Research from Vanderbilt Health highlights connections between physical activity and mental resilience, while health experts weigh in on public health topics ranging from infection prevention to emerging treatments for mental health conditions and cancer care. The studies underscore how behavioral and clinical interventions are evolving to address common health challenges.
Physical Activity and Mental Health
A study highlighted by Self magazine found that people who are physically active tend to be more resilient in stressful situations and less anxious overall. Dr. Caitlyn Mooney, assistant professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Vanderbilt Health, contributed to the research on this connection between physical fitness and psychological well-being.
Depression and Dietary Approaches
Everyday Health reported on a new study examining the keto diet’s potential to help treat depression. Aaron Brinen, assistant professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Vanderbilt Health, was interviewed for the article, which explores emerging dietary interventions for mental health conditions.
Precision Medicine for Cancer
WTVF News Channel 5 documented how patients with head and neck cancer are using 3-D printed tumor models to support their recovery from surgery. The program, led by Dr. Michael Topf, associate professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, helped patient Michael DiDio recover from laryngeal cancer. Also involved were Dr. Kenji Kobayashi, assistant professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and Brent Griffin, the 3-D printing lab’s lead imaging design engineer.
Vaccine Development and Infection Prevention
Researchers at Vanderbilt Health developed an experimental vaccine administered to the mucosal lining of the colon that protected against illness, death, tissue damage, and infection recurrence. The findings, reported February 18 in Nature, represent a major step forward for vaccine development for C. difficile, the leading cause of health care- and antibiotic-associated infection.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://news.vumc.org/2026/02/27/the-resilience-of-the-physically-active-dumbbell-hygiene-3-d-tumor-prints-plus-other-stories-with-vanderbilt-health-sources/