The Division of Translational Research is dedicated to promoting multi-disciplinary research between surgeons and scientists working in basic or applied fields of investigation within the University of Illinois state wide system for curative or preemptive therapies to mitigate or eliminate disease. We are highly dedicated to the education of undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate students. We welcome you and invite you to explore the opportunities available for research activities within the Department of Surgery.
The Division of Translational Research has facilitated research projects in a number of varied areas within the University of Illinois. Examples of successful collaborations include joint research projects with the Departments of Bioengineering, National Center for Supercomputing Applications, Civil and Environmental Engineering, the College of Dentistry Center for Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration, and the Toxicology Research Laboratory in the Department of Pharmacology.
The Division of Translational Research along with the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and industry hosts the Annual Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Symposium. This program highlights exciting advances in the fields of angiogenesis, bioscaffolds and bioengineered tissues, stem-cell based organ and tissue repair and regeneration, and applied nanotechnology. Prizes are awarded for the top three student abstracts.
For Students and Residents
The Department of Surgery is delighted to offer several research opportunities for students. Research spans from surgical case reports to the basic science of wound healing, transplantation tolerance, or islet cell biology. The Division of Translational Research is committed to pairing students with appropriate mentors for research. The student or resident should review the departmental web page for potential topics of interest and directly contact the surgeons involved with that topic. The table below shows a sample of research available for medical student involvement. For additional discussion or direction, the student is also invited to contact Amelia Bartholomew, MD, MPH, FACS for available mentors, ambart@uic.edu
| Subject | Contact |
|---|---|
| Anorectal fistula, new strategies | Herand Abcarian, MD |
| Anorectal Reconstruction, complex | Herand Abcarian, MD |
| Bariatric Surgery, Minimally Invasive | Antonio Gangemi |
| Bone Physiology and biomechanics | Pravin Patel, MD |
| Cardiothoracic surgery, cardiopulmonary preservation | Malek Massad, MD |
| Cardiothoracic surgery, myocardial protection | Malek Massad, MD |
| Cleft and Craniofascial Reconstructive Surgery | Mimis Cohen, MD |
| Gastric Surgery, Minimally Invasive | Antonio Gangemi |
| Islet Transplantation, Biology, and Engineering | Mario Spaggiari, MD |
| Limb Salvage and Novel Multi-disciplinary Approaches | William Ennis; |
| Liver Transplantation, Outcome measures | Mario Spaggiari, MD |
| Lung cancer genetics | Malek Massad MD |
| Melanoma | Michael Warso, MD |
| Orthognathic Surgery | Pravin Patel, MD |
| Pediatric surgery, bariatric | Thom E. Lobe |
| Pediatric Surgery, general | Thom E. Lobe |
| Pediatric surgery, trauma care | Thom E. Lobe |
| Plastic Surgery, Post-Bariatric Surgery Body Contouring | Mimis Cohen, MD |
| Renal Regeneration, Stem cell and nanoparticle based | Amelia Bartholomew MD, MPH, FACS |
| Renal Transplantation, Health Disparities | Ivo G. Tzvetanov |
| Renal Transplantation, Highly Sensitized Patient | Patricia West, PharmD |
| Renal Transplantation, New Immunosuppressives | Enrico Benedetti, MD |
| Renal Transplantation, Obesity | Enrico Benedetti, MD |
| Robotic Surgery, Flourescent Imaging in Biliary Surgery | Pier Cristoforo Giulianotti, MD |
| Robotic Surgery, Flourescent Imaging in Kidney Surgery | Enrico Benedetti, MD, FACS |
| Robotic Surgery, Novel Techniques, Software, and tools | Antonio Gangemi |
| Robotic Surgery, Patient Outcome Measures | Francesco Maria Bianco, MD |
| Robotic Surgery, Simulatio Models for Surgical Training | Antonio Gangemi |
| Surgical Education and Simulation | Antonio Gangemi |
| Tissue regeneration using stem cell and laster therapies | Amelia Bartholomew MD, MPH, FACS |
| Transplantation Tolerance | Amelia Bartholomew MD, MPH, FACS |
| Vascular Surgery, Hemodynamics of arterial bifurcation | Martin Borhani, MD |
| Vascular surgery, Pathogenesis of Ischemic Ulcer | Martin Borhani, MD |
| Wound healing, Cost Analyses | William Ennis |
| Wound healing, Governmental Policy | William Ennis |
| Wound healing, new clinical treatments | William Ennis |
| Wound healing, Outcome measures | William Ennis |