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.

Duke University has been awarded $12.9 million from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) for a new clinical trial aimed at improving the standard of care for autistic children with chronic digestive discomfort.

The Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group (ARLG), based at the Duke Clinical Research Institute, was prominently featured at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Global Congress 2026, with two of its multicenter studies selected for a special late-breaking session.   Of the four studies chosen for the high-profile session, two were conducted through ARLG, highlighting the group’s growing global influence in advancing evidence to address the escalating crisis of antibiotic-resistant infections.  

Advanced liver disease (ALD) occurs when significant scarring causes the liver to lose function. Patients with ALD often have serious health challenges but have limited access to palliative care that could improve their quality of life. A new multicenter trial demonstrates a new approach that could potentially transform access to palliative care for patients with ALD and address a major care gap.