Faculty from the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI) brought their expertise to 65 sessions across four days at the 2026 American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions. They shared new findings and introduced innovative study designs, interpreted emerging evidence, guided discussions, and debated the field’s most pressing questions as presenters, panelists, chairs, discussants, and participants in interactive, game-show-style programming.

Manesh Patel, MD, chief of the Division of Cardiology at Duke University School of Medicine and the new president of the American Heart Association (AHA), used his presidential address at the AHA’s Scientific Sessions on November 8 to argue that medicine’s next great challenge is not only making discoveries, but getting them to the people who need them. He called it “science’s last-mile problem.”

Despite the availability of effective, low-cost medications, about 80% of people with hypertension do not have their blood pressure under control. One reason is deceptively simple: Taking medication every day can be difficult, especially for patients who already take multiple drugs. Duke cardiologists are studying whether a novel treatment given just twice a year could help close that gap by reducing the burden of daily medication.

DCRI Accomplishments showcases the publications, awards, and other achievements of our faculty, staff, and trainees. Each quarter, a new collection will highlight the most recent accomplishments. Together, these accomplishments reflect the breadth of DCRI’s impact.