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.