Kenneth A Dodge — 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.
Nuo Li — Dr. Nuo Li's lab at Duke University focuses on understanding how brain circuits control rhythmic movements related to the mouth and face, such as swallowing and breathing. By studying these circuits, the lab aims to uncover the reasons behind dangerous problems like choking, which can occur in children and the elderly. Through advanced techniques like electrophysiology, the lab investigates the neural pathways involved in these critical behaviors to pave the way for potential therapeutic interventions.
Svati H. Shah — 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.
Joseph Heitman — Dr. Joseph Heitman's lab at Duke University focuses on understanding how certain fungi, particularly Cryptococcus and Mucor species, can cause infections in humans and develop resistance to antifungal drugs. His team investigates molecular pathways related to stress response and virulence, aiming to discover new therapeutic targets for these serious pathogens. The research is crucial for improving treatment strategies for infections that are particularly deadly in immunocompromised individuals like those with HIV/AIDS.
Gregory E Crawford — Dr. Gregory E. Crawford leads a research lab at Duke University focused on the complex interactions of multiple genes in health and diseases. Their work aims to develop innovative technologies that allow researchers to manipulate the expression of many genes simultaneously, moving beyond the traditional single-gene approach in gene therapy and disease modeling. The lab strives to enhance our understanding of how multigenic factors contribute to various conditions, ultimately paving the way for more effective treatments.
Tony Jun Huang — Dr. Tony Jun Huang's lab at Duke University focuses on developing innovative diagnostic technologies for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The lab is working on an automated system designed to rapidly isolate exosomes from blood samples, which can be used as biomarkers for early diagnosis of AD. This project aims to create a minimally invasive, efficient, and highly accurate method to improve AD detection and facilitate better patient treatment strategies.
Ahmad R. Hariri — Dr. Ahmad R. Hariri's lab at Duke University focuses on understanding how individual differences in brain structure during midlife relate to the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. By utilizing imaging techniques and tracking health data from participants over decades, the research aims to identify biomarkers that could inform early interventions. This work not only addresses a growing public health concern but also seeks to improve strategies for preventing cognitive decline before it becomes clinically apparent.
Donald P Mcdonnell — Dr. Donald McDonnell's lab at Duke University focuses on how hormones like estrogens and androgens influence cancer biology. They investigate the mechanisms by which these hormones affect tumor growth, immune responses, and treatment outcomes in various cancers. The lab aims to develop new therapeutic strategies that improve how we use hormone-targeting drugs to treat both reproductive and non-reproductive cancers.
Tuan Vo-Dinh — The research lab focuses on developing advanced diagnostic tools for early detection of head and neck cancers, especially in low-resource settings. They aim to create portable, easy-to-use devices that utilize novel nanotechnology to quickly identify cancer markers, improving outcomes for underserved communities. By integrating cutting-edge techniques in molecular analysis, the lab's work is designed to provide faster and more accurate cancer diagnostics, ultimately saving lives.