PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

21-Nov-2014

Contact: Nicole Duncan nicole.duncan@nescent.org 919-668-7993 National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) @NESCent

DURHAM, N.C. - A new research center aims to connect scientists, physicians, health policy experts, and veterinarians in the burgeoning field of evolutionary medicine. The Triangle Center for Evolutionary Medicine, or TriCEM, will make its debut this Sunday at the Washington Duke Inn.

The announcement comes as part of a ten-year anniversary celebration and symposium for a similar institute, the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent), which has spearheaded the effort to create TriCEM.

"We are incredibly excited to see the enthusiasm for evolutionary approaches to human and animal health in the Triangle and to see TriCEM take shape," says Charles Nunn, a professor of evolutionary anthropology and global health at Duke University, who will serve as the director. "TriCEM will build on the success of NESCent in stimulating cutting-edge interdisciplinary research in evolutionary biology. At the NESCent Celebration, we will announce our first research and educational efforts and prepare the community for exciting opportunities in the future."

NESCent will close in June 2015 after supporting thousands of researchers, graduate students, working groups, and other projects. After ten years of funding from the National Science Foundation, NESCent leaders wanted to create a new center that would foster collaborations between scientists, physicians, health policy experts, and veterinarians within the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Triangle area.

"The concentration of research and education in evolutionary biology, human and veterinary medicine, infectious diseases, and agriculture in the Triangle is a tremendous resource," says Allen Rodrigo, director of NESCent. "If we want to build bridges between these disciplines, I can think of no better place to do it."

Capitalizing on the area's wealth of science and health resources, TriCEM seeks potential partnerships with resident universities including Duke, North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and North Carolina Central University.

NESCent and TriCEM have already issued a joint call for proposals for Catalysis Meetings and Graduate Fellowships focusing on evolutionary medicine. NESCent will also make an announcement regarding a Catalysis Meeting between TriCEM and the Tropical Conservation Initiative at Duke.

Link:

North Carolina researchers unveil a new center for evolutionary medicine