Five DCI Members Named Among World's Most Highly Cited Scientists
Published
Five Duke Cancer Institute members have been named by the Web of Science among the world’s most highly cited scientists. This list features authors of influential papers that other scientists reference when making their arguments.
The five DCI members include:
Charles A. Gersbach, PhD John W. Strohbehn Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering Cited in Biology & Biochemistry
Barton F. Haynes, MD Frederic M. Hanes Distinguished Professor of Medicine Cited in Microbiology
Christopher B. Newgard, PhD W. David and Sarah W. Stedman Distinguished Professor of Nutrition in the School of Medicine Cited in Cross-Field
Quinn Ostrom, PhD Assistant Professor in Neurosurgery Cited in Neuroscience & Behavior
Xiaofei Wang, PhD Professor of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics Cited in Cross-Field
Duke Cancer Institute has launched a Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) Center providing patients with rapid access to multidisciplinary expertise, emerging therapies, clinical trials, and cutting-edge research. The center’s leadership team includes:Laura Alder, MD: Medical DirectorKaitlin Bevers, MD: Surgical DirectorTrey Mullikin, MD: Radiation Oncology DirectorJoel R. Rivera Concepcion, MD, JD: Wake County DirectorTrudy Oliver, PhD: Translational Research DirectorWil Santivasi, MD: Palliative Care DirectorMichael Morse, MD: GI and Unknown Primary Neuroendocrine Carcinomas DirectorSCLC is one of the most aggressive solid tumors, making timely evaluation and treatment critical. The center brings together specialists in medical oncology, radiation oncology, thoracic surgery, palliative care, cell and gene therapy, and brain and spine metastasis to develop coordinated treatment plans for patients at every stage of disease.The center builds on Duke’s leadership in emerging SCLC treatments, including tarlatamab, a DLL3-targeted T-cell engager for extensive-stage SCLC. Duke was an early adopter of tarlatamab and has established an outpatient administration pathway with specialized monitoring and management of potential treatment-related toxicities.Eligible patients are also systematically screened for clinical trials, providing opportunities to access novel treatments across multiple stages of SCLC. Research efforts include molecular profiling, biomarker development, tissue and liquid-biopsy biobanking, translational science, and development of next-generation cellular therapies.A dedicated nurse navigator helps streamline referrals, scheduling, clinical trial screening, and care coordination. Through a dedicated SCLC tumor board, specialists work together to develop an integrated treatment and research plan tailored to each patient.“The small cell center of excellence here at Duke really brings together so many experts, so many incredible minds and teams. And at the very center is the patient,” said Alder. “The main goal is to (1) move the needle even further for small cell lung cancer, and (2) to make sure that the patient has a great multidisciplinary team right from the get-go when they need it, and then (3) really be a pillar in our North Carolina – and Carolina, broadly – community.”For referring providers, early referral can connect patients with rapid multidisciplinary evaluation, clinical trials, and emerging therapies from a team experienced in treating this fast-moving disease.Learn more about the center on Clinical Practice Today
Alexandra Thomas, MD, Associate Director of Translational Research for the Duke Cancer Institute (DCI), and Andrew Armstrong MD, George Barth Geller Distinguished Professor for Research in Cancer, have received continued National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding to support DCI’s participation as a Lead Academic Participating Site (LAPS) in the National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN).The competitively renewed $4.58 million, 6-year award will help expand access to NCI-sponsored clinical trials, support Duke investigators’ leadership in the development and conduct of multicenter cancer studies and strengthen infrastructure that advances practice-changing cancer research. Dr. Thomas serves as contact PI and Dr. Armstrong serves as co-PI of this important award.The award supports Duke’s enrollment efforts across the NCTN trial portfolio which includes a broad range of cancer types and treatment approaches. It also provides resources to mentor future clinical trial leaders and fosters multidisciplinary collaboration across DCI.Thomas will work alongside Dr. Armstrong, who serves also as Director of Research for the DCI Center for Prostate and Urologic Cancers, to help guide Duke’s contributions to this national research network, advancing innovative clinical trials, and bringing new treatment opportunities to patients throughout the region.Duke has been a LAPS since the initiation of this program in 2014. From 2014-2025, the work at Duke was led by Jeffrey Crawford, MD, who has recently retired.Dr. Thomas shared what this award will mean for DCI and its clinical trials work: “This award places DCI in an elite group of cancer centers recognized by the NCI as vital to advancing the clinical trials that improve outcomes for our patients with cancer. It reflects the extraordinary dedication of our investigators, research teams, and, most importantly, the patients who partner with us in this research. We are excited to build on this momentum, expand access to innovative trials across our region, and mentor the next generation of clinical trial leaders.”
