Vanderbilt ALS Research Center (VARC)
Advancing precision medicine for ALS through innovative, interdisciplinary research in genetics, epigenetics, and data-driven discovery.
Director: Veronique Belzil
https://www.vumc.org/neurology/vanderbilt-als-research-center
The Vanderbilt ALS Research Center (VARC) is an interdisciplinary hub dedicated to accelerating ALS research through innovation, collaboration, and a strong commitment to improving patient outcomes. VARC is structured around four key branches: VARC-MIND (Multi-Omics & Informatics for Neurodegenerative Disease), VARC-BioModel (Biology & Cell Modeling Research), VARC-BioCoRe (Biospecimen Collection & Repository), and VARC-ALLIES (ALS Leadership, Liaison, and Engagement in Science), which focuses on administration and community outreach. Our dynamic team includes three PhD students, a postdoctoral fellow serving as interim director of VARC-MIND, two senior lab technicians-one also acting as lab manager and the other leading post-mortem tissue recovery for neurodegenerative cases to ensure high-quality biospecimen collection for research and biobanking-and dedicated branch leaders for each research and operational core. Our research spans from developing more reliable human cell models to the discovery and validation of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets. By integrating data-driven discovery with hands-on biological research and deep community engagement, VARC is working to transform the landscape of ALS science and care.