Duke Clinical Research

01/16/2026

What’s more unusual than a Chihuahua with a mohawk?

A person who volunteers for research. Less than 5% of adults join studies.

🤘Be the difference.🤘

https://duke-research.dukehealth.org/studies

01/15/2026

Still chasing that New Year’s fitness goal? 🏃‍♀️💪

By mid-January, many resolutions start to slip—but Duke research shows exercise isn’t just about burning calories. Our bodies have a “fixed energy budget,” so moving more doesn’t mean endless calorie burn.

The real win? Lower inflammation, better heart health, and improved mental well-being. Clinical trials can use this insight to design realistic programs that focus on whole-body health—not just the scale.

So if your resolution feels shaky, remember: every step counts for your health. 💙
https://medschool.duke.edu/stories/why-exercise-doesnt-burn-more-calories-and-why-thats-not-point

Herman Pontzer, PhD, has spent his career studying how humans burn energy. His research suggests that exercise is essential for good health — just not for the reason most of us think.

01/13/2026

📚 History on Display: Inside Duke’s Medical Library Exhibits

Our Medical Center Library & Archives regularly features physical and virtual exhibits that showcase fascinating stories from Duke Medicine’s past:

➡️Permanent & rotating displays include historic apothecary jars, a medicinal herb garden on the Mudd Terrace, stereotactic neurosurgery tools, and memorabilia from hospitals like the WWII 65th General Hospital.

➡️Online exhibits share themes like Black medical history, the Duke Poison Control Center, women’s impact at Duke, and the Highland Hospital experience.

🌿 Visit in person or explore online—step into stories of innovation, care, and community across Duke’s medical journey.

See current and upcoming exhibits here: https://mclibrary.duke.edu/about/exhibits

01/12/2026

Applications Now Open for the Durham Early College of Health Sciences!

Rising ninth graders who reside in Durham County and are interested in pursuing a healthcare career can apply to attend the Durham Early College of Health Sciences (DECHS) now through Friday, January 30.

DECHS is a tuition-free Early College program within Durham Public Schools. It blends high school and college-level coursework to prepare students for in-demand healthcare careers. Graduates earn a high school diploma, college credit, and a healthcare credential, all while gaining real-world experience through Duke Health internships and job shadowing.

Graduates are prepared for careers in nursing, clinical research, medical assisting, and surgical technology, with direct hiring opportunities at Duke Health.

Register to attend the Open House information session and tour on January 14 at 11 A.M. or 6:30 P.M. at 41 Moore Drive in Durham.

Interested families of current eighth grade students residing in Durham County can click here to register for either the 11 a.m. or 6:30 p.m. session.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScvybcLRCuh50eW_oAyD095QDej6LZocsx3GqqIbxZMp_9StA/viewform

01/09/2026

Exploring the Link Between COVID-19 and Diabetes

The COVID-19 and Diabetes Assessment (CODA) study is a nationwide research effort exploring how COVID-19 and other factors, like medications, diet, and exercise, impact people newly diagnosed with diabetes.

Duke is one of several academic sites contributing to this important work. Researchers aim to understand:
-How COVID-19 influences blood sugar control and inflammation
-Links between lifestyle factors and vascular health
-Long-term outcomes for people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes

Findings will help improve diabetes care and prevention strategies for future patients.

Learn more about the study’s goals and how to join:
https://codadiabetesstudy.org/

The COVID and Diabetes Assessment study’s goal is to gain a deeper understanding of what happens in the first one to two years after a diagnosis of diabetes. The study will examine the possible impact of COVID-19 and other factors on early diabetes. The study will recruit patients recently diagnos...

01/08/2026

🔍 New Clues About Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Researchers at Duke found that small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) may start from basal stem cells, not neuroendocrine cells as scientists once thought. These shape-shifting cells can turn into tougher cancers that are harder to treat.

Why this matters:
🫁Tumors from basal cells look more like real SCLC in patients.
💊These cells may be easier for the immune system to spot, which could help new treatments work better.
🔬Duke is testing ways to block these cells from changing and becoming harder to treat.

Learn more: Duke Chronicle

The study, published in British scientific journal Nature, suggests that the disease may begin in basal stem cells — long-lived cells that help repair and replace damaged tissue in the lungs — contradicting what scientists have thought for decades.

