charged with leading the institute into its next decade of innovation, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration, advancing genomic discovery and building on its international reputation for excellence.

Trainee Spotlight