Valdivia Named Distinguished Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
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Duke Cancer Institute member Raphael H. Valdivia, PhD, a professor of molecular genetics and microbiology and former vice dean of basic science in the School of Medicine, has been named the Nanaline Duke Distinguished Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology.
Valdivia is notable in the field of microbiology for his interdisciplinary studies applying genetics and cell biology to study obligate intracellular pathogens, and for developing new approaches to study the microbiome. He was the first to develop, optimize, and apply fluorescent proteins for use in studying bacterial pathogens.
Valdivia has made significant advances in understanding how the pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis infects and replicates within human hosts.
An elected fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, he is a leader in addressing the lack of diversity in biomedical sciences and disparities in opportunities available for underrepresented minorities in academia. He works to create inclusive environments where scientific excellence and diversity are recognized as integrated values to be celebrated at all stages of academia.
Gayathri Devi, PhD, MS, is the recipient of this year’s Award for Addressing Health Equity Through Partnership and Innovation from the Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS).“These award winners and their work represent the values and mission of ACTS for innovation, team science and community involvement applying principles of translational science,” said ACTS President Allan R. Brasier, MD.Devi received the award this week in the iconic International Ballroom of the historic Washington Hilton during the Translational Science 2025 meeting in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes investigators who translate their findings from bench to bedside to curbside."The Translational Science meeting is vital to the community because it provides opportunities to engage and learn about innovative, collaborative approaches to research, like those of Dr. Devi, which seek to improve health outcomes,” said ACTS Executive Director Kim Stelmaszak, CAE.Devi is a professor of surgery at the Duke School of Medicine and the program leader of the Duke Consortium for Inflammatory Breast Cancer. She received this award in recognition of the work conducted by the Rare 2 Care team. Rare 2 Care is a multidisciplinary, global partnership to develop innovative disease models, therapeutic strategies and community engaged research with providers and advocates to dismantle barriers to health care for patients with rare cancers.“Our team has made significant strides in addressing rare breast cancer care and health disparities, particularly in aggressive subtypes like triple-negative breast cancer and inflammatory breast cancer,” Devi said. “The initiative that started in 2015 has grown into a multifaceted rare cancer collective driven by the "Bench to Bedside to Curbside and Back" ethos, integrating clinical and laboratory findings with community-driven research. This holistic strategy ensures that scientific discoveries have real-world applications that benefit both patients and the broader community.”
A research study led by members of the Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment (NSOE) and the Duke Cancer Institute (DCI) aims to tackle the issue of cancer risk among firefighters based on their exposure to certain harmful chemicals.The North Carolina Firefighter Cancer Cohort Study (NC FFCCS), led by Heather Stapleton, PhD, the Ronie-Richele Garcia-Johnson Distinguished Professor of Environmental Health in the NSOE and a member of the DCI, launched in 2024 as part of the National Firefighter Cancer Cohort Study, which has partnered with fire service members across the country to recruit and track their exposure to hazardous chemicals over a 30-year period.The NC FFCCS has 305 participants currently enrolled and aims to recruit 1,000 firefighters across North Carolina by July 2026. Participants are contacted every two years for health updates.Firefighters are often exposed to combustion byproducts, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), flame retardants, and trace metals in the line of duty. NC FFCCS study team members work with participants to collect blood and urine samples, which are analyzed for contaminants and biological markers of cancer pathways. This analysis allows study team members to assess the impact these chemicals have on their cancer risk.“Firefighters often experience higher exposure to chemical carcinogens compared to people in other lines of work,” Stapleton said. “Our preliminary results indicate elevated exposures may contribute to multiple forms of cancer.”In addition to chemical exposures from fires themselves, firefighters could also be exposed to chemicals through their turnout gear and poor air quality in fire stations. The NC FFCCS team is examining this, as well as comparing participants’ blood PFAS levels to samples from communities with contaminated drinking water to see how their exposures compare.The North Carolina Collaboratory is sponsoring the study as it partners with academic institutions and government agencies to turn research into practical solutions for communities.“PFAS are a problem in many areas of North Carolina due to contaminated drinking water, particularly in areas that draw their water from the Cape Fear River,” Stapleton said. “Firefighters working and living in these areas receive exposure similar to the general population but could have additional exposures from the use of firefighting foams and personal protective equipment (PPE), which has historically been treated with PFAS. Our study hopes to understand if firefighter exposures are similar or different than the general public.”In the future, the study team plans to expand the use of wearable exposure devices to firefighters in North Carolina, along with wildland firefighters. They are also partnering with the New York Fire Department to study e-bike fire exposures. The North Carolina site continues to host recruitment events at fire departments, with several scheduled in High Point in March.“This study can provide firefighters better information about their individual risk for cancer,” Stapleton said. “These findings could lead to more comprehensive recommendations for reducing exposures, and thus cancer risks, in the fire service profession.”Visit the study website to learn more.(Photo courtesy of Mike Legeros)
