About us Heading link
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, REsidents, Post Doc Heading link
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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
For Students and Residents
Subject Contact Anorectal fistula, new strategies Herand Abcarian, MD (abcarian@uic.edu) Anorectal Reconstruction, complex Herand Abcarian, MD (abcarian@uic.edu) Bariatric Surgery, Minimally Invasive Antonio Gangemi (agangemi@uic.edu) Bone Physiology and biomechanics Pravin Patel, MD (pkpatelmd@uic.edu) Cardiothoracic surgery, cardiopulmonary preservation Malek Massad, MD (MMassad@uic.edu) Cardiothoracic surgery, myocardial protection Malek Massad, MD (MMassad@uic.edu) Cleft and Craniofascial Reconstructive Surgery Mimis Cohen, MD (MNCohen@uic.edu) Gastric Surgery, Minimally Invasive Antonio Gangemi (agangemi@uic.edu) Islet Transplantation, Biology, and Engineering Mario Spaggiari, MD Limb Salvage and Novel Multi-disciplinary Approaches William Ennis (wjennis@uic.edu);
Martin Borhani, MD (mborhani@uic.edu)Liver Transplantation, Outcome measures Mario Spaggiari, MD Lung cancer genetics Malek Massad MD (MMassad@uic.edu) Melanoma Michael Warso, MD Orthognathic Surgery Pravin Patel, MD (pkpatelmd@uic.edu) 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 (MNCohen@uic.edu) Renal Regeneration, Stem cell and nanoparticle based Amelia Bartholomew MD, MPH, FACS (diveris@mac.com) Renal Transplantation, Health Disparities Ivo G. Tzvetanov Renal Transplantation, Highly Sensitized Patient Patricia West, PharmD (pwest@uic.edu) Renal Transplantation, New Immunosuppressives Enrico Benedetti, MD (enrico@uic.edu)
Patricia West, PharmD (pwest@uic.edu)Renal Transplantation, Obesity Enrico Benedetti, MD (enrico@uic.edu)
Patricia West, PharmD (pwest@uic.edu)Robotic Surgery, Flourescent Imaging in Biliary Surgery Pier Cristoforo Giulianotti, MD (piercg@uic.edu) Robotic Surgery, Flourescent Imaging in Kidney Surgery Enrico Benedetti, MD, FACS (enrico@uic.edu) Robotic Surgery, Novel Techniques, Software, and tools Antonio Gangemi (agangemi@uic.edu) Robotic Surgery, Patient Outcome Measures Francesco Maria Bianco, MD (biancofm@uic.edu) Robotic Surgery, Simulatio Models for Surgical Training Antonio Gangemi (agangemi@uic.edu) Surgical Education and Simulation Antonio Gangemi (agangemi@uic.edu) Amelia Bartholomew, MD, MPH, FACS (diveris@mac.com) Tissue regeneration using stem cell and laster therapies Amelia Bartholomew MD, MPH, FACS (ambart@uic.edu) Transplantation Tolerance Amelia Bartholomew MD, MPH, FACS (ambart@uic.edu) Vascular Surgery, Hemodynamics of arterial bifurcation Martin Borhani, MD (mborhani@UIC.EDU)
Arif Masud, PhD (amasud@uiuc.edu)Vascular surgery, Pathogenesis of Ischemic Ulcer Martin Borhani, MD (mborhani@UIC.EDU)
William Ennis (wjennis@uic.edu)Wound healing, Cost Analyses William Ennis (wjennis@uic.edu) Wound healing, Governmental Policy William Ennis (wjennis@uic.edu) Wound healing, new clinical treatments William Ennis (wjennis@uic.edu) Wound healing, Outcome measures William Ennis (wjennis@uic.edu) -
Post-Doctoral Fellows
Post-doctoral fellowships in the topics of bioengineering, wound healing, transplant biology, stem cell and regenerative medicine are available. For further information, please contact:
- William Ennis, Amelia Bartholomew, Luisa DiPietro, – Biology of Wound Healing, Scaffold Bioengineering, Pre-clinical testing
- Amelia Bartholomew – transplantation biology, stem cell and regenerative medicine
Opportunities to Present Your Work
- American College of Surgeons, Deadline March 1 of every year, contact Kathryn Matousek, 312-202-5336, kmatousek@facs.org, accepted abstracts to the Surgical Forum are published in the surgical forum volume and are invited to submit full length articles to the Journal of Surgical Research.
