The Challenge

Disorders of the brain and spine affect the health and wellbeing of hundreds of millions of children and adults worldwide. These disorders include brain and spinal cord tumors, stroke, epilepsy, movement disorders, chronic pain, and more. Recent advances in our understanding of the nervous system coupled with the development of specialized technology have put us on the cusp of new treatment options to restore brain and spine health

Why Duke?

Duke Neurosurgery’s mission is to provide world-class, patient-centered care, research, and education, with a commitment to excellence and innovating the treatments of tomorrow.

We seek to: 

• provide best-in-class care and use minimally invasive procedures that allow patients to go home as soon as the next day.
• improve diagnosis and treatment using sophisticated imaging tools and machine learning to direct precision treatment and ensure best outcomes, especially in areas that remain challenging.
• advance research to better understand nervous system disorders and accelerate the development and adoption of next-generation treatment strategies.
• focus on the best possible experience for each patient under our care.

What makes Duke stand out is that we do rare and difficult things frequently, and as a result, achieve superior patient outcomes, restoring neurological function and returning people to full,
active lives. 

Duke excels at translational research, moving innovations rapidly from bench to bedside. The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center is renowned worldwide for its innovative treatments and patient support.

A level 4 epilepsy center, Duke delivers the highest level of care to patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. 

Duke is a designated Center of Excellence for the treatment of cerebral cavernous malformation, and our skull base surgery team is honored as a Multidisciplinary Team of Distinction for its highly-skilled, comprehensive care.

Recent highlights include:

• A pioneering study of brain cell transplantation to treat adults with drug-resistant epilepsy. Duke is one of the first sites in the U.S. using this innovative therapy.
• A new deep brain stimulation technique to treat complex cases of epilepsy that gives most patients a greatly improved quality of life and reduces seizure frequency by 70%.
• New insights into the origins of glioblastoma that may help to identify and treat people at risk — years before they develop a tumor.
• The nation’s fastest-growing program treating essential tremor with FDA-approved, non-invasive ultrasound that reduces tremors by about 70%
• A world-class neuroengineering center that will accelerate the development of novel neurotechnologies to improve human memory and cognition

The Opportunity

Duke Neurosurgery combines compassionate care and the latest research advances to treat illness throughout the brain and spine. Your support will help us conduct cutting-edge laboratory research and clinical trials to test novel therapeutics; advance imaging and diagnostic tools to better assess disease; develop next- generation minimally and non-invasive surgical techniques; and improve patient experience and quality of life.

With your help, we will build on our work to improve outcomes for all patients with neurological disorders.

You Can Make a Difference

Philanthropic partners are essential to our success. Every expendable, endowed, or planned gift makes a difference. You can help Duke Neurosurgery change lives by:

Funding the future of research

Gifts of $1,000,000 or more will help pioneer new approaches to improve the lives of neurosurgical patients and rapidly translate research from bench to bedside.

Investing in neurosurgical leaders

Gifts of $500,000 or more will help attract exceptional surgeons and scientists and provide them with the resources necessary to innovate and lead

Supporting patients and advancing therapeutic options

Gifts of $250,000 or more will help address the needs of our patients and their families, ensuring better health outcomes and improved quality of life.

Advancing technology for patient care

Gifts of $100,000 or more will expand the use of advanced technology and equipment to ensure delivery of the most innovative care.