Magnify Magazine

In the race to understand the new coronavirus and generate solutions, Duke research teams are well underway.

In fact, you could say they’ve been working on it for decades. Everything Duke experts have learned over the years about the spread of new diseases, the biology of viruses, and the techniques of developing treatments and vaccines is now being applied to the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, and the illness it causes, COVID-19.

Whether it’s finishing this season’s fifth box of Girl Scout cookies or binge-watching a Netflix show, it can be easy for the average, healthy person to think they’re developing a problem.

“I can’t believe I just finished another sleeve of Thin Mints, I’m so addicted,” or “Wow, I’m so addicted to Dexter—just finished the seventh season this weekend!” are common phrases overheard in coffee shops and grocery store lines.

This article first appeared in Duke Magazine. All photography by Alex Boerner.

When a Duke-led research team won a $300 million federal grant to help develop an AIDS vaccine in 2005, the global situation was looking grim.

Root Causes was founded by students aiming to create an organizational space to support the engagement of health professional students in service, education, and advocacy related to the social drivers of health. The goal is to shift the patient care paradigm to include elements like healthy food as a direct part of care provision.