Director's Greeting
Greetings from all of us at the Duke Molecular Physiology Institute (DMPI)!
Comprehensive molecular analysis of biological systems at the genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic levels, focused by integrative computational methods, has the potential to provide a new view of the pathogenesis of chronic and pandemic human diseases and conditions. When coupled with strong clinical research capabilities, this approach can lead to innovative strategies for disease detection and intervention. The DMPI has assembled all of the component parts of such an interdisciplinary approach for disease research, and all in a new state-of-the-art research facility located in the historic tobacco district of downtown Durham, NC, minutes from the main Duke Medical Center campus. DMPI was founded in July, 2013 as a consolidation of three pre-existing units at Duke: 1) the Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center, which remains as a Center within the DMPI; 2) the Duke Center for Human Genetics, and 3) a group of clinical translational investigators, including William Kraus and Virginia Kraus as its most senior members. We highlight the venerable discipline of “physiology” in our name because it is a natural framework for integration of diverse molecular profiles. As a group, one of our strongest principles is to have the “will and skill” to interpret complex molecular profiles in a physiological context, and to use such profiles to design experiments that unveil novel biological and disease mechanisms in tractable cellular and animal model systems. Through such new mechanistic understanding, we expect to define novel methods for disease detection and targets for disease intervention that can be tested in human studies.
Please take a deeper look at what we have to offer!
Christopher B. Newgard, PhD
Director, Duke Molecular Physiology Institute
Diversity Statement
The Duke Molecular Physiology Institute is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within our faculty, staff, students, and scientific agenda. Consistent with Duke University School of Medicine, we strive to be inclusive of all dimensions of diversity including, but not limited to, age, race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or religion. Please see the link below for additional information about the School of Medicine’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion.