Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Durham's Syngenta To Expand

Durham's Syngenta will expand to create 150 new research and development jobs by 2018.

Delta Will Fly Direct from RDU to the Bahamas

Delta will begin a nonstop weekly services to the Bahamas from Raleigh-Durham International Airport in December.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

PurThread Names CEO

Antimicrobial textiles company PurThread Technologies, has a new chief executive officer, Lisa Grimes, formerly CEO of contract research organization InSite Clinical Trials.

Spring Launches 4G in Durham

Sprint has launched 4G high-speed wireless service in Durham.

Companies behind GMOs launch website

Agricultural biotechnology companies involved in the development of genetically modified crops, also known as genetically modified organisms or GMOs, including Durham companies Syngenta, Bayer CropScience, BASF and Monsanto are launching a website, GMO Answers to answer the “toughest questions” about them.

Monday, July 29, 2013

Kramden Institute to Double Space

The Kramden Institute, a nonprofit that gives computers to the economically disadvantaged,  will soon double its space and move into a 10,000 ft. suite.

BioCryst Adds to Board of Directors

 BioCryst Pharmaceuticals announced that Dr. Fred E. Cohen was elected to the company's Board of Directors.

Weejee Learning Adds Staff

Weejee Learning announced that Eric Andrikaitis has joined the company as an interactive strategist.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Duke Researchers Develop Broad-Scale Genome Tinkering

Duke researchers have devised a way to quickly and easily target and tinker with any gene in the human genome. The new tool, which builds on an RNA-guided enzyme they borrowed from bacteria, is being made freely available to researchers who may now apply it to the next round of genome discovery.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Durham startup ArchiveSocial selected by Silicon Valley accelerator

ArchiveSocial has been selected out of 190 national applications to join the Code for America Accelerator, a four-month program focused on startups disrupting the state of technology in the public sector.

Former Minister of Health of Nigeria to Join Duke Faculty

Starting in Fall 2013, Duke students will have the opportunity to learn about global health systems from one of the world’s top health policy leaders. Muhammad Pate, former Minister of State for Health of Nigeria, will serve as Visiting Professor at the Duke Global Health Institute.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Bull Durham Blues Festival Will be One Day Event

The Bull Durham Blues Festival has announced its lineup for the one-day festival to be held on September 7 at Hayti Heritage Center at St. Joseph's Performance Hall.

Office Complex Near RTP Acquired

The California-based real estate company Passco Companies has completed the $28 million acquisition of the Encore at the Park complex, formerly known as Century Creek, near the Research Triangle Park

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Charter School to Open in Durham in 2014

Reaching All Minds charter school will be opening its doors in Durham in August 2014 after receiving approval recently from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction to become one of the state’s newest charter schools.

Hillside High School Adds 5 Coaches

Five new coaches will join Hillside High in the new school year. Athletics Director Bob Hill hired Rob Clodfelter to coach boys cross-country, Anthony Leak for baseball, Sylvia Latson for softball, Syreeta Mason for volleyball and A.J. Davis for boys track.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Rice House Healthcare Program to Open in Sept

Rice House Healthcare Program, a program based on the now closed Rice Diet has purchased a 13,000 square foot medical office on North Duke Street that can house up to 300 people. The program will open at the end of September.

Curry Point Express Opens on South Miami

An Indian restaurant called Curry Point Express opened Monday on South Miami Boulevard, serving express lunch and dinner as well as sit-down options.

Duke Researchers Discover Pain Relief: Fish Oil Derivative

A derivative of fish oil has shown potential for developing a new pain treatment that could become an alternative to addictive opioid pain killers, according to new research from Duke University.

Friday, July 19, 2013

Duke Biochemical mapping helps explain who will respond to antidepressants

Duke Medicine researchers have identified biochemical changes in people taking antidepressants – but only in those whose depression improves.

Delta to Launch New Flights at RDU

Delta will begin flights to Salt Lake City beginning Dec. 22, departing RDU at 7:45 a.m., landing in Utah at 10:30 a.m., and arriving back at RDU at 10:51 p.m.  Delta is also starting a non-stop service between RDU and Philadelphia on Sept. 3.

World Beer Festival Returns to Durham in New Location

The World Beer Festival will return to Durham on Oct. 5 in a new location: the Historic Durham Athletic Park.

Duke Swimming and Diving Program Receives Honors

Nine members of the Duke swimming and diving program have earned Scholar All-America recognition for the 2012-13 season, as announced Thursday by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA). In addition, both the Blue Devil men and women received Scholar All-America team honors for the spring semester.

