Who Is Funding the Science That's Too Early for Venture Capital?
April 22, 2026
Duke University
#8 in Universities
08Institution Overview
Overall
Ranking
8
10
Rank in
Research Capabilities
26
Rank in
Entrepreneurial Readiness
7
Rank in
Market Translation
Durham, NC
Duke University ranks eighth in the Cure Innovation Index and is located in Durham, North Carolina. The university places among the top 10 in Research Capabilities and ranks seventh in Market Translation, reflecting strength on both the discovery and commercialization sides of the biomedical enterprise. An incubator, an entrepreneur-in-residence program, and biomedical entrepreneurship training are part of a developed commercialization ecosystem. Duke also holds a Clinical and Translational Science Award and offers an MSTP program and an MD/MBA dual degree option, supporting researchers who work across the full arc from laboratory to clinic.
Ranking Metrics
Research Capabilities
Duke University ranked above average for Research Capabilities, a measure of the foundational infrastructure and resources that enable an institution to conduct high-quality, innovative science. Out of the factors in this category, Duke University fared best in Funding Support.
Learn MoreEntrepreneurial Readiness
Duke University ranked above average for Entrepreneurial Readiness, a measure of whether the institution has built a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurship and whether faculty are engaged in and incentivized toward commercial activity. Out of the factors in this category, Duke University fared best in Ecosystem Support.
Learn MoreMarket Translation
Duke University ranked above average for Market Translation, a measure of how effectively a research institution moves scientific discovery out of the lab and into real-world clinical and commercial applications. Out of the factors in this category, Duke University fared best in Health Impact.
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Cure Innovation Index Methodology
From a pool of more than 6,000 institutions, the top 303 were ranked using two dozen indicators — from scientific foundation and lab infrastructure to patents, products, and partnerships — drawn from more than a dozen federal and commercial databases, an original audit of all institutions, and surveys of more than 3,300+ scientists, industry leaders, and biomedical experts.
Insights From the Cure Innovation Index
Explore by Category
Innovation isn't a single moment — it's an entire ecosystem. The Index evaluates institutions across two dozen indicators, grouped in three core domains that reveal the full picture of what it takes to turn groundbreaking science into real-world impact.
