Research

As core tenets of the Section, research and innovation continue to be fundamental focuses of our faculty and trainees—despite the challenges presented by an ongoing pandemic.

The Section expanded its geographic footprint with new local and global collaborations. Faculty pursued funding and dedicated themselves to providing new information about a worldwide virus. At only two years old, the Department of HNS&CS debuted in the top 20 of the Blue Ridge rankings for 2020, while the Department of Surgery held its position at number three for National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding.

The Duke Section of Surgical Disciplines continues to be a driving force in seeking solutions to the world’s most complex medical and scientific problems.

From left: Derek Cain, PhD; Garnett Kelsoe, PhD; Justin Pollara, PhD; Guido Ferrari, MD; Stephanie Jost, PhD; Thomas Denny, MSc, MPhil; Georgia Tomaras, PhD; Keith Reeves, PhD; Chip Walter, MD; Tony Moody, MD. Not pictured: Greg Sempowski, PhD.

Road to Discovery

In June 2021, a number of faculty in the Department of Surgery’s Division of Surgical Sciences moved into their labs at Duke Research and Discovery @RTP, a new research hub for Duke University School of Medicine scientists, located in the heart of Research Triangle Park.

The research taking place at the RTP campus is funded in large part from a Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Centers (CIVICs) federal grant that was received in 2019 by the Duke Human Vaccine Institute (DHVI) from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. With Thomas Denny, MSc, MPhil, Professor of Medicine and chief operating officer of the DHVI, at the helm, the 273,000-square-foot facility will serve as a base for researchers to focus on the transmission and prevention of infectious diseases like COVID-19, influenza, HIV, and more.

Amplifying Global Partnerships

In 2021, physician–scientists in the Section of Surgical Disciplines pursued research outside of North Carolina’s triangle, with several conducting projects on an international scale. Collaborations with institutions across 12 countries have strengthened Duke’s research mission. This global expertise directly benefits Duke’s local community of patients.

Gif counting up to the twelve faculty working on international projects
Gif counting up to the fifteen international projects currently in progress
Gif counting up to the over 18 institutions partnering on international projects
Graphic illustration of the national flags of: Brazil, Canada, England, France, Israel, and the Netherlands
Gif counting up to the twelve countries in which Duke researchers are currently collaborating on projects
Graphic illustration of the national flags of: Rwanda, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Vietnam

COVID-19 Research Studies

Gif counting the number of COVID-19-related research projects currently in progress: 23 basic science research projects, 15 active clinical trials, and one outcomes research project

The COVID-19 pandemic has charged researchers in the Section of Surgical Disciplines to confront new challenges of scientific inquiry. Tackling subjects from vaccine efficacy to acute immune response, researchers within the Section currently have almost 40 active COVID-19-related studies, across different trial phases.

Patients, United for All

Graphic illustration showcasing the number of new studies initiated in each of the last five years within the section. 427 in total have been initiated in that time, and there have are a total of 862 studies

The breadth and depth of research conducted reinforces the Section’s dedication to solving answers to our community’s most complex problems of today in order to enhance quality of life for all tomorrow.

Since FY2017, researchers within the Section of Surgical Disciplines have enrolled over 11,000 additional patients in over 400 new clinical trials and studies. Our teams recognize that the work they do would not be possible without the patients that participate in clinical research.

Graphic illustration showing the number of new patients enrolled in each of the last five years. Over 11,000 new patients were enrolled in that time, for a total of over 21,000 total enrollments.

Funding the Future

Gif counting up to the 78.8 million dollars managed in research funding in fiscal year 2021

The Section managed a combined prorated amount of $78.8 million in FY2021 in funding for research, clinical trials, fellowships, and institutional training.

Newly-awarded funds for the fiscal year totaled over $50 million.

Gif counting up to the 50.1 million dollars in newly-awarded research funding in fiscal year 2021

Funding for research spanned across the Section’s disciplines and various areas of interest, from pain management and living donor transplantation to hearing loss treatment and equitable patient care.

More than 75% of the Section’s research funding portfolio in FY2021 came via the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other federal agencies. Duke research is also largely funded by outside foundations and industry sponsors that believe in the work that Duke faculty and trainees conduct.

Graphic illustration of a pie chart showing the distribution of sources of funding for Section research.

In Case You Missed It

Blake Wilson, DSc, PhD, receives the state’s highest civilian honor in recognition of his pioneering role in developing cochlear implants

On November 18, 2021, Dr. Blake Wilson received the North Carolina Award in recognition for his significant scientific contributions to the state.  

Wilson invented many of the sound-processing strategies used in modern cochlear implants––most significantly the “continuous interleaved sampling” system. Today, more than a million patients have regained some or all of their hearing with these devices, all of whom benefit from Dr. Wilson’s research.  

Listen to Dr. Wilson share how his parents were inspirational in starting his career focused on using science to improve the human condition in whatever way he could.

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