As federal policy and research funding uncertainty continue to reshape Duke’s financial and research landscape, School of Medicine leaders outlined a path forward in a Thursday webinar. “In the past, strategy might mean a five- or 10-year plan,” said Mary Klotman, dean of the School of Medicine. “Now, I can’t even imagine having enough insight into what might change to even do … a short-term plan.”Federal pressure reshapes research planningDuke has lost hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research funding this year amid legal battles over the future of the NIH and that instability in federal research support has continued. More recently, however, legal actions directly affecting Duke’s research scene have slowed — though it remains vigilant if trends change. Graduate training holds steadyDespite the school “juggling pretty uncertain times,” Colin Duckett, executive vice dean for basic and preclinical science, shared encouraging insights into this year’s graduate application cycle.