More than a half dozen local entities are joining forces to launch the Triangle Global Health Consortium.

The consortium, announced today, is made up of Family Health International, IntraHealth International, the N.C. Biotechnolgy Center, UNC-Chapel Hill, N.C. State, RTI International and Duke University.

As befits an organization with members from academia, business and research, the consortium will promote collaborative research and integrating scientific programs to improve the world's health and
establish joint projects.

Duke University Health System plans to expand its medical empire.

Duke announced this morning it is building a new Cancer Center and Duke Medicine Paviliion at its main Durham campus. The two facilities will cost more than $700 million and add about 850,000 square feet to the campus.

The seven-story Cancer Center will be next to the current Morris Cancer Clinic and is expected to open in 2012. The eight-story pavilion is expected to be ready in 2013.

Medical expansions continue to fuel the local economy during the recession, with new projects proposed or underway in Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Clayton, Hillsborough and elsewhere.

The latest Duke project will create about 1,500 jobs during construction and 1,000 jobs when finished, university officials estimate.

Duke has recently finished renovations at Duke Raleigh and Durham
Regional hospitals, and opened clinics in Brier Creek, Morrisville,
Knightdale and North Raleigh.

The Million Step March comes to a close in Wilmington, covering 600 miles in 10 weeks.