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Kyle Walsh

Associate Professor in Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery
DUMC Box 3050, Durham, NC 27710
571 Research Drive, MSRB-1, Rm 442, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


Dr. Walsh is Associate Professor of Neurosurgery and Pathology, Director of the Division of Neuro-epidemiology, and a Senior Fellow in the Duke Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development. He leads Duke’s Neuro-epidemiology Lab, which integrates bench science with statistical methods to study the neurobiology of glial senescence and gliomagenesis. This research interrogates human genomic and epigenomic profiles to identify both heritable and modifiable factors that contribute to neurologic and physical decline, applying these approaches to studying the shared neurobiology of cognition, glial senescence, and gliomagenesis. The lab has a long history studying telomere maintenance in pre-malignant cells and its role in the development of cancer, most notably glioblastoma.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Associate Professor in Neurosurgery · 2021 - Present Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery
Associate Professor in Pathology · 2020 - Present Pathology, Clinical Science Departments
Associate Professor in Pediatrics · 2020 - Present Pediatrics, Children's Health Discovery Institute, Pediatrics
Associate Professor in Population Health Sciences · 2020 - Present Population Health Sciences, Basic Science Departments
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute · 2017 - Present Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published January 16, 2024
Drug/Cannabis Use During Pregnancy Linked to Certain Childhood Cancers
Published August 3, 2022
Brain Tumor Study Highlights Differences Among Hispanics
Published November 19, 2021
A Third of Caregivers of Kids with Cancer Have Hesitancy on COVID Vaccine

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Recent Publications


BRAF/MEK Inhibition Induces Cell State Transitions Boosting Immune Checkpoint Sensitivity in BRAFV600E -mutant Glioma.

Journal Article bioRxiv · April 1, 2025 Resistance to BRAF plus MEK inhibition (BRAFi+MEKi) in BRAFV600E-mutant gliomas drives rebound, progression, and high mortality, yet it remains poorly understood. This study addresses the urgent need to develop treatments for BRAFi+MEKi-resistant glioma in ... Full text Link to item Cite

Age-associated differences in mucosal and systemic host responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Journal Article Nat Commun · March 10, 2025 Age is among the strongest risk factors for severe outcomes from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here we describe upper respiratory tract (URT) and peripheral blood transcriptomes of 202 participants (age range of 1 week to 83 years), including 137 non-hospitalized ... Full text Open Access Link to item Cite

Immuno-epidemiologic mapping of HLA diversity across glioma patient cohorts.

Journal Article Neuro Oncol · February 14, 2025 BACKGROUND: Individual-level characteristics underlying population-level variation in glioma risk and outcomes remain incompletely understood. Cancer immunosurveillance, host immunity, and some immunotherapies center on the ability of an individual's immun ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Developing strategies to identify candidate individuals for early genetic therapies

ResearchMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2029

The Duke Preparing Research scholars In bioMEdical sciences (PRIME): Cancer Research Program

ResearchPreceptor · Awarded by National Cancer Institute · 2023 - 2028

Modulation of STING to enhance the efficacy of treatments for diffuse midline glioma

ResearchCollaborator · Awarded by Alex's Lemonade Stand · 2024 - 2028

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Education, Training & Certifications


Yale University, School of Medicine · 2011 Ph.D.