The Duke Human Vaccine Institute (DHVI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Herman Staats,PhD, as co-director of the Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL), effective September 1, ahead of becoming the sole director of the RBL, effective January 1, 2024.
Staats is a longtime faculty member of the DHVI and has collaborated extensively with DHVI investigators in the RBL. He is an expert in adjuvant research and in host response to vaccines.
In addition to serving as director of the RBL, Colin Duckett, PhD, has continued in his role in the Dean’s Office as Vice Dean for Basic Science. Over the past year, Duckett has played a major role in acquiring grant support for the RBL and has done a wonderful job leading all of its components.
However, with Dean Klotman’s increased responsibilities have come more responsibilities for Duckett as Vice Dean for Basic Science, necessitating him to step down as director of the RBL in January 2024, at which time Staats will assume the role of director. “Colin has worked with us to design a smooth transition in the RBL and Herman has graciously agreed to serve as co-director for the next four months, prior to assuming the role of director,” said Barton Haynes, director of DHVI.