FAQ: The M.U.R.D.O.C.K. Study

Who is David Murdock and why is he giving Duke $35 million?

David H. Murdock is one of the largest real estate developers in the world and the owner of Dole Foods, Inc. Long known as a thoughtful and powerful businessman, his interests have broadened lately to include targeted support of projects in nutrition, crop science and global health. Murdock sees Duke University as a key player in projects at the NCRC that will help support his goals of better health world-wide.

What will the money be used for?

Research dedicated to understanding human disease at the molecular level. Some of the money will be used to purchase the latest technology in imaging or gene expression technology. Money will also be needed to recruit the brightest minds in biomedical informatics - people who will be able to analyze vast warehouses of data, and who can see patterns that reflect subclasses of disease and response to treatment. Some of the money will also be used to set up the participant registry for the trial and the creation and operation of an electronic medical record that will be necessary to chart patients' data through the years.

You say the project is a “ Framingham Study for the molecular age.” What does that mean?

The Framingham Study is one of the world's most famous studies - and one of the most productive. It got its name from the town where it began - Framingham, Mass., in 1948.

Since that time, scientists have been following thousands of participants, tracking their diet and exercise behaviors and other aspects of their lives - all geared toward understanding what factors contribute to the development and progression of heart disease. We have learned a lot from that study, just as we hope to learn a lot from the longitudinal study that will be supported by M.U.R.D.O.C.K. Like Framingham , scientists involved in the M.U.R.D.O.C.K. study will follow study participants over time. But in addition to tracking visible behaviors and physical characteristics, as Framingham did, the M.U.R.D.O.C.K. study will focus on molecular data - DNA, RNA, proteins and metabolites that characterize us individually. Using that information, scientists will be able to match patients' molecular profiles with variation in the development of disease and response to treatments.

How will this benefit Kannapolis and Cabarrus County?

Full implementation of the M.U.R.D.O.C.K. study will help ensure long-term economic growth of the Kannapolis, Cabarrus County , and indeed, the entire state of North Carolina . Murdock's business team estimates four to eight support positions are created with every new researcher added to the project. Kannapolis will become a showcase for one of the most innovative research communities in the world. But on a deeper and perhaps more meaningful level, it will enable the local population to take part in a historic health research project that will ultimately lead to better health care and longer lives for people everywhere.

Does this mean that some of the jobs will go to local people?

Some of the jobs will undoubtedly go to local people, but it is hard at this point to project exactly how many and what types of positions. We hope that the local community will enroll in on-site educational programs that could prepare them for some of the more technical positions on campus. Current plans include creation of a two-year, degree-granting college program. The campus is also exploring the idea of a math and science high school for girls.

What kinds of laboratories and equipment will be coming into Kannapolis?

When complete, the David H. Murdock Research Institute (DHMRI) laboratory on the NCRC will have one the most comprehensive collections of advanced scientific equipment in the world, including molecular genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, state-of-the-art microscopy, an animal imaging suite with MRI, PET, SPECT and CT imaging, ultra high resolution molecular imaging, and small molecule synthesis and purification. The Molecular Imaging Facility will house the flagship instrument for the study - a super-sized magnet, the Bruker 950-megaherz shielded NMR spectrascope, still under construction, that will enable us to see for the first time some of the tiniest structures inside a cell.

Will any of these new labs and biotechnologies bring any risk to the environment in Kannapolis?

All laboratories and their equipment will be in complete compliance with all local, state and federal safety and environmental regulations.

What role will local residents have in the studies?

Local residents and their physicians are critical partners in all of the studies. Without them, the M.U.R.D.O.C.K. study would be impossible! Researchers will be spending some of the early months of the study reaching out to the community to help them understand the goals of the study and how they might participate. The M.U.R.D.O.C.K. study includes the creation of a registry of people who would like to become involved.

The Kannapolis community will be hearing a lot about these opportunities as the project gets underway.

If residents have questions about the project, who should they call for information?

The best way to keep up with developing information about the M.U.R.D.O.C.K. studies is to bookmark the North Carolina Research Campus website: www.ncresearchcampus.net.