Joseph Y Lo · Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Joseph Y Lo's research lab at Duke University focuses on improving how radiologists analyze complex body CT scans using advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tools. The lab is working on creating a computer-aided diagnosis triage tool that helps radiologists prioritize scans with actionable diseases. By leveraging large datasets and innovative deep learning techniques, the lab aims to enhance diagnostic performance and streamline workflow in medical imaging, ultimately benefiting patient care.
Junfeng Zhang · Social Science
Dr. Junfeng Zhang's lab explores how air pollution, specifically fine particulate matter (PM2.5), affects inflammation in the lungs, particularly looking at how this response may differ in individuals with asthma and between genders. They study the body's natural mechanisms to resolve inflammation, known as specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs), and how these processes can be impaired by environmental factors. The lab combines laboratory experiments with observational studies to provide insights into how air pollutants affect respiratory health.
William Kuang-Yao Pan · Social Science
William Kuang-Yao Pan's lab at Duke University focuses on tackling malaria outbreaks in the Amazon Basin. The lab works on creating a Malaria Early Warning System that predicts malaria incidence based on environmental and socioeconomic factors. By understanding how various factors contribute to malaria transmission, they aim to improve public health responses in this vulnerable region.
Laura Michele Wingler · Pharmacology
Dr. Laura Wingler's research focuses on understanding how different drugs affect the angiotensin receptor, which plays a crucial role in regulating blood pressure. The lab investigates specific types of drug interactions with this receptor to improve treatments for cardiovascular diseases like hypertension. The ultimate goal is to design safer and more effective drugs that can target not only angiotensin receptors but also related receptors in the body.
Huiman X Barnhart · Mathematics & Statistics
Dr. Huiman X Barnhart's lab at Duke University focuses on understanding and addressing drug-induced liver injuries (DILI). The lab plays a critical role in the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network, where they gather and analyze clinical data to identify genetic factors that contribute to liver damage from medications and supplements. The ultimate goal is to develop safer drugs and supplements by discovering predictive biomarkers and understanding the underlying mechanisms of liver injury.
Terrie E Moffitt · Psychology
Terrie E Moffitt's lab at Duke University focuses on understanding biological aging through a novel measurement tool called DunedinPoAm4x. By analyzing blood samples and studying numerous physiological biomarkers over decades, the lab aims to pinpoint how quickly individuals age biologically compared to their chronological age. Their research seeks to improve aging assessments and explore how lifestyle changes and genetic factors can influence the pace of aging.
Ling Cai · Biology
Dr. Ling Cai's lab focuses on understanding how prostate cancer evades the immune system, particularly through epigenetic regulation. They investigate a specific epigenetic factor, TNRC18, that plays a crucial role in silencing immune-related genes, which contributes to the disease's immune resistance. By targeting this factor, the lab aims to develop new strategies to make prostate cancer more responsive to immunotherapies.
Lars J Grimm · Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Lars J. Grimm's research lab focuses on improving breast cancer screening processes, particularly how to better interpret mammographic calcifications. The team aims to distinguish between benign and malignant conditions through innovative imaging and biomarker analysis over time. By leveraging data from multiple mammograms and tissue samples, their goal is to reduce unnecessary biopsies and overtreatment of patients diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer.
Cristian T Badea · Biomedical Engineering
Cristian T Badea's lab at Duke University focuses on advancing cancer treatment and non-invasive imaging techniques. They develop innovative platforms to improve the understanding of complex tumors, particularly in head and neck cancers, while also enhancing the detection of aneurysms in the brain using advanced imaging technologies. Their research aims to combine imaging innovations with therapy optimization to enable personalized medicine.
Svati H. Shah · Physiology
Dr. Svati H. Shah's lab at Duke University focuses on improving the diagnosis and treatment of rare genetic heart diseases. By using advanced machine learning techniques, the lab seeks to better identify at-risk patients through analyzing heart images and electronic medical records. The ultimate goal is to develop reliable methods for early identification and therapeutic interventions tailored to individual patients, particularly those affected by conditions like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and cardiac amyloidosis.
