The Duke Department of Surgery ranked first in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) among U.S. medical school surgery departments in 2024, according to a report compiled by the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research. This marked the fourth consecutive year that the department received the most NIH funding among surgery departments.
Duke Surgery used the $48.4 million it received from the NIH in 2024 to fund advancements in surgical science and solve critical medical problems across a host of sub-specialties.
”NIH funding is foundational to the essential healthcare advancements that our department’s researchers work toward every day,” says Shelley Hwang, MD, MPH, vice chair for research for the Department of Surgery. “The discoveries that our surgeon-scientists and robust research teams make are critical to advancing the health of patients in North Carolina, across the United States, and around the world.”
Five Duke Surgery faculty ranked in the top 12 NIH-funded principal investigators among surgery departments. These five experts in their fields, and their many collaborators across Duke Surgery and the School of Medicine, are at the forefront of scientific advancement that seeks to improve human health and the lives of millions.
#3. Priyamvada Acharya, PhD
Professor in Surgery
Division of Surgical Sciences
#4. Georgia D. Tomaras, PhD
Professor in Surgery and Chief
Division of Surgical Sciences
#7. Wilton B. Williams, PhD
Associate Professor in Surgery
Division of Surgical Sciences
#10. Stuart J. Knechtle, MD
Professor of Surgery
Division of Abdominal Transplant Surgery
#12. Kevin O. Saunders, PhD
Professor in Surgery
Division of Surgical Sciences
“This recognition is the perfect example of how basic science, translational science, and clinical science come together to save lives,” says Allan D. Kirk, MD, PhD, chair of the Duke Department of Surgery. “This fusion gives Duke surgeons tactical insights that enable them to deliver life-saving, groundbreaking care to patients. Importantly, it delivers those insights to others, through scientific publication, meaning that they don't just save the lives of our patients, but they help patients across the country. Scientific research amplifies life-saving care. I'm so proud of our team; they are truly dedicated to helping people throughout our country to live their best lives.”
The Duke School of Medicine ranks 13th among U.S. medical schools in overall NIH funding, with $455 million received in 2024.
“NIH funding is the backbone of transformative scientific discovery,” said Mary E. Klotman, MD, executive vice president for health affairs at Duke University and dean of the School of Medicine. “These investments empower our researchers to push the boundaries of medicine. However, research isn’t just about bold ideas—it requires laboratories, data infrastructure, and skilled teams who bring science to life. NIH support of these essential foundations has been critical in turning these discoveries into real and lasting improvements in human health.”