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 BioengineeringNational Center for Supercomputing ApplicationsCivil 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, [email protected]

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;

Martin Borhani, MD

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

Patricia West, PharmD

Renal Transplantation, Obesity Enrico Benedetti, MD

Patricia West, PharmD

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

Amelia Bartholomew, MD, MPH, FACS

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

Arif Masud, PhD

Vascular surgery, Pathogenesis of Ischemic Ulcer Martin Borhani, MD

William Ennis

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