01/06/2026

From Fatal to Manageable: Duke Research Brings Hope

Pompe disease once meant a short life. Today, thanks to Duke-led enzyme therapy, patients are living longer and healthier

💡 Research transforms possibilities.
👉 Learn more: https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/durham-county-news/once-fatal-in-infancy-pompe-disease-patients-now-surviving-into-adulthood-thanks-to-duke-research/

CBS 17

New research from Duke University shows patients diagnosed with infantile-onset Pompe disease are surviving into their 20s thanks to early treatment.

01/05/2026

Big Leap in Lung Research!

Duke and Penn State scientists are 3D‑printing a living, breathing lung, a first-of-its-kind model to study how flu and bacteria interact inside human lung tissue. This breakthrough could transform how we fight pneumonia and develop new treatments.

🔬 Innovation in action: bringing respiratory research to life.

Duke University and Penn State receive $3.2 million from NIH to bioprint a breathing lung model for flu-bacteria research and vaccine breakthroughs.

12/22/2025

C.Difficile Vaccine Study in Adults 65 Years of Age and Older

Duke is doing a study to find out if a vaccine for C. difficile (a germ that can cause bad diarrhea) is safe and helps the body make antibodies to protect against it.

If you take part, you will:
-Attend an enrollment visit to review consent, medical history, medications, have a physical exam, blood draw, and receive first study vaccine
-Attend second vaccination visit about 6 months later to get the study vaccine, have vital signs checked, and provide blood
-Complete a 7-day symptom diary after each vaccination and a every 2-week diarrhea diary until the study ends
-Attend 2 required clinic visits and others as needed and complete telephone calls as scheduled

The study lasts about 3 ½ years. You will be compensated for your participation including:
• $150 for in-person visits,
• $50 for telephone calls,
• $75 for each diary after the shot,
• $10 per month for the diarrhea diary.

For more information about the study, please contact the study team at 919-668-3464 and/or DVTUstudies@dm.duke.edu.

Pro00118801

12/18/2025

🌍 Plastic Waste: A Health, Environmental, & Economic Crisis ♻️

Plastic pollution is costing us more than we think. A new Duke University study reveals the true price of plastics goes far beyond litter: it adds up to hundreds of billions to over a trillion dollars every year in health care costs, lost productivity, and environmental damage.

Why it matters:
🔹 Environmental harm: Plastics pollute rivers, oceans, and soil, threatening wildlife and ecosystems.
🔹 Health risks: Chemicals in plastics—linked to inflammation, hormone disruption, and chronic diseases—pose serious public health concerns.
🔹 Hidden costs: Cleanup, health burdens, and infrastructure damage push the U.S. price tag into the hundreds of billions to $1+ trillion annually.

Did you know?
➡️ The U.S. generates about 48 million tons of plastic waste each year, yet only 5–6% is recycled, according to the Department of Energy. Most ends up in landfills or is incinerated.

What can we do?
✅ Choose reusable items instead of single-use plastics
✅ Support policies and innovations that reduce plastic production and waste
✅ Share this post to raise awareness

Read the full story:

New research tallies the hidden health, environmental and economic impacts of litter — and why upstream fixes matter.

12/17/2025

Duke Pneumococcal Vaccine Research

Duke researchers are studying an investigational vaccine to better understand its safety and how it affects the immune system. The vaccine targets a type of bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae, which can cause serious infections.

Why It Matters:
Streptococcus pneumoniae can cause pneumonia (a lung infection), meningitis (an infection around the brain), and blood infections. These illnesses can be especially serious for young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Learning more about vaccines that target this bacteria may help improve future prevention.

About the Study:
This is an early-phase (Phase 1) study focused on safety and immune response in adults. The study includes clinic visits for health checks and blood samples, two vaccine doses given several months apart, short symptom diaries after vaccination, and follow-up visits over about 14–18 months.

For more information, contact the study team at 919-668-3464 or DVTUstudies@dm.duke.edu

Pro00118817

12/16/2025

🥷🧠 Did you know a fungus can sneak into your brain?

Duke scientists discovered that Cryptococcus, a dangerous fungus, can go undetected for almost two weeks before your brain’s immune cells notice. Why? Microglia stay “asleep” until T cells send a wake-up call.

This insight could help doctors fight fungal meningitis and save lives, especially in people with weakened immune systems.
👉 Read the full story:

Study shows a deadly fungus gets a two-week head start on the brain’s defenders. It points to a new strategy for boosting the immune system to fight Cryptococcus.