News Archive

New findings from a large, real-world study offer reassuring evidence: the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine continues to demonstrate a strong and consistent safety profile years after individuals received their first vaccine.Recently published in the journal Respiratory Medicine, “Long-term safety of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine: Results from the HERO-together study” highlights data and analysis from HERO-Together, a patient-centered research initiative designed to examine potential side effects and hospitalizations reported by participants after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

DCRI Accomplishments showcases the publications, awards, and other achievements of our faculty members. Each quarter, a new collection will highlight the most recent accomplishments. During Spring 2026, DCRI faculty members were appointed to leadership roles in influential scientific and medical organizations, and received prestigious awards and notable promotions.

The Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI) and CardioVascular Clinical Trialists (CVCT) have announced a formal three-year partnership to establish a clear pathway to regulatory and clinical acceptance of cardiovascular prevention therapies. Titled "Pathway to Prevention," the initiative will unite stakeholders from academia, industry, government, nonprofits, and the technology sector to develop practical guidance to advance prevention indications.

Against the backdrop of two milestone anniversaries, the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI) and Duke Clinical & Translational Science Institute (CTSI) came together to host a research symposium, “Trustworthy Translation – Stories of Today, Visions of Tomorrow,” focused on the practical application of putting evidence into practice to improve health.

Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is an increasingly recognized yet frequently underdiagnosed cause of heart failure, particularly among older adults. The AHA’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Update reports that up to 13% of older adults hospitalized with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction may have ATTR‑CM, underscoring substantial opportunities to improve diagnosis in routine clinical care.

In October 2024, multi-industry stakeholders gathered for the DCRI Think Tank Anti-Obesity Pharmacotherapy: Need for Guidance, Access, and Equity, which focused on aligning and advancing the field of obesity medications (OMs). Their insights and collaboration resulted in the article Obesity Pharmacotherapy: An Urgent Need for Progressing Science, Access, and Equity published in the journal JACC: Advances.

The city of Durham formally recognized the importance of clinical research on May 18, when Mayor Leonardo Williams proclaimed May 20, 2026, as Clinical Trials Day during a Durham City Council meeting. The proclamation emphasized the role that clinical trials play in public health by advancing understanding of health and supporting the development of safe and effective treatments.

Duke University has been awarded $12.9 million from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) for a new clinical trial aimed at improving the standard of care for autistic children with chronic digestive discomfort.

The Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group (ARLG), based at the Duke Clinical Research Institute, was prominently featured at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Global Congress 2026, with two of its multicenter studies selected for a special late-breaking session.   Of the four studies chosen for the high-profile session, two were conducted through ARLG, highlighting the group’s growing global influence in advancing evidence to address the escalating crisis of antibiotic-resistant infections.  

Advanced liver disease (ALD) occurs when significant scarring causes the liver to lose function. Patients with ALD often have serious health challenges but have limited access to palliative care that could improve their quality of life. A new multicenter trial demonstrates a new approach that could potentially transform access to palliative care for patients with ALD and address a major care gap.