Nanaline H. Duke Fund Supports OPSD Programs

OPSD is deeply grateful for the renewed support from the Nanaline H. Duke Fund, whose generosity powers the Duke Physician‑Scientist “Strong Start” Award program. With a new $11.45 million award, the fund expands Duke’s capacity to equip early‑career physician‑scientists with research time and resources needed to pursue bold, innovative research that advances human health.

Strong Start has supported 46 physician‑scientists from 10 Duke School of Medicine departments with three years of research funding. The vast majority of the scholars have remained at Duke, and together they have secured more than 135 federal and private awards, resulting in critical medical advancements. Two exemplary Strong Start Scholars are Mara Serbanescu, MD, an anesthesiologist who investigates gut microbial in organ failure, secondary infections, and delirium, and Jeffrey Russ, MD, PhD, a pediatric neurologist who studies neurodevelopmental disorders and brain injury in infants.

Read more about these incredible investigators—along with insights from Duke University President Vincent E. Price and OPSD Director Rasheed Gbadegesin, MD, MBBS— in the “Fund fuels new opportunities for physician‑scientists at Duke” article written by Emily Ford on the Made For This Duke Campaign website.