History

The Developmental Biology Training Program has trained students at Duke in Developmental Biology since 1992. When the program began, initially involving the Departments of Biology, Cell Biology, and Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, a concerted and cohesive effort emphasized training as a broad interdisciplinary subject that involved studies at the molecular, cellular, genetic, evolutionary, and systems levels. As the Program grew factulty from Biochemistry, Immunology, Neurobiology, Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, and Pediatrics joined the Program.

We are a young faculty with more than 70% of the DBP faculty arriving at Duke since 1990. The growth to 45 faculty meant inclusion of each of the commonly used animal models, inclusion of many different approaches, inclusion of a strong plant developmental component as well as faculty who focus on devo-evo and on development at a systems level.

With the initial strength and a spirit of cooperation the Program began to attract top students and shortly thereafter obtained an NIH-funded training Grant in 2001. That support now extends to 2011. The strength of the Program has grown along with Duke such that students now have opportunities to participate in systems approaches to problem solving, proteomics, genetics, and a wide range of biological and biochemical approaches to address fundamental and translational questions in development.

As the Program developed a rich selection of courses, seminars, and colloquia were introduced to advance the training. In addition we constantly strive to improve the curriculum, admissions and recruitment, ethical training, minority access, and there is an effort to promote collaborative efforts within and between disciplines. Our graduates have been successful first in publishing their work, and then in obtaining outstanding postdoctoral and faculty positions.