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Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a serious genetic condition that affects red blood cells, causing them to become misshapen and sticky. It affects at least 100,000 people in the U.S., leading to blood clots, painful blockages in blood vessels, and shortened lifespans. Researchers in the Duke Department of Biochemistry have discovered a key biological pathway that contributes to these complications. Their findings also suggest a promising treatment strategy: blocking a protein that initiates the process using a drug that’s approved for gout treatment in some countries.

Researchers in the Yokoyama lab, in collaboration with the Boal lab at Penn State University, have uncovered a surprising chemical reaction that cou

Researchers have discovered for the first time that a particular protein plays a crucial role in the development of a normal placenta in the early stages of pregnancy. Learning more more about the protein, PIEZ01, and its role in pregnancy could pave the way for preventing unexplained miscarriages, preeclampsia, or fetal growth restriction.

A new algorithm could help researchers better predict how molecules bind to proteins —an essential step in designing more effective drugs to treat a wide range of diseases.

A multidisciplinary team from biochemistry, anesthesiology, and chemistry is developing a promising new approach to pain management using adenosine, a naturally occurring compound in the human body that can help regulate pain, inflammation and seizure activity.

A bustling metropolis of bacteria lives in our guts, and the chemical compounds they produce may influence how we age.

Trainees, faculty, and staff of the Duke Department of Biochemistry and Duke’s Pratt School of Engineering came together to create a hands-on educational experience for middle- and high school-aged

Awards were presented at the School of Medicine Awards Ceremony on May 19th.