News

A team led by Neurobiology training faculty member Huanghe Yang has discovered a key biological pathway that contributes to health complications caused by sickle cell disease. Their findings also suggest a promising treatment strategy: blocking a protein that initiates the process using a drug that’s approved for gout treatment in some countries. Read Angela Spivey's article in SoM News. Read the full study in the American Journal of Hematology.

This year's 'Michael Mutersbaugh Community Engagement Award' went to fourth year graduate student Daniel Quintero of Eroglu Lab. He was lauded for organizing Inclusivi-TEA which provides opportunities for connection within the community, and for his participation in DUNE which mentors high school students and helps them gain research experience in neuroscience labs. Said one of his nominators, "Daniel expressed genuine curiosity to all the first-year students throughout our rotation process and the start of lab, and continues to provide dedicated support for discussing science purely out of curiosity and a commitment to mentorship."

Meet the newest cohort of students in the Duke Neurobiology Graduate Training Program. These scholars bring a wide range of academic backgrounds, research experiences, and personal interests to the department. Each one shares a deep curiosity about the brain and a commitment to collaborative, discovery-driven science.

Chantell Evans, PhD, assistant professor of cell biology, has been named a 2025 McKnight Scholar Award recipient in recognition of her pioneering research into the molecular mechanisms of neuronal mitophagy — a process critical to maintaining neuronal health. She is one of 10 scholars to receive this honor this year.

Researchers have discovered for the first time that a particular protein plays a crucial role in the development of a normal placenta in the early stages of pregnancy. Learning more more about the protein, PIEZ01, and its role in pregnancy could pave the way for preventing unexplained miscarriages, preeclampsia, or fetal growth restriction.

Duke neurobiologist Diego V. Bohórquez, Ph.D, continues to redefine our understanding of gut-brain communication with new research uncovering a sixth sense that starts in the gut and may influence what we eat and how we feel.

A team led by Neurobiology training faculty member Staci Bilbo and graduate student Ben Devlin has found that a molecule in the brain called interleukin 34 communicates with micro

Previously, astrocytes were thought of as mere support cells, performing the brain's grunt work.  Says Neurobiology training faculty member Cagla Eroglu, "They were considere

A team led by Neurobiology training faculty member Debby Silver and first-author research associate Jing Liu, has a new study published in Nature which inves

A team led by Neurobiology training faculty member Ru-Rong Ji has developed a new experimental drug called SBI-810 that could offer powerful pain relief without the addictive side