New Ancient DNA Laboratory Coming to Vanderbilt Cleanroom
Image: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Institute for Nanoscale Science and Engineering
Vanderbilt Institute for Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE) has announced a new addition to its cleanroom: a state-of-the-art laboratory dedicated to studying ancient DNA. In late 2025, a team of researchers, led by Dr. James Crowe, director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, and Dr. Katherine Van Schaik, assistant professor of radiology and radiological sciences and director of the program in Health over Time, will launch the laboratory to analyze historical tissue samples from around the world. This groundbreaking research will shed light on factors contributing to human longevity in past and modern populations and will also help researchers more deeply understand global shifts in the burden of disease over time. The valuable insights derived from this research will help us live longer, healthier lives and better prepare for future pandemics.
The news was shared during the VINSE 24th annual Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Forum (NanoDay!) event on November 22, 2024, by VINSE director, Dr. Sharon Weiss. Following the announcement, Dr. Van Schaik engaged the audience with a talk about her work analyzing CT scans and bone samples from the skeletons of 18th century sailors from the British Royal Navy, as well as her efforts collecting tissue samples from late 19th and early 20th century pathology collections.
The new laboratory, located in the BioBay of the VINSE Cleanroom, will fulfill a key component of the cleanroom’s original design, which envisioned a space for biological research. The initiative underscores the shared commitment of Vanderbilt University and the Vanderbilt University Medical Center to advancing interdisciplinary, innovative biomedical research that enhances our understanding of human health. Regarding this collaboration, Dr. Van Schaik comments, “We’re so grateful to VINSE for the opportunity to outfit this space for the unique needs of an ancient DNA laboratory, which requires exceptionally clean air because of the fragile nature of these historical DNA samples, as they are extraordinarily sensitive to contamination. Thanks to Dr. Weiss and VINSE, we will have a state-of-the-art laboratory that is unrivaled for the super-clean environment it will provide for us to assess the most delicate of historical samples, some of which are thousands of years old.”
Renovations to the BioBay are set to begin in Spring 2025, with the laboratory expected to officially open in Fall 2025. This cutting-edge facility will further VINSE’s mission to foster breakthroughs at the intersection of biology, technology, and medicine, paving the way for discoveries that will influence the future of health.
