Scholars@Duke
Bruce Alan Sullenger

Bruce Alan Sullenger

Joseph W. and Dorothy W. Beard Distinguished Professor of Experimental Surgery
Surgery, Surgical Sciences
bruce.sullenger@duke.edu
Box 103035, Durham, NC 27710
DUMC 103035, Durham, NC 27710

Overview

The main focus of my translational research laboratory is to develop RNA based therapeutic agents for the potential treatment of a range of diseases. To this end, we have and will continue to take advantage of the fact that RNA is not just a passive carrier of genetic instructions inside of cells during the conversion of information from DNA to RNA to protein. Rather, RNA is an extremely versatile biological macromolecule. Certian RNAs can bind to specific protiens with high affinities, while others can for catalytic centers and perform enzymatic reactions. These facets of RNA coupled with the ease with which RNA can be manipulated in vitro make it a very powerful and unique therapeutic agent whose potential is largely untapped. Durring our endeavors, we plan to work closely with the members of the Molecular Therapeutics program as well as other faculty at the Duke University Medical Center to expedite the development and testing of these therapeutics.

The specific aims of my laboratory are:

1. To isolate and characterize RNA and DNA aptamers which block therapeutically relavent proteins such as those involved in cardiovascular diseases and immune modulation.

2. To develop RNA-based tumor targeting strategies for delivering siRNAs and miRNAs to tumor cells.

3. To reprogram cells using mRNA delivery.

4. To explore novel methods to control inflammation.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Joseph W. and Dorothy W. Beard Distinguished Professor of Experimental Surgery · 2003 - Present Surgery, Surgical Sciences, Surgery
Professor in Surgery · 2001 - Present Surgery, Surgical Sciences, Surgery
Director of the Duke Center for Translational Research · 2004 - Present Surgery, Clinical Science Departments
Professor of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology · 2012 - Present Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Basic Science Departments
Professor of Neurosurgery · 2019 - Present Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery
Professor of Cell Biology · 2022 - Present Cell Biology, Basic Science Departments
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute · 1994 - Present Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers

In the News

Published May 15, 2024
What Mosquitoes Can Teach Us About Safer Blood Thinning
Published June 30, 2023
Improvement to CRISPR Gene Editing Could Make It More Effective
Published December 11, 2018
Two From Duke Named To National Academy Of Inventors

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Recent Publications

An Aptamer-Based EXACT Anticoagulant as a Sustainable, Animal-Free Alternative to Unfractionated Heparin.

Journal Article Adv Sci (Weinh) · October 6, 2025 Unfractionated heparin (UFH), designated as an essential medicine by the World Health Organization (WHO), is indispensable in cardiac surgery and various clinical applications. However, its production depends on the farming of over a billion large animals ... Full text Link to item Cite

Binding and Ligand Activation Driven Enrichment-Directed Evolution of SaCas9 gRNAs Improves Gene Editing Efficiency.

Journal Article Nucleic Acid Ther · October 2025 Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-based editing is inefficient at over two-thirds of genetic targets. A primary cause is ribonucleic acid (RNA) misfolding that can occur between the spacer and scaffold regions of the gRNA, which hin ... Full text Link to item Cite

ECMO-induced coagulopathy: strategic initiatives for research and clinical practice (a workshop report of the NHLBI).

Journal Article Blood Vessel Thromb Hemost · May 2025 In May 2024, the Division of Blood Diseases and Resources of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) hosted a hybrid workshop on "Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)-induced coagulopathy: strategic initiatives for research and clinical ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants

Pharmacological Sciences Training Program

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPreceptor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2030

Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (StARR) - NIAID

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPreceptor · Awarded by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2018 - 2029

Duke Research Training Program in Surgical Oncology

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Cancer Institute · 2024 - 2029

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Education, Training & Certifications

Cornell University · 1990 Ph.D.