Gayathri Devi, PhD, MS, is the recipient of this year’s Award for Addressing Health Equity Through Partnership and Innovation from the Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS).“These award winners and their work represent the values and mission of ACTS for innovation, team science and community involvement applying principles of translational science,” said ACTS President Allan R. Brasier, MD.Devi received the award this week in the iconic International Ballroom of the historic Washington Hilton during the Translational Science 2025 meeting in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes investigators who translate their findings from bench to bedside to curbside."The Translational Science meeting is vital to the community because it provides opportunities to engage and learn about innovative, collaborative approaches to research, like those of Dr. Devi, which seek to improve health outcomes,” said ACTS Executive Director Kim Stelmaszak, CAE.Devi is a professor of surgery at the Duke School of Medicine and the program leader of the Duke Consortium for Inflammatory Breast Cancer. She received this award in recognition of the work conducted by the Rare 2 Care team. Rare 2 Care is a multidisciplinary, global partnership to develop innovative disease models, therapeutic strategies and community engaged research with providers and advocates to dismantle barriers to health care for patients with rare cancers.“Our team has made significant strides in addressing rare breast cancer care and health disparities, particularly in aggressive subtypes like triple-negative breast cancer and inflammatory breast cancer,” Devi said. “The initiative that started in 2015 has grown into a multifaceted rare cancer collective driven by the "Bench to Bedside to Curbside and Back" ethos, integrating clinical and laboratory findings with community-driven research. This holistic strategy ensures that scientific discoveries have real-world applications that benefit both patients and the broader community.”
A research study led by members of the Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment (NSOE) and the Duke Cancer Institute (DCI) aims to tackle the issue of cancer risk among firefighters based on their exposure to certain harmful chemicals.The North Carolina Firefighter Cancer Cohort Study (NC FFCCS), led by Heather Stapleton, PhD, the Ronie-Richele Garcia-Johnson Distinguished Professor of Environmental Health in the NSOE and a member of the DCI, launched in 2024 as part of the National Firefighter Cancer Cohort Study, which has partnered with fire service members across the country to recruit and track their exposure to hazardous chemicals over a 30-year period.The NC FFCCS has 305 participants currently enrolled and aims to recruit 1,000 firefighters across North Carolina by July 2026. Participants are contacted every two years for health updates.Firefighters are often exposed to combustion byproducts, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), flame retardants, and trace metals in the line of duty. NC FFCCS study team members work with participants to collect blood and urine samples, which are analyzed for contaminants and biological markers of cancer pathways. This analysis allows study team members to assess the impact these chemicals have on their cancer risk.“Firefighters often experience higher exposure to chemical carcinogens compared to people in other lines of work,” Stapleton said. “Our preliminary results indicate elevated exposures may contribute to multiple forms of cancer.”In addition to chemical exposures from fires themselves, firefighters could also be exposed to chemicals through their turnout gear and poor air quality in fire stations. The NC FFCCS team is examining this, as well as comparing participants’ blood PFAS levels to samples from communities with contaminated drinking water to see how their exposures compare.The North Carolina Collaboratory is sponsoring the study as it partners with academic institutions and government agencies to turn research into practical solutions for communities.“PFAS are a problem in many areas of North Carolina due to contaminated drinking water, particularly in areas that draw their water from the Cape Fear River,” Stapleton said. “Firefighters working and living in these areas receive exposure similar to the general population but could have additional exposures from the use of firefighting foams and personal protective equipment (PPE), which has historically been treated with PFAS. Our study hopes to understand if firefighter exposures are similar or different than the general public.”In the future, the study team plans to expand the use of wearable exposure devices to firefighters in North Carolina, along with wildland firefighters. They are also partnering with the New York Fire Department to study e-bike fire exposures. The North Carolina site continues to host recruitment events at fire departments, with several scheduled in High Point in March.“This study can provide firefighters better information about their individual risk for cancer,” Stapleton said. “These findings could lead to more comprehensive recommendations for reducing exposures, and thus cancer risks, in the fire service profession.”Visit the study website to learn more.(Photo courtesy of Mike Legeros)
