The Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI) had a broad and visible presence throughout the 2025 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, Nov. 7-10 in New Orleans. Faculty and staff participated in more than 40 sessions across a wide spectrum of scientific and educational sessions. Their contributions spanned general and featured presentations, moderated discussions, digital poster forums, late-breaking and featured science, and hands-on simulations.

Chronic pain is one of the most burdensome conditions in the United States, with lower back pain comprising the largest subset of those conditions, and veterans bearing a disproportionate amount of this societal burden. Two Duke researchers will lead a new study to change that reality and raise the standard of pain care management with navigated care.

For most of rural America, access to clinical research addressing rural health — and to physician-researchers focused on this area — is extremely limited. According to Danny Benjamin, MD, PhD, MPH, that’s simply not sustainable for long-term health in most of the country. As a leader of a program designed to develop future researchers through hands-on experience and mentorship, Benjamin is working to address this shortage.

A program that removes copays for physical therapy is associated with lower rates of costly health care services like imaging, injection, and surgery, according to findings from a new study from ATI Physical Therapy and the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI). The report, “Episode of Care Characteristics following Implementation of a No Co-pay Physical Therapy Program for Musculoskeletal Conditions” was published on October 24 in the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Journal and made available on ptfirst.com.