SriniVas Sadda to join Duke as chair of the Department of Ophthalmology
SriniVas Sadda, MD, FARVO, will join Duke Health as chair of the Department of Ophthalmology effective November 10, 2026.
PhD candidate discovers a hidden way that a fungal pathogen may resist treatment
Some fungal pathogens survive antifungal drugs by mutating. But Aspergillus fumigatus, a common mold, has a stealthier strategy: it duplicates entire chromosomes, rides out the threat, then discards the extra genetic material once the pressure lifts — leaving no trace that resistance ever occurred. Duke University School of Medicine PhD candidate Anna Lehmann made the discovery while working in the lab of Joseph Heitman, MD, PhD, James B. Duke Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology. Her findings, published in the July 2006 issue of Current Biology, establish the first evidence that A. fumigatus can gain and lose entire chromosomes.
Sullivan to lead basic and preclinical science at Duke School of Medicine
Beth A. Sullivan, PhD, has been appointed vice dean for basic and preclinical science at Duke University School of Medicine, effective July 1, 2026.
N.C. ready to lead in reducing heat risk
Extreme heat is a growing public health threat, hitting outdoor workers, older adults, and people in rural or low-income communities the hardest. Duke University School of Medicine researchers say North Carolina is well positioned to lead efforts to reduce that impact, building on the state’s Heat Health Alert System and the NC DETECT surveillance platform.
Blake Wilson and cochlear implant team win 2026 Merkin Prize
Duke University’s Blake Wilson has been awarded the 2026 Merkin Prize in Biome
Durham Early College of Health Sciences finishes first year strong, with nearly 100% retention
A collaboration between Duke Health, Durham Public Schools, and Durham Technical Community College, the Durham Early College of Health Sciences prepares high school students for healthcare and clinical research careers through an innovative curriculum and hands-on learning experiences. This pathway is the first of its kind to provide entry directly from high school into the clinical research workforce. The school just completed its first year with a nearly 100 percent retention rate.
The surprising hormone behind the next generation of weight-loss drugs
The science behind next-generation obesity drugs may come down to an unexpected player: glucagon, a hormone that boosts energy expenditure for sustained weight loss.