John D. Allendorf, M.D.

Research involves innovative management of hepatic metastases.

Michael Argenziano, M.D.

Principal investigator of several trials of robotic cardiac surgery as well as the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation. Active basic science and clinical laboratory focused atrial fibrillation, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, and cardiovascular physiology.

Marc Bessler, M.D.

Principal investigator of LAP BAND® clinical trial, targeted toward patients who are not heavy enough for weight loss surgery based on standard criteria, but are suffering from medical problems and quality of life issues.

Harold Brem, M.D.

Principal Investigator on NIH sponsored clinical and laboratory research relating to non healing wounds. Research involves NIH sponsored work on improving outcomes for patients with leg ulcers, pressure ulcers and other non healing wounds. Mission is to decrease amputations and severe pressure ulcers. Focus is on integrated care( i.e. working with a group of physicians) to test the hypothesis that the electronic medical record can reduce morbidity and mortality in the elderly, disabled and those with diabetes. Additional research opportunities in clinical trials of new technologies, e.g., ngiogenic agents to accelerate healing. Laboratory research focuses on mechanisms of non healing, new delivery systems to accelerate healing, i.e for diabetic ulcers, and identifying the genes in patients wounds that inhibit wounds from healing. Positions are available for summer, an elective rotation and potentially for one year fellowship.

Robert S. Brown Jr., M.D., M.P.H.

Principal investigator of Viser I trial, a study comparing the standard treatment for chronic Hepatitis C to a new therapy.

Jonathan M. Chen, M.D.

Clinical research involves studies related to surgery for congenital heart disease, transplantation and mechanical ventricular assistance. Laboratory interests include alternative anticoagulants for cardiopulmonary bypass and cardiac physiology in animal models of congenital heart disease.

Robert A. Cowles, M.D.

Pediatric Surgery. Research focuses on Clinical and Basic Science aspects of short gut syndrome. Collaboration developed with Michael Gershon (Anatomy) to study the remodeling of the enteric nervous system after bowel resection. Small Clinical Projects also available.

Peter L. Faries, M.D.

Principal investigator of Carotid Artery Angioplasty and Stenting clinical trial, a minimally invasive alternative to stroke prevention.

Dennis L. Fowler, M.D.

Investigation of the different tissue ingrowth into different mesh hernia prostheses in animals. Clinical investigation of the impact on the outcome of laparoscopic surgical procedures when performed by residents after training on a virtual simulator.

Annetine Gelijns, Ph.D.

Directs data coordinating centers for clinical trials in surgery.

Mark E. Ginsburg, M.D.

Co-investigator of Endobrochial Valve for Emphysema Palliation Trial (VENT), a minimally invasive alternative to lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS).

Mark A. Hardy, M.D.

Principal investigator of a multi-center clinical trial testing a combination of two immunosuppressant drugs against kidney transplant rejection. Co-investigator of islet cell transplantation clinical trial.

Kevan C. Herold, M.D.

Clinical research tests cellular and immune therapies against type I diabetes. Co-investigator of islet cell transplantation clinical trial.

WB Inabnet, MD, FACS

Co-investigator of LABS, a NIH-funded longitudinal study of bariatric surgery outcomes. Co-investigator of following trials:

1. Primary hyperparathyroidism: Non-classical manifestations.
2. Relationship between hyperparathyroidism and cardiovascular disease. Initiating study on effect of gastric restriction and malabsorption on gut petides and diabetes in a rat model.

Silviu Itescu, M.D.

Principal investigator of two clinical trials testing the therapeutic potential of adult stem cells in human patients with heart disease.

Kathie-Ann Joseph, M.D.

Research involves synergism of RAGE (Receptor for Advanced Glycation End products, a cell surface receptor molecule) with chemotherapy and identifying a single antagonist of RAGE for development as a new therapeutic agent in breast cancer.

Jessica J. Kandel, M.D.

Our laboratory focuses on mechanisms of angiogenesis in pediatric solid tumor models (Wilms tumor, neuroblastoma, and hepatoblastoma). Our studies center on the role of vascular endothelial growth factor and the response to its inhibition, both in terms of altered expression of proapoptotic and tumor suppressor genes by malignant cells and vascular remodeling/genetic changes in endothelial cells.

Howard L. Kaufman, M.D.

Research involves application of immunotherapy, or tumor vaccines, to treat metastatic cancer. Principal investigator of a clinical trial which tests two particular tumor vaccines against metastatic melanoma.

K. Craig Kent, M.D.

Clinical investigations of outcomes in vascular disease using decision analysis models and evaluation of large data sets.

James F. McKinsey, M.D.

Principal investigator of Thoracic Aortic Stent-graft trial, which tests a minimally invasive treatment for patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms.

Nicholas Morrissey, M.D.

Clinical research analyzing the importance of race and ethnicity on the incidence, treatment, and outcome of peripheral vascular disease. The project focuses on Hispanic and African American patients and their rates of important vascular diseases. We also will be looking at access to healthcare issues and results of treatment.

We will be developing a model to assess the reasons for failure of synthetic arteriovenous grafts and arterial bypass grafts in order to determine methods for preventing failure of these grafts.

Yoshifumi Naka, M.D., Ph.D.

Research involves clinical studies of LVAD effects. Basic studies of vein graft disease. Basic studies of arterial remodeling following injury.

Mehmet C. Oz, M.D.

Research involves clinical studies of effects of cardiopulmonary bypass. Innovative methods of mitral repair.

John F. Renz, M.D., Ph.D.

Clinical studies involve basic mechanisms in liver transplantation.

Eric A. Rose, M.D.

Co-investigator of a clinical trial focused on patients with end-stage heart failure who have a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implanted; adult stem cells will be evaluated for their ability to help repair or regenerate the native hearts of these patients, so that the LVAD might be removed.

Ann Marie Schmidt, M.D.

Research focused on a multiligand receptor called Receptor for AGE or RAGE. Studies to access the impact of RAGE on diabetic complications, proinflammatory pathways, tumor growth and invasion, and degenerative orders of the central nervous system are being performed.

Henry M. Spotnitz, M.D.

Our research applies two-dimensional echocardiography, high fidelity intraventricular pressure recordings, and conductance ventriculography to define effects of surgery on cardiac function. Our lab was among the first to employ echocardiography intraoperatively. We developed original methods for detecting changes in LV compliance, systolic function, and mass, utilizing the loading and unloading effects of cardiopulmonary bypass. We have studied effects of edema on ventricular function and geometry, and we have defined structure-function relations in histologic studies of the right and left ventricles. Our laboratory, currently supported by an NIH RO-1 grant, has been supported by NIH and American Heart Association grants for more than 20 years. We are currently studying acute and chronic effects of cardiac surgery on systolic and diastolic properties and pump function of the heart in congenital heart disease. We are also examining biventricular pacing as therapy for acute heart failure, in clinical and laboratory studies.

Charles J. H. Stolar, M.D.

Research involves studies of Pectus Excavatum.

Richard L. Whelan, M.D.

Clinical investigation of Cytokine Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF), a drug which aims to reduce tumor recurrences in colorectal cancer patients.

Jane Wu, M.D.

Investigations are being conducted in mechanisms of delayed wound healing and diabetes and other conditions, and the efficacy of physical and chemical devices to improve wound healing. Other current studies examine normal and aberrant vasculogenesis in vascular tumors and malformations.

Jeffrey Zitsman, MD

Principal investigator of LAP BAND® clinical trial in adolescents to measure efficacy and safety of device in teens who have failed to lose weight through diet, exercise, and medication.