NCCU Names Student-Athlete of the Month

North Carolina Central University women’s bowling senior Khrystal Richardson has been named the Nationwide Insurance NCCU Student-Athlete of the Month for June 2013 in recognition of her outstanding accomplishments on the lanes and in the classroom.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Healy Promoted to Chef de Cuisine at Washington Duke

Executive Chef Jason Cunningham recently announced the promotion of Murray Healy to chef de cuisine of the Fairview Dining Room at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club. 

Duke Announces 2013 Robertson Scholars

Twenty-nine high school graduates have accepted invitations to become Robertson Scholars, receiving scholarships for either the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill or Duke University.

Duke Researchers Identify Signals that Drive Tumors to Spread

A team of international researchers from Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (USA) have identified a self-perpetuating signaling circuit inside connective tissue cells that allows these cells to form a front and a back and propel themselves in a particular direction over a long period of time. This propulsion is the same movement that tumor cells use to invade healthy tissue during cancer metastasis so cracking the code to this signaling network may lead to new therapeutic strategies against cancer and other devastating diseases.

Vans Opens in Southpoint

Vans, the store embraced by skateboarders, BMXers, tweens and teens around the country, opened its first Triangle shop at The Streets at Southpoint.

Duke Study Uncovers Healthy Pain Relief Option for Neuropathic Pain

A Duke University study revealed that a derivative of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), a main ingredient of over-the-counter fish oil supplements, can sooth and prevent neuropathic pain caused by injuries to the sensory system.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

NCCU Men's Basketball Adds Staff

North Carolina Central University head men’s basketball coach LeVelle Moton has announced that Brian Burg and Michael Cotton have been added to the program as assistant coaches, completing his coaching staff for the 2013-14 year.

Duke Bioengineers Develop New Approach to Regenerate Back Discs

According to Duke University scientists, cell therapies may stop or reverse the pain and disability of degenerative disc disease and the loss of material between vertebrae.

Fleet Feet to Open Store in Southpoint

Fleet Feet, a chain of community-oriented specialty stores serving runners, walkers and lifetime fitness enthusiasts, has announced that it's planning to open a Fleet Feet Sports in the Renaissance Center at Southpoint in the fall.

Durham Audio Company Buys Boston Firm

Durham-based Digital Audio Corporation has acquired Boston-based Salient Stills, which will allow the company, which creates forensic audio clarification tools for law enforcement, to expand its offerings, to video forensics and image enhancement products.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Health care-focused investment firm raise $5.1 million

Excelerate Health Ventures, a group of investors focused on the health care industry announced that it has $5.1 million in commitments from a group of doctors, dentists, health care executives and angel investors for a new angel fund.

Monday, July 15, 2013

RTI scientist to serve as chair of NIH section

Eric Johnson, a senior research scientist at RTI International, has been selected to serve as chair of the Behavioral Genetics and Epidemiology Study Section at the Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health.

Washington Duke Chef Wins First Round of Competition

Jason Cunningham, a chef at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club, won the first round of his competition in the statewide chef competition “Got To Be NC Competition Dining Series: Fire In the Triangle.”

The Underground@Main Street Opens

A new entrepreneurial hub, called The Underground@Main Street, opened in 22,000 square feet of renovated space at 201 W. Main St.

Gregoria's Kitchen to Seek New Location

The owner of Gregoria’s Kitchen, the Cuban restaurant that closed earlier this year after a fire heavily damaged the house in which it was located on Chapel Hill Road, said he’s looking for a new location for the restaurant.

Iannuzzi Promoted to Deputy Fire Chief

Durham Fire Chief Dan Curia has promoted Chris Iannuzzi to deputy fire chief, the second-highest rank in the Durham Fire Department.

The Roxy Set to Close

Neighborhood bar, The Roxy will close and will become Triangle Pint and Plate, a restaurant focused on Triangle Brewing Company beers.

Friday, July 12, 2013

1013 Bread & Kabob Sold to New Owner

1013 Bread & Kabob has been sold to a new owner.  It is remain open but will become Skewers Bar & Grill in two to three weeks. It is located at 1013 W Main Street

Green Roof Installed in Downtown Durham

A green roof has been installed on a downtown building that serves as the headquarters for Xero Flor America, the Durham-based U.S. distributor of plant roof mats called the Xero Flor Green Roof System.