- American Surgical Congress/Society of University Surgeons, August deadline each year
- American Transplant Congress, December deadline each year, accepted abstracts could be invited to be published in the American Journal of Transplantation
- American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, Accepted abstracts could be invited to be published in the Journal of Trauma
Research funding for Students and Residents
Research funding generally requires planning with one’s mentor. In general, a well-defined project with a hypothesis, an aim to accomplish, and a well-developed experimental design is required for funding. There are three types of funding, extramural, University of Illinois based, and Department of Surgery based.
Extramural funding sources
University of Illinois Sources
- Hispanic College of Excellence Students of Latin descent may apply for funding for the entire summer between the M1 and M2 year on a competitive basis. Deadline for application is usually in January or February.
- Craig Fellowship Every year, funding for the summer between M1 and M2 is awarded on a competitive basis. Please see office of Student Affairs. Deadline for application is December/January.
- James Scholar for Independent Study: The James Scholar Program for Independent Study (JS/ISP) is awarded to gifted students in Medicine for four years of research in medicine as an independent study with a mentor in research. Generally, the mechanism in place for the admission to the JS/ISP is by faculty nomination of outstanding students at the conclusion of the M1 year, (Third and fourth year students are not eligible for admission to the program.) however highly motivated students of outstanding academic standing can seek this nomination with their mentors.
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Twice annually (November and May), this group confers monetary awards for best research.
- Warren and Clara Cole Foundation Scholarship: Open to residents and surgical faculty early in their careers, the Warren and Clara Cole Awards up to three years of funding for dedicated physician scientists to pursue research. Costs covered include costs of materials and supplies, supplemental personnel. No salary support is provided for the applicant. Scholarship applications are requested in March.
Please contact Kate Early at the American College of Surgeons, kearly@facs.org, for additional information. - Department of Surgery Funding: Students and residents may seek funding from the Department of Surgery. Successful applicants have well-developed proposals and a well-integrated plan with their mentors.
Please contact Amelia Bartholomew, MD, MPH, FACS, ambart@uic.edu, for additional information.
Research Resources
- Preparing a Grant Proposal
- Obtaining Approval for Clinical Investigation – Departmental resources exist to facilitate IRB submission.
Support our Vision Heading link
There are many research projects which could accomplish more progress with supplemental funds. Each year, technology advances ever more rapidly and equipment rapidly becomes outdated and limited. Your support could help us continue to pursue cutting edge research in fields such as in stem cell and regenerative medicine by bringing state of the art equipment and supplies to our surgical laboratories. Your support can allow students to pursue their dreams of becoming physician scientists by providing funding for their projects. Larger gifts may also used for endowing a professorial chair at the University of Illinois for a Department of Surgery investigator.
Ways to Give Heading link
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Send a Check
Your tax-deductible gift can be made out to The University of Illinois at Chicago with the specification of Surgery Division of Translational Research in the memo. This will ensure that your gift is designated for Translational Research in the Department of Surgery.
Please mail your gift to:
Division of Translational Research, UIC Department of Surgery, 840 South Wood Street, Suite 402, Chicago, Illinois 60612 -
Online
University of Illinois Foundation; Under Other, enter the amount, then UIC Translational Research, Chicago
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Matching Gifts
Many companies match charitable gifts made by employees, retirees and directors. Please check with your company’s personnel department to learn if your business matches charitable gifts to hospitals.
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Endow a Professorial Chair at the University of Illinois Medical School
Surgeon Scientists present a unique and dwindling group of academics. With reimbursements reduced, more surgeons are opting out of research and into exclusive surgical practices or clinical research practices. Endowing a chair for surgeon investigators in translational or basic surgical research ensures that critical research can continue, rewards outstanding performance of our investigators, and helps us to avoid losing such talented individuals to recruitment by other institutions. Donors may designate a name for the chair, and have five years to complete the funding of a professorship from the opening of the account.
Please email us (ambart@uic.edu) or call Arlin Aldaba at 312-996-1774 to request more information, or to ask a question.