DCI Research

Congratulations to David Kirsch, MD, PhD, whose NCI Outstanding Investigator Award to study radiation and sarcoma biology has been renewed for another 7 years.

DCI radiation oncologist Christine Eyler, MD, PhD, was awarded an NCI Mentored Clinical Science Research Career Development Award for rectal cancer and chemo-radiotherapy research.

Zach Reitman, MD, PhD, was awarded an NCI Mentored Clinician Scientist CDA for research into targeted radiation therapy in pediatric brainstem tumors.

Brent Hanks, MD, PhD, and his lab team will trial a drug that targets the NLRP3 pathway, so as to unblock immunotherapy from working in melanoma patients.

Five questions for gynecologic oncologist Brittany Davidson, MD, about the best approach to patient goals and treatment expectations in terminal ovarian cancer

New nanoparticle shape can greatly enhance signals from multiple separate biomarkers at once, accurately detecting head and neck cancers without biopsies to improve global health

The Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Duke Department of OB-GYN commemorates 50 years of innovation and care.

"Just ASK," a course developed and piloted at DCI by Nadine Barrett, PhD, to help improve equity, diversity, and inclusion in cancer clinical trials, has gone national.

A research team led by Ann Marie Pendergast, PhD, found, in animal studies, that a leukemia drug disrupted HER2-positive breast cancer-spread to the brain.

Trudy G. Oliver, PhD, has joined DCI from the Huntsman Cancer Institute as a Duke Science and Technology Scholar. Her research focuses on subtypes of lung cancer.

David Darr has been named Associate Director of Administration and Senior Director for Research Strategy and Operations for DCI, effective August 15.

Association was evident for patients of different ethnicities, those with government and private insurance, and those treated at different types of health care facilities.

DCI GI oncologist John Strickler, MD, to present positive topline results of a pivotal phase 2 homegrown clinical trial in HER2+ metastatic colorectal cancer.

John Wayne Cancer Foundation is funding research by breast surgical oncologist Maggie DiNome, MD, to create a molecular-based way to predict cancer spread to lymph nodes.
 

Kristen Batich, MD, PhD, a Duke Neurosurgery postdoctoral fellow in the Sampson Lab, will research anti-tumor immunity in brain tumors.

Black, Hispanic, Asian-American people and other groups have a higher risk for stomach cancer. Early detection & treatment of a common stomach bacterium can prevent it.

DCI cardio-oncologist Susan Dent, MD, is lead investigator for DCI-enrolled patients in this NIH-funded multi-site breast cancer study.

A study co-led by DCI researcher Harry P. Erba, MD, PhD, demonstrated that quizartinib plus chemo doubled AML survival time.

A DCI study led by Shelley Hwang, MD, MPH, shows the potential of new imaging technology to help avoid repeat surgery after lumpectomy.

Christopher Counter, PhD, associate director of Basic Research, is a member of a group receiving an international Cancer Grand Challenges Grant to investigate origins of cancer.

Achieving health through advocacy, Duke Consortium for Inflammatory Breast Cancer expands its community outreach with Duke students taking the lead.

Enabling or inhibiting a certain enzyme could trigger the body’s natural immune response according to a study in Nature by Duke immunologist Edward Miao, MD, PhD, and colleagues.

DCI study led by Gayathri Devi, PhD, finds chronic stresses such as racism and poverty alter cellular functions that promote tumor growth and proliferation

Duke associate professor of Chemistry Amanda Hargrove tries to find new ways to fight cancers and viruses. She was recently honored with the 2022 Rising Star Award from the American Chemical Society.

Kris Wood, PhD, and colleagues have discovered a potential new drug therapy for leukemia that's preparing to enter clinical trials.

DCI cancer disparities and healthcare delivery researchers Steven Patierno, PhD, and Nadine Barrett, PhD, are part of national efforts to mitigate cancer health disparities.

Biostatistician Susan Halabi, PhD, presented at ASCO the results of her PCF-funded study that may ultimately help speed treatments to patients.

DCI researcher Kyle Lafata, PhD (Radiation Oncology) spotlighted by the CDMRP for his work to improve outcomes in head and neck cancers.

The Victory Ride returned as an in-person cycling event on May 21. 2021 V Ride funds go to a grant for American Indian cancer health disparities research. 

Duke Cancer Institute member Paul Modrich, PhD, chose Duke in 1976 and the next 46 years was history.

DCI member Raphael Valdivia, PhD, has been named the Nanaline Duke Distinguished Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology.

DCI member and physician-scientist Sandeep Dave, MD, MS, has been named the Wellcome Clinical Distinguished Professor of Medicine.

DCI pathologist Jeffrey Marks, PhD, has been named "Joseph W. and Dorothy W. Beard Distinguished Professor of Experimental Surgery."

DCI member Christopher Willett, MD, has been named the Mark W. Dewhirst Distinguished Professor of Radiation Oncology.

Gloria Bass, MA, has been a part of the Duke Health family for 41 years, including 26 years at DCI.

Co-leader of the DCI Melanoma Disease Group Georgia Beasley, MD, MHSc, is among 40 recipients of a Young Physician-Scientist Award from The American Society for Clinical Investigation.

As Duke celebrates its 50th anniversary of transforming cancer discovery and care, researchers and providers look toward the next half century. 

DCI health services researcher Devon Check, PhD, is co-PI on an NIA grant to study risks of co-prescribed opioids & BZDs in older cancer patients.

The Duke Cancer Institute is excited to announce the establishment of the Duke Sarcoma Center, a center of excellence for sarcoma treatment and research.

The Duke Center for Brain & Spine Metastasis presents its second annual national colloquium, May 13 & 14.

An endowed professorship for David Harpole, Jr., MD, will support his ongoing translational and clinical research in lung cancer.

A DCI research team led by Zachary Hartman, PhD, has described a newly identified process for how the drug pertuzumab works in tandem with trastuzumab.

Kris Wood's research team has discovered a potential strategy to make targeted therapies that are currently under investigation work better & last longer.

About one in seven breast cancers detected by mammography screening are over-diagnosed, according to a Duke Cancer Institute study

Duke University School of Medicine ranks 3rd among academic medical centers in the amount of federal medical research funding it receives.

Duke is committed to addressing barriers to early detection of cervical cancer, & mechanisms for screening worldwide through education, tech & cultural awareness.
 

Elizabeth R. Hughes, PhD, an MGM postdoc, studies how gut microbes improve response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. She's been named a 2022 Robert Black Fellow by the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation.

Zhao Zhang, PhD — ZZ to just about everyone — is a bit of a scientific outlier.

The Eighth Annual DCI Scientific Retreat was one for the books.