Duke Clinical Research

02/24/2026

From Labs to Clinics Across Campus — Discover Duke’s Experts Through Scholars@Duke

Just down the road from the Chapel, across Duke’s labs, classrooms, and clinical spaces, researchers and clinicians are advancing discovery every day.

Scholars@Duke brings all of that work into one public, searchable hub — making it easy to explore the expertise, research interests, and clinical activities of Duke faculty, students, and research teams.

Whether you’re interested in basic science, engineering, the humanities, or clinical research that impacts patient care, Scholars@Duke helps you find the people behind the ideas. Explore topics, browse publications, see collaborations, and learn more about the work happening across campus.

Start exploring:
🔗 https://scholars.duke.edu/

02/23/2026

Faces of Research: How Science Saves Lives

Every day, Duke researchers and clinicians work together to turn scientific discovery into real‑world healing — and the impact shows.

From premature infants beating the odds in Duke’s NICU to patients surviving aggressive cancers thanks to innovative treatments, these stories highlight the people at the heart of Duke research and the lives transformed by it.

Meet the families and patients behind the breakthroughs ⬇️
🔗 https://today.duke.edu/2026/02/faces-duke-research-saves-lives

Faces of Research Sometimes when you're sick, all you need is rest to feel better. But other times, the issue is more complicated. Those are the moments that healthcare backed by cutting-edge research comes to the rescue. The Faces of Research series captures the stories of Duke Health patients who....

02/20/2026

🌫️🌫️How does air pollution affect the lungs?🌫️🌫️

Duke researchers are studying how environmental exposures — especially ozone — influence lung function and the immune cells that protect our airways.

The Macrophage Regulation of Ozone-Induced Lung Inflammation (MOLI) Study is designed to help us understand what happens in the lungs when people breathe irritants found in the environment. By examining airway cells and inflammatory responses, we hope to learn more about why some people may be more sensitive to pollution and how the body recovers after exposure.

This work provides insight into lung health, environmental risk factors, and potential ways to protect communities from the effects of poor air quality.

Participation info:
https://duke-research.dukehealth.org/studies/pro00110603

02/19/2026

A world‑record attempt… for CPR.❤️‍🔥🏆

Duke and partners across North Carolina are joining forces for a one‑day push to train more people in hands‑only CPR than ever recorded. Big goal, bigger impact.

Find a location near you:
https://medschool.duke.edu/news/duke-lead-statewide-attempt-break-world-record-most-cpr-training-one-day

02/18/2026

🌊 Ever Wonder What Happens to Your Body 100 Feet Underwater?

Duke’s hyperbaric program has been a leader in extreme‑environment physiology for more than half a century. The first hypo‑hyperbaric research chamber was installed at Duke in 1963, launching pioneering studies on oxygen toxicity, high‑pressure physiology, and the limits of human performance.

Today, Duke’s hyperbaric program continues to support patients and clinicians across the Southeast with specialized hyperbaric care and its internationally recognized research into diving, hyperoxia, decompression, and environmental physiology.

Some of the current hyperbaric projects involve healthy volunteers as part of understanding how people respond to pressure, oxygen exposure, and other real‑world diving conditions. This work helps improve diver safety, guides emergency and military protocols, and expands what we know about human performance underwater.

https://anesthesiology.duke.edu/hyperbaric-center/research/opportunities

02/17/2026

AI tools can be helpful for quick information, but they can also miss important context...especially when it comes to your health. Duke experts break down the hidden risks of relying on AI for medical advice 🤖⚠️

Real patient questions aren’t clean or clinical. They’re emotional. Confusing. Sometimes a little chaotic. And most AI chatbots? They’re engineered to agree with you — not steer you to real care.

Duke University computer scientist Monica Agrawal, PhD, analyzed more than 11,000 real-world patient–AI conversations and found ways to get the most out of using AI for health advice.

🔗 Read more at the link in our comments.

📸: Eamon Queeney

02/16/2026

Duke was recently ranked #32 worldwide for U.S. utility patents granted to universities in 2025, with 94 patents issued last year. 🤓

According to The Duke Chronicle, the patents span areas such as AI‑supported tumor surgery, breast cancer treatment strategies, wastewater systems, and quantum computing hardware.

https://www.dukechronicle.com/article/duke-university-national-patents-in-2025-research-commercialization-cancer-therapy-quantum-20260213

In 2025 alone, Duke received 94 patents. Being patented allows researchers to protect their research and intellectual property, and it often brings financial benefits. The Chronicle compiled a list of five interesting patents that the University secured last year.

02/11/2026

Can Crossword Puzzles Help Improve Mild Memory Loss?

Seeking Volunteers with Mild Memory Loss. What Does the Study Involve?
-Memory testing
-Brain MRI scans
-Computer brain training with crosswords
-Compensation for time

Volunteers are eligible who:
-Age 55-89 years
-Have experienced mild memory loss
-Do not currently do crossword puzzles on a regular basis

Contact Cammie Hellegers
919-681-3986

02/09/2026

💡✍️ Learning how to explain science is part of learning science

Students from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) are getting hands‑on practice in science communication: interviewing researchers, asking thoughtful questions, and turning complex ideas into clear stories for a general audience.

Their work is published in Vertices, an undergraduate science magazine that focuses on explaining research through accessible, human‑centered storytelling.

Why this matters: science has the greatest impact when people can understand it. Teaching students how to communicate clearly builds critical thinking skills, public trust in science, and prepares them to connect research with the world beyond the classroom.

Read more:
https://today.duke.edu/2026/02/high-school-perspective-duke-research

02/05/2026

👀 Can vaccines train the immune system to fight cancer? Duke researchers are working to find out.

Can Vaccines Help Us Treat Cancer? Published February 2, 2026 Credits Video by Erin Roth Duke Health Marketing and Communications Tags Duke Cancer Institute Scholars Zachary Conrad Hartman Associate Professor in Surgery Associate Professor in Integrative Immunobiology Associate Professor in Patholog...

02/04/2026

🧠🏈 Football & brain health in Black men

A Duke study is exploring how repeated head impacts from tackle football, along with social and economic factors across the life course, may influence brain health and aging in Black men, a group at higher risk for dementia but often underrepresented in research.

The research focuses on Black men age 50 and older, including those with and without a history of sports‑related head injuries.

🔗 Read the article:
https://medschool.duke.edu/news/duke-study-tackles-footballs-impact-black-mens-brain-health

🔎 Study overview and how to join:
https://duke-research.dukehealth.org/studies/pro00117164

Robert W. Turner, II, PhD, a former NFL defensive back is now a medical sociologist at Duke University School of Medicine and a leading voice urging Black men to join brain health research.