Danny Benjamin, MD, PhD, MPH
Affiliate Professor
Pediatric Pharmaceutical Clinical Trials
Research Interests
Dr. Danny Benjamin is the Principal Investigator and Chair of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development’s Pediatric Trials Network. The Network is responsible for designing and leading clinical trials of off-patent medicines in children of all ages across all therapeutic areas. The team has established, or is actively studying, the correct dosing and safety of more than 100 of the most commonly used medicines in children. These trials are conducted under an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with guidance from the Food and Drug Administration for labeling. The Pediatric Trials Network has directly impacted the healthcare of over 90% of American children.
Signature programs of the Network include clinical trials in premature and term infants, breast feeding mothers, and obese children. Over the past 10 years, Danny’s group has enrolled more premature infants, at more sites, in more clinical trials of off-patent anti-infectives under an IND than all other academic medical centers, pharmaceutical companies, and government agencies in the world, combined.
Teaching Interests
Danny is recognized by the National Institutes of Health as a premiere mentor and educator. His research program serves as a platform to train students and early career investigators. Danny’s group has a clinical research summer program for MSU undergraduates. The Duke-MSU STAR Program Partnership is linked to Danny’s STAR program at Duke that recruits and mentors ~30 students from across the country each academic year. He is the primary mentor for medical students, residents, subspecialty fellows, and junior faculty members. He has been the primary or secondary mentor for 10 faculty who have received career development awards and who have then gone on to establish their own independent research programs; six of whom are now Distinguished Professors.
Intellectual Contributions
Awards
Teaching, Local Recognition
Duke University Department of Pediatrics Outstanding Research Mentor, 2019
Duke University School of Medicine Faculty Mentor Award, 2019
Duke University Clinical Science Research Mentoring Award, 2013
Duke University Duke Clinical Research Institute RM Califf Mentorship Award, 2007.
Duke University Teaching Award for Resident Education Department of Pediatrics, 2003.
Duke University Department of Pediatrics Fellow Teaching Award, 1999.
University of Virginia Graduate Student Teaching Award, 1998.
University of Virginia School of Medicine Teaching Award, 1998.
University of Virginia Resident Teaching Award Department of Pediatrics, 1997.
Teaching and Mentorship, National Recognition
2026—Society for Pediatric Research’s Maureen Andrew Mentor Award
2023—For mentorship and salary support for 8 junior faculty (NIH - 7K12 HD113189)
2018—For mentorship and support for high school and college students (NIH - 2R25 HD076476)
2017—For mentorship and provide salary support for 12 post-doctoral fellows (NIH - 5T32 HD043029)
2013—For mentorship and support for high school and college students (NIH -2R25 HD076475)
2013—For mentorship in clinical research (NIH - 5K24 HD058735)
2011—For mentorship and provide salary support for 10 post-doctoral fellows (NIH - 5T32 GM086330)
2009—For mentorship in clinical research (NIH - 5K24 HD058735)
Research Awards:
Society of Pediatric Research - Maureen Andrew Mentor Award, April 2026
Elected Member, Association of American Physicians, 2023. (National medical honor society)
Ruth and A. Morris Williams Jr. Faculty Research Prize, Duke School of Medicine, 2012.
Elected Member, American Society Clinical Investigation, 2010. (National medical honor society)
Pediatric Infectious Disease Society: Young Investigator Award, 2006
Selected Grants
Complete list of selected grants
Completed Grants
Links
Duke Clinical Research Institute - Pediatrics
Duke Clinical Research Institute - Leadership
NIH Best Pharmaceutical Children’s Act – Pediatric Clinical Trials
Affiliations
Education
Fellow, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Duke University
Resident, Pediatrics, University of Virginia
Ph.D. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
M.P.H. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
M.D. University of Virginia