Duke University School of Medicine

Blake Wilson, director of the Duke Hearing Center, has been awarded the 2026 Merkin Prize in Biomedical Technology for his contributions to the development of the cochlear implant.

This recognition honors a decades-long, interdisciplinary effort that has restored hearing for more than a million people worldwide. Wilson’s contributions to signal processing helped make cochlear implants one of the most effective clinical interventions in modern medicine.

🔗 Read more at the link in our comments.

A recent $100,000 investment is helping teams at the Duke Cancer Institute take on complex challenges in lung cancer research with focus and momentum.

This support is advancing new ideas, strengthening collaboration, and moving us closer to meaningful breakthroughs that can improve patient outcomes.

Nishant Shah MD is working to close a major gap in heart disease prevention.

A recent study he led found that fewer than half of patients with heart disease and high cholesterol are taking medications that could reduce their risk of heart attack and stroke. With new guidelines recommending even lower LDL (“bad” cholesterol) levels, improving prevention is more important than ever.

At Duke University School of Medicine, Shah and colleagues are developing strategies to help patients and health systems better manage cholesterol and reduce cardiovascular risk.

🔗 Read more at the link in our comments.

At Duke University School of Medicine, researchers are studying how aging begins early in life and changes over time, and how those changes can be influenced.

By looking at how the body and brain age at a biological level, scientists hope to find new ways to help people stay healthier, longer.

This work is focused not just on living longer, but on improving quality of life at every stage.

🔗 Read more at the link in our comments.

Most people have heard of drugs like Ozempic and Zepbound, but researchers are already working on the next generation of treatments.

Jonathan Campbell, PhD, a diabetes researcher at Duke University School of Medicine, suggests that adding another hormone called glucagon to the mix may help people lose even more weight than current medications. Early clinical trials show the experimental obesity drug retatrutide, which engages glucagon activity, resulted in weight loss approaching 30%.

But the bigger goal isn't just helping people lose more pounds. Researchers are now focused on preserving muscle, maximizing fat loss, and creating sustainable "off-ramps" for patients who reach their goals.

Learn more about how glucagon tackles the body’s resistance to weight loss and may help maintain energy expenditure even as pounds drop at the link in our comments.

Congratulations to the Duke Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2027 on their White Coat Ceremony!

This milestone marks the transition from classroom learning to clinical training. As each student received their white coat, they also stepped forward in their commitment to delivering compassionate, evidence-based care.

We look forward to the impact they will make in the clinic and beyond.

Duke Doctor of Physical Therapy | 📸: Huth Photo

A new gift is fueling nurse-led innovation at Duke Health.

A $250,000 gift from Nancy Schlichting and Pam Theisen will launch the Nursing Innovation Fund for Duke University Health System, helping nurses move bold ideas from bedside to practice and improve care for patients and families.

Schlichting, a Duke University alumna and trailblazing hospital executive who transformed large health systems, has long championed the role of nurses — and this investment ensures their ideas can make an even greater impact.

“Nurses are the heart of the hospital,” she said. “They are among the best problem-solvers in the world.”

🔗 Read more at the link in our comments.

| Duke University School of Nursing

Diego V. Bohórquez, PhD, is studying how the gut and brain stay connected and what that might mean for health and aging.

At Duke University School of Medicine, his team discovered a fast way that signals from gut bacteria can reach the brain through specialized cells in the intestine. This connection, called the “neurobiotic sense,” may help explain how the gut can influence things like eating habits, mood, and overall health.

This research offers new insight into how the body works together and could shape future approaches to brain health.

🔗 Read more at the link in our comments.

For Daniel Yang, some of the best moments happen outside — whether it’s playing soccer, hiking a local trail, or simply spending time moving with friends.

As a third-year medical student at Duke University School of Medicine, he’s turned that passion into something bigger. As president of Medicine in Motion, Yang helps create opportunities for students across the School of Medicine and School of Nursing to stay active, connect, and support one another.

This year, the student organization hosted 44 events with more than 1,100 attendees, all designed to reduce burnout and build a stronger sense of community across the health professions.

🔗 Read more at the link in our comments.