The Duke Division of Surgical Sciences discovers fundamental new scientific principles to improve the quality of global health care. The basic and translational research activities in the Division of Surgical Sciences seek to improve patient outcomes by studying the mechanisms of disease and by developing new diagnostics and therapeutics to prevent disease. Clinical and translational research in the Division of Surgical Sciences is leading to new therapeutics and vaccines to treat devastating diseases, including cancer, emerging infections, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), auto-immune disease, and cardiovascular disease.