Bioventus names new chief science officer

Biologics firm Bioventus has appointed Alessandra Pavesio to become the company’s new chief science officer.

Duke among first in nation to offer bionic eye to severely blind

Duke University Hospital has been chosen as one of the first sites in the nation to offer a bionic eye to severely blind patients.

Duke Tennis Team Named ITA Doubles Team of the Year

Duke Tennis’s Henrique Cunha and Raphael Hemmeler have been selected as the 2013 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) National Doubles Team of the Year.

Southern School of Engineering principal to lead Lowe’s Grove Middle School

Durham Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Eric J. Becoats today appointed Ms. Darneise Massey, principal of Southern School of Engineering, as the next principal of Lowe’s Grove Middle School of Technology. Lowe’s Grove begins its first year as a STEM magnet school in August.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Panera Coming to Ninth Street

A lease has been signed for a Panera Bread restaurant to open at the Shops at Erwin Mill, a group of buildings on the western side of Ninth Street that have been renovated after their purchase last year by a team of developers.

Monday, July 8, 2013

Shell to Become Sheetz on Hillsbourough Rd

Plans have been filed with Durham City-County Planning to redevelop an existing Shell gas station and a vacant former Blockbuster video building on Hillsborough Road into a new Sheetz.

NC Defense Business Asso. Adds Board Member

Richard Brewer, a senior manager in business development at RTI International, has been elected to the board of directors for the N.C. Defense Business Association.

Friday, July 5, 2013

Artisan at Brightleaf Apartments Sold

The 328-unit Artisan at Brightleaf apartments, located within the Brightleaf community on U.S. 70 in east Durham, sold for $43.8 million, or $133,536 per unit. The buyer was an investor group represented by AEW Capital Management of Los Angeles.

Durham Apartment Complex Sold

The 298-unit Alexan Garrett Farms rental community, located off of U.S. 15-501, sold for $49.3 million, or $165,436 per unit. The buyer was Boston-based real estate investment firm Bentall Kennedy.

Duke Develops "Asprin Test"

Researchers at Duke University have developed a gene-based test to show whether a patient with cardiovascular risk factors would benefit from aspirin therapy.

Freelon Group Wins Architecture Award

The American Library Association and the American Institute of Architects have awarded Durham architecture firm The Freelon Group with the 2013 AIA/ALA Library Building Award for the design of Anacostia Neighborhood Library in Washington, D.C.

John R. McAdams Co. Changes Name to McAdams

Durham’s The John R. McAdams Co. has altered its name to McAdams and introduced a new corporate identity and logo.

Six Alumni Join Duke Board of Trustees

Six alumni have joined the Duke University Board of Trustees. Three new members will serve six-year terms —Stephen Pagliuca '77, Carmichael Roberts Jr.’90 and Edward Gilhuly ’82. Additionally, three observing members also joined the Board—Shepard Moyle ’84, Christopher Brown’13 and Katherine Duch, a Duke Ph.D. candidate in public policy. David Rubenstein,’70, was elected Board chair in May and officially took on the role Monday.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Duke Researchers Discover Brain Sets Prices with Emotional Value

Neuroeconomics Researchers at Duke University have found that your feelings about something and the value you put on it are calculated similarly in a specific area of the brain.

Upscale Apartments Coming to Patterson Place

Two Florida real estate groups have announced plans to jointly develop a $40.1 million apartment community in south Durham near the Patterson Place shopping center. The 322-unit Patterson Place project will be the first joint venture between CNL Growth Properties of Orlando and The Bainbridge Companies of Wellington, Fla., according to the companies.

Durham’s Bioventus Gets Deal with Pfizer

Durham-based Bioventus has nabbed a big pharma platform for its orthopaedic healing portfolio: Pfizer’s  bone morphogenetic protein.

Durham Shoe-Maker Acquires Competitor

Durham footwear and fitness products company Implus Corp. has acquired most of the assets of Pennsylvania-based Penguin Brands Inc., one of Implus’ major competitors in the shoe-care category.

Durham Regional Hospital Changes Name to Duke Regional Hospital

After 23 years as Durham Regional Hospital, the hospital has changed its name to Duke Regional Hospital to reflect its relationship with Duke Medicine.

The Famery Opens in Downtown Durham

The Farmery, a mobile greenhouse and produce shop has opened outside of the offices of Burt's Bees in the American Tobacco historic district. The Farmery’s shop/greenhouse will be open to the public from 11 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.