History
In 1985, Dr. G. Ralph Corey spent three months working in a small missionary hospital in the western highlands of Kenya. This life-altering experience for him became the inspiration that allowed for hundreds of young physicians to travel abroad to improve the health circumstances of people in the developing world through clinical service, education, and research. Dr. Corey’s career in academic medicine and medical education allowed him to both build relationships internationally and facilitate the placement of young physicians in resource poor settings. Dr. Corey became the founding director of the Hubert-Yeargan Center (HYC) for Global Health and served as Director of Infectious Diseases at the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI). Dr. Corey’s vision helped to secure Duke’s role as a leader in global health education for post-graduate medical trainees. He retired from a highly distinguished career at Duke on June 30, 2020.
In recognition of Dr. Corey’s outstanding service, Duke HYC and DCRI have partnered to create the Dr. G. Ralph Corey Legacy Award that establishes a research fund to carry on Dr. Corey’s vision consistent with the HYC mission statement: to develop the next generation of globally educated, socially responsible clinician educators and scientists dedicated to improving health equity at home and abroad. The award program will provide supplemental funding to support Duke junior faculty research projects related to health equity and health disparities in LMICs and underserved populations. This scholarship is a mechanism to both honor an individual with a lifelong commitment to underserved communities, while at the same time to carry on his legacy of training the next generation of global health professionals.
You can download a PDF of the award announcement here.
We welcome the opportunity to address questions from potential applicants. Please submit inquiries related to this funding announcement to:
Kelsey Newton, Program Coordinator, Hubert-Yeargan Center for Global Health
Duke Global Health Institute
phone: 919-684-1787
email: kelsey.newton@duke.edu
FY25 Research Fellows
Project Title: Development of a clinical prediction tool for risk stratification of infants susceptible to bloodstream infections at a tertiary hospital in northern Tanzania
Local Co-Investigators: Matthew Rubach, Avi Kenny, Aisa Shayo, & Blandina Mmbaga
Location: Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre: Moshi, Tanzania
PI Specialty: Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Budget Period: FY25-FY27
Project Objective: This study aims to develop a machine learning-based model to predict neonatal sepsis, leveraging existing data from a prospective study of neonates with suspected sepsis at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre in Moshi, Tanzania. We will validate this model and then create an electronic clinical decision support tool using human-centered design to help clinicians make more precise treatment choices. By developing the model and clinical decision support tool, we aim to improve empirical treatment, optimize antibiotic use, and reduce neonatal sepsis mortality in LMICs.
Project Title: Bacterial zoonotic disease genomic analysis among human and animal reservoirs in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Local Co-Investigators: John A. Crump, Deng B. Madut, Venance P. Maro, Blandina Mmbaga
Location: Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre: Moshi, Tanzania
PI Specialty: Infectious Diseases
Budget Period: FY25-FY27
Project Objective: Bacterial zoonotic pathogens are common causes of undifferentiated febrile illnesses in northern Tanzania. We plan to perform evolutionary genomic analysis of zoonotic pathogens to evaluate transmission pathways between humans and animals for Brucella, Leptospira, Coxiella burnetii, and extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) in the Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania. We will analyze previously collected whole genome sequencing (WGS) data of ExPEC bloodstream isolates from patients enrolled in febrile illness research at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre 2007-2019 to compare to ExPEC WGS data from feces of human, poultry, livestock, and dogs, and cow milk collected in northern Tanzania 2017-2019 for the presence of animal-host associated mobile genetic elements. Improving our understanding of the transmission dynamics between humans and animals would inform control strategies for these diseases of poverty that impact human lives and livelihoods.
Project Title: Heat Exposure and Kidney Injury in North Carolina Migrant Farmworkers: A Pilot Study
Local Co-Investigators: Melissa Castillo, Nishad Jayasundara, Elizabeth Rojo, Deshira Wallace, Laura Villa Torres
Location: Eastern North Carolina
PI Specialty: Nephrology
Budget Period: FY25-FY27
Project Objective: Migrant farmworkers in North Carolina are particularly vulnerable to climate change with increased heat exposure and extreme weather events. In this study, we will evaluate heat exposure through climate monitoring station data and wearable devices that measure both core body temperature and external temperature during a work week. These measurements will be compared to each other and to existing heat recommendations. Kidney injury markers in blood and urine will be collected at multiple timepoints and will be compared to heat exposure during workday and during recovery periods. Markers will be analyzed with survey data with an emphasis on housing characteristics. This study fosters collaboration between Duke and a new North Carolina community partner and will support scientifically-based systematic change benefitting farmworker health.
FY24 Research Fellows
Project Title: Safety and Feasibility of the use of High-Dose Methotrexate in the Treatment of Pediatric Burkitt Lymphoma in Mwanza, Tanzania
Local Co-Investigators: Kristin Schroeder & Heronima Kashaigili
Location: Bugando Medical Centre: Mwanza, Tanzania
PI Specialty: Pediatrics Hematology/Oncology
Budget Period: FY24-FY26
Project Title: Validation of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Patient Related Outcome Measures among Adults in Kenya
Local Co-Investigators: David Lagat, Carolyne Lusweti, Neil MacIntyre
Location: Moi Teaching & Referral Hospital: Eldoret, Kenya
PI Specialty: Cardiology/Pulmonary
Budget Period: FY24-FY25
Project Title: Quantifying the burden of pulmonary restriction among adults in Botswana
Local Co-Investigator: Billy Tsima
Location: University of Botswana: Gaborone, Botswana
PI Specialty: Pulmonary, Allergy, & Critical Care
Budget Period: FY24-FY26
Project Title: Assessing regional capacity to respond to obstetric, neonatal, and pediatric emergencies in Northern Tanzania
Local Co-Investigators: Anjni Joiner, Emily Herfel, Elizabeth Keating, Blandina Mmbaga, Aisa Shayo, Frida Shayo
Location: Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center: Moshi, Tanzania
PI Specialty: Neonatology
Budget Period: FY24-FY26