Overview
Virginia Byers Kraus, MD, PhD, is the Mary Bernheim Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Professor of Pathology and a faculty member of the Duke Molecular Physiology Institute in the Duke University School of Medicine. She is a practicing Rheumatologist with over 30 years’ experience in translational musculoskeletal research focusing on osteoarthritis, the most common of all arthritides. She trained at Brown University (ScB 1979), Duke University (MD 1982, PhD 1993) and the Duke University School of Medicine (Residency in Internal Medicine and Fellowship in Rheumatology). Her career has focused on elucidating osteoarthritis pathogenesis and translational research into the discovery and validation of biomarkers for early osteoarthritis detection, prediction of progression, monitoring of disease status, and facilitation of therapeutic developments. She is co-PI of the Foundation for NIH Biomarkers Consortium Osteoarthritis project. Trained as a molecular biologist and a Rheumatologist, she endeavors to study disease from bedside to bench.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Publications
Comparison of age-related inflammation and oxidative stress in two lemur species.
Journal Article J Comp Physiol B · July 2, 2025 Oxidative damage and inflammation are mechanisms proposed to contribute to physiological senescence. Variation in oxidative damage and inflammation may reflect differential allocation of resources to reproduction and survival, contributing to differences i ... Full text Link to item CiteThe inflammatory endotype in osteoarthritis: Reflections from the 2024 OARSI clinical trials symposium (CTS) with a special emphasis on feasibility for clinical development.
Journal Article Osteoarthr Cartil Open · June 2025 OBJECTIVE: The inflammatory endotype is arguably one of the most well-established endotype in osteoarthritis (OA). While endotyping holds promise for advancing drug development, numerous potential challenges must be considered, addressed and resolved befor ... Full text Link to item CitePsychological and immunological associations with movement-evoked low back pain among older adults.
Journal Article Pain reports · June 2025 IntroductionLow back pain (LBP) is a leading global factor in disability among older adults. Movement-evoked pain (MEP) is potentially an important mediator in the disability pathway but is predominantly tested in the laboratory.Objectives Full text CiteRecent Grants
Biomarkers to Advance Clinical Phenotypes of Low Back Pain (BACk)
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases · 2023 - 2028Biopsychosocial Influence on Shoulder Pain
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases · 2023 - 2028Stress Reactivity and Low Back Pain in Older Adults: Influences on Disability (ReLOAD)
Clinical TrialCollaborator · Awarded by National Institute on Aging · 2022 - 2027View All Grants