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Virginia Byers Kraus

Professor of Medicine
Medicine, Rheumatology and Immunology
Duke Box 104775, Durham, NC 27701
300 N Duke St, Carmichael Building Room 15-205, Durham, NC 27701-2047

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


Professor of Medicine · 2010 - Present Medicine, Rheumatology and Immunology, Medicine
Mary Bernheim Distinguished Professor of Medicine · 2021 - Present Medicine, Rheumatology and Immunology, Medicine
Professor of Pathology · 2010 - Present Pathology, Clinical Science Departments
Professor in Orthopaedic Surgery · 2015 - Present Orthopaedic Surgery, Clinical Science Departments
Member of Duke Molecular Physiology Institute · 2013 - Present Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Institutes and Centers
Affiliate of the Duke Regeneration Center · 2021 - Present Duke Regeneration Center, Basic Science Departments

In the News


Published April 29, 2024
Hope for Knee Osteoarthritis: Detecting It Before It Causes Damage
Published January 27, 2023
New Blood Test is More Accurate in Identifying Osteoarthritis Progression
Published September 30, 2022
How Long Older Adults Will Live Comes Down to 17 Often Surprising Factors

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Recent Publications


The inflammatory endotype in osteoarthritis: Reflections from the 2024 OARSI clinical trials symposium (CTS) with a special emphasis on feasibility for clinical development

Journal Article Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open · June 1, 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 Cite

The PIKASO trial (Preventing Injured Knees from Osteoarthritis: Severity Outcomes): Rationale and design features for a randomized controlled trial.

Journal Article Osteoarthr Cartil Open · March 2025 OBJECTIVE: Given the high burden and increasing prevalence of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA), identifying clinically beneficial strategies to prevent or delay its onset could improve the quality of life of those at high risk of developing the disease ... Full text Link to item Cite

The CALERIE Genomic Data Resource.

Journal Article Nat Aging · February 2025 Caloric restriction (CR) slows biological aging and prolongs healthy lifespan in model organisms. Findings from the CALERIE randomized, controlled trial of long-term CR in healthy, nonobese humans broadly supports a similar pattern of effects in humans. To ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent 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 - 2028

Biopsychosocial Influence on Shoulder Pain

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases · 2023 - 2028

Stress Reactivity and Low Back Pain in Older Adults: Influences on Disability (ReLOAD)

Clinical TrialCollaborator · Awarded by National Institute on Aging · 2022 - 2027

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Education, Training & Certifications


Duke University · 1993 Ph.D.
Duke University · 1982 M.D.