Soman N Abraham · Biology
Dr. Soman N Abraham's lab at Duke University focuses on developing innovative immunotherapies for bladder infections. They aim to improve the effectiveness of existing bladder cancer therapies, specifically the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine, to combat recurrent urinary tract infections caused by bacteria. By combining BCG with specific peptides and antigens, they hope to enhance the immune response and provide long-lasting protection against bladder infections.
Kenneth A Dodge · Social Science
Dr. Kenneth A. Dodge's research focuses on improving early childhood outcomes through a community-based approach known as Community Navigation. This system connects families with tailored resources and support through nurse home visits, aiming to enhance parental mental health, reduce child maltreatment, and promote positive child development. His work particularly addresses disparities faced by low-income families and families of color, making strides in public health by evaluating new interventions that foster healthy child development and equitable access to care.
Edward A Miao · Microbiology & Immunology
Dr. Edward A. Miao's research lab at Duke University studies how bacteria interact with the immune system and how the immune system responds to infections. They focus on understanding the strategies pathogens use to evade immune detection, how immune structures called granulomas help contain infections, and the mechanisms of controlled cell death. By exploring these topics, the lab aims to reveal new insights into infectious diseases and the immune response.
Xiaofei Wang · Mathematics & Statistics
Dr. Xiaofei Wang's lab focuses on enhancing clinical trials by utilizing real-world data (RWD) while addressing potential biases that could affect treatment evaluations. The lab aims to create new statistical methods and frameworks to integrate RWD effectively, ensuring that clinical trial results are robust and reliable. Additionally, they prioritize sharing these innovative approaches with industry and academic researchers to promote better regulatory practices in drug development.
Maria Ciofani · Microbiology & Immunology
Dr. Maria Ciofani's lab at Duke University investigates the genetic factors contributing to multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease marked by inflammation and damage in the central nervous system. The team focuses on understanding how specific noncoding genetic variations influence immune responses, particularly those of CD4 T cells, in MS. By utilizing advanced genomic techniques, they aim to identify critical regulatory variants that may lead to new treatment strategies for MS.
Joel H Collier · Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Joel Collier's lab at Duke University focuses on developing new types of treatments for chronic inflammatory diseases like inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Instead of using traditional antibody therapies that may not work for all patients, the lab designs innovative biomaterials that help the body's immune system generate its own healing responses. This involves creating smart materials that can help reduce inflammation and improve overall health outcomes with less frequent treatments.
Jeremy N Kay · Neuroscience
Dr. Jeremy N Kay's lab at Duke University focuses on understanding the role of the CRB1 gene in inherited retinal degeneration. By studying how different variants of the CRB1 gene affect retinal health, the lab aims to develop strategies for gene therapy that could halt or reverse vision loss in patients suffering from this condition. Their research involves complex mouse models and various cellular analyses to explore potential therapeutic interventions.
Lawrence Anthony David · Genetics
Dr. Lawrence Anthony David's lab at Duke University focuses on understanding how consumption of ultra-processed foods affects health. They are developing a groundbreaking genomic tool called FoodSeq, which analyzes plant DNA in stool samples to provide an objective measure of dietary intake. This research could change how we assess diet and its impacts on diseases like obesity and diabetes, thereby informing more effective public health policies.
Emily R Derbyshire · Chemistry
Dr. Emily R. Derbyshire's lab at Duke University focuses on uncovering how malaria-causing parasites interact with their human hosts. They study specific proteins that the parasites hijack from human cells to survive and thrive, exploring potential new ways to target these interactions for drug development. The lab combines techniques in chemical biology and imaging to understand these complex relationships and ultimately advance treatment strategies against malaria.
Stefano Di Talia · Biology
Dr. Stefano Di Talia's lab at Duke University studies how cells and tissues develop and regenerate. They focus on understanding the signaling mechanisms that guide the formation of structures like the spine in zebrafish and how these processes relate to bone healing. Their research combines genetics, cell biology, and advanced imaging techniques to explore these biological phenomena, potentially leading to new insights into regeneration and tissue development in humans.