We strive to create an inclusive, collaborative and connected culture that fosters cutting-edge basic, translational, education, and health outcomes research. Our research programs investigate the underlying mechanisms of disease, translate discoveries in the laboratory to clinical trials, and offer experimental options with the goal of improving patient care. Our research funding portfolio exceeds $18 million annually with a large percentage from the National Institutes of Health.
Our researchers & labs >>
We also manage five NIH-funded training programs offering formal research training for medical students, pre-doctoral students, and post-doctoral fellows.
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Department Research Committee
Associate Vice Chairs of Research
Susan Thibeault, PhD, CCC–SLP
Professor
(608) 263-0121
thibeault@surgery.wisc.edu
Lee Wilke, MD
Professor
(608) 263-1164
wilke@surgery.wisc.edu
Division Members
David Foley, MD
Associate Professor
(608) 263-2527
foley@surgery.wisc.edu
Caprice Greenberg, MD, MPH
Professor
(608) 262-0395
greenberg@surgery.wisc.edu
Thomas Pasic, MD
Associate Professor
(608) 262-8693
pasic@surgery.wisc.edu
A Neil Salyapongse, MD
Professor
(608) 287-2100
a.salyapongse@uwmf.wisc.edu
John Scarborough, MD
Associate Professor
(608) 265-3982
scarborough@surgery.wisc.edu
Dai Yamanouchi, MD, PhD
Associate Professor
(608) 265-4420
yamano@surgery.wisc.edu
Administration Members
Kaitlin Dorst
Junior Research Administrator
Glen Leverson, PhD
Associate Scientist, Biostatistician
Lisa Werning
Assistant Administrator of Research
Latest Research News
Using stem cells to develop vocal folds in a dish
A team of researchers, led by Susan Thibeault, PhD, CCC-SLP, have created an in vitro 3-D model of human vocal fold tissue (called mucosa) that could improve our understanding and treatment of disorders affecting the …
Will Burlingham awarded grant for immunosuppression research
Congratulations to Will Burlingham, PhD, who received an NIH R21 grant for his project, “Exosome-mediated Tolerance in Combined Kidney and Stem Cell Transplantation.” This research will study whether renal transplant patients make tolerogenic virus-sized particles (known …
Can fruits and vegetables be the solution?
Recovering from heart surgery is serious work, especially for our youngest patients. What if there was a way to make that process easier–with watermelon? The UW pediatric cardiac surgery team is currently participating in a …
A tragic fire prompts career shift to surgeon-scientist
Five months after finishing nursing school, Angela Gibson reported to UW Hospital’s burn unit for a night shift that changed her career and her life. A Madison Metro bus had been set afire when a …
Bringing surgery to the world
Five billion. That’s the number of people in the world who have no access to basic surgical care according to the Lancet Commission Report on Global Surgery. Historically, the Western medical community tried to address …
Department Summer Medical Student Researchers
This summer 25 medical students joined us for short-term mentored research experiences with faculty members under the Shapiro Summer Research Program, T32 grants, and T35 grants. Learn what they studied below. Kathy Bach (Mentor: David …
Doris Duke Clinical Research Continuum: High School to College
The Doris Duke Clinical Research Continuum (funded through the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation) offers minority high school students the opportunity to participate in a six-week clinical research experience. This year 10 students from around Wisconsin …
Dr. Nadine Connor recieves NIH RO1 grant for tongue muscle research
Nadine Connor, PhD, received an NIH R01 grant from the National Institute on Deafnessand Other Communication Disorders. The $2 million grant will fund her project “Bioenergetic Mechanisms of Tongue Muscle Fatigue.” Muscle fatigue is widely …
Dr. David Schneider awarded grant for text analysis research
David Schneider, MD, MS, received a $50,000 grant from ICTR for “Computational Text Analysis for Measuring Quality of Life in Cancer Care.” Dr. Schneider will be developing automated text analysis tools that will enable clinicians …
The Arc of Discovery: How the transplant program uses collaborative research to improve outcomes for patients
The term “from bench to bedside” describes a common vision of medical research programs. The goal is to take research insights from laboratory settings to practical applications in patients as quickly as is practical, and …
WiSOR
The Wisconsin Surgical Outcomes Research Program (WiSOR) was formally established in 