Kristy Johson receives her award from Chair Dr. Kathleen Cooney
Kristy Johnson has received the Duke Department of Medicine’s 2026 Research Support Excellence Award, recognizing sustained excellence in the administrative and programmatic support of research studies.
As a study manager, Johnson oversees administrative and regulatory operations for four active multicenter randomized clinical trials testing interventions for intensive care unit survivors. The studies span more than 12 sites across the country, each with its own institutional requirements and timelines.
Her responsibilities include coordinating Institutional Review Board requirements across participating sites and tracking study progress, data completeness, amendments, continuing reviews and reportable events. She also helps research teams navigate Duke’s internal research administration processes and works to keep studies moving forward while meeting regulatory requirements.
Johnson also serves as a key connection between clinical sites and data coordinating centers, helping ensure clinical teams, site coordinators and data managers have consistent information across complex multicenter trials. Her work supports communication and coordination among research teams while anticipating potential issues that could delay study activities.
In nominating Johnson for the award, Christopher Cox, MD, highlighted her ability to manage the demands of multiple studies while maintaining effective working relationships across research teams. He credited her work with helping ensure consistent and compliant execution of trials across participating sites.
The Research Support Excellence Award recognizes Department of Medicine staff members whose administrative and programmatic work helps research teams navigate complex processes, manage competing priorities and enhance the rigor and feasibility of research projects.