News

The Department of Surgery held its 4th Annual Research Day April 17. The department holds this event annually to advance its mission of improving patient care through research and training the next generation of surgeon–scientists. The event recognizes the accomplishments of fellows, residents, and students engaged in clinical or basic and translational research through the department.

The U.S. News and World Report has ranked the Duke University School of Medicine 2nd in surgery among the best medical schools in the country. This 2nd place ranking is up considerably from the department’s 5th place ranking last year.

A jagged little protein appears to be a key to how cancer stem cells differentiate and enable metastasis, according to researchers at Duke Cancer Institute and Rice University.

Rice scientists who have formed several theories on how cancer grows and spreads connected the dots for a more complete picture of tumor mechanics. At the center, they found JAG1, a ligand or small protein, that interacts with a signaling pathway critical to regulating the fate of cells.

Photo: Dara Schoffner (Women of Spirit), Margie Scott (Cancer Survivor Support Ministry), Gayathri Devi (Duke), and Gwendolyn Villines (Women of Spirit)