Basic Science News at Duke School of Medicine

Richard G. Brennan, PhD, James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry, can count many successes during his 13 years as chair of the Duke Department of Biochemistry, including celebrating two Nobel Laureates from the department, as well as playing a pivotal role in bringing the vital technology of cryogenic electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) to Duke.

A new study led by a Duke graduate student points the way toward strategies for developing more targeted and effective treatments for patients suffering from Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, which can cause serious, even life-threatening, bleeding. 

Lawrence David has received the Schmidt Polymath Award to support his innovative genomics research aimed at developing healthier, more sustainable diets and global food systems.

Scholarships honor exceptional scholars in PhD programs.

A study from the Duke Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology reveals why higher levels of testosterone cause early prostate cancers to grow but can stop later-stage disease. The findings promise to help doctors better target treatment.

NIH Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award supports research of the immune evasion strategies of Chlamydia trachomatis, the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infection.

By analyzing their spike proteins, Duke researchers reveal how the Omicron XBB variants balance stability, receptor usage and immune evasion.

Debra Silver, PhD, professor of molecular genetics and microbiology, cell biology and neurobiology at Duke University School of Medicine, has been awarded a 2024 Javits Award by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

Christine Eyler is exploring how tumors evolve during treatment to identify vulnerabilities that could lead to more effective cancer therapies. By studying rectal cancer organoids and epigenetic changes, Eyler aims to uncover new strategies that could eventually translate into personalized treatments for patients.

Duke University School of Medicine has welcomed Nuo Li, PhD, as an associate professor in the Department of Neurobiology, and 2024 Duke Science and Technology Scholar. Li and his lab members bring a wealth of expertise in understanding the complexities of how the brain makes decisions.