Duke Cancer Institute has launched a Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) Center providing patients with rapid access to multidisciplinary expertise, emerging therapies, clinical trials, and cutting-edge research. The center’s leadership team includes:Laura Alder, MD: Medical DirectorKaitlin Bevers, MD: Surgical DirectorTrey Mullikin, MD: Radiation Oncology DirectorJoel R. Rivera Concepcion, MD, JD: Wake County DirectorTrudy Oliver, PhD: Translational Research DirectorWil Santivasi, MD: Palliative Care DirectorMichael Morse, MD: GI and Unknown Primary Neuroendocrine Carcinomas DirectorSCLC is one of the most aggressive solid tumors, making timely evaluation and treatment critical. The center brings together specialists in medical oncology, radiation oncology, thoracic surgery, palliative care, cell and gene therapy, and brain and spine metastasis to develop coordinated treatment plans for patients at every stage of disease.The center builds on Duke’s leadership in emerging SCLC treatments, including tarlatamab, a DLL3-targeted T-cell engager for extensive-stage SCLC. Duke was an early adopter of tarlatamab and has established an outpatient administration pathway with specialized monitoring and management of potential treatment-related toxicities.Eligible patients are also systematically screened for clinical trials, providing opportunities to access novel treatments across multiple stages of SCLC. Research efforts include molecular profiling, biomarker development, tissue and liquid-biopsy biobanking, translational science, and development of next-generation cellular therapies.A dedicated nurse navigator helps streamline referrals, scheduling, clinical trial screening, and care coordination. Through a dedicated SCLC tumor board, specialists work together to develop an integrated treatment and research plan tailored to each patient.“The small cell center of excellence here at Duke really brings together so many experts, so many incredible minds and teams. And at the very center is the patient,” said Alder. “The main goal is to (1) move the needle even further for small cell lung cancer, and (2) to make sure that the patient has a great multidisciplinary team right from the get-go when they need it, and then (3) really be a pillar in our North Carolina – and Carolina, broadly – community.”For referring providers, early referral can connect patients with rapid multidisciplinary evaluation, clinical trials, and emerging therapies from a team experienced in treating this fast-moving disease.Learn more about the center on Clinical Practice Today
Alexandra Thomas, MD, Associate Director of Translational Research for the Duke Cancer Institute (DCI), and Andrew Armstrong MD, George Barth Geller Distinguished Professor for Research in Cancer, have received continued National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding to support DCI’s participation as a Lead Academic Participating Site (LAPS) in the National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN).The competitively renewed $4.58 million, 6-year award will help expand access to NCI-sponsored clinical trials, support Duke investigators’ leadership in the development and conduct of multicenter cancer studies and strengthen infrastructure that advances practice-changing cancer research. Dr. Thomas serves as contact PI and Dr. Armstrong serves as co-PI of this important award.The award supports Duke’s enrollment efforts across the NCTN trial portfolio which includes a broad range of cancer types and treatment approaches. It also provides resources to mentor future clinical trial leaders and fosters multidisciplinary collaboration across DCI.Thomas will work alongside Dr. Armstrong, who serves also as Director of Research for the DCI Center for Prostate and Urologic Cancers, to help guide Duke’s contributions to this national research network, advancing innovative clinical trials, and bringing new treatment opportunities to patients throughout the region.Duke has been a LAPS since the initiation of this program in 2014. From 2014-2025, the work at Duke was led by Jeffrey Crawford, MD, who has recently retired.Dr. Thomas shared what this award will mean for DCI and its clinical trials work: “This award places DCI in an elite group of cancer centers recognized by the NCI as vital to advancing the clinical trials that improve outcomes for our patients with cancer. It reflects the extraordinary dedication of our investigators, research teams, and, most importantly, the patients who partner with us in this research. We are excited to build on this momentum, expand access to innovative trials across our region, and mentor the next generation of clinical trial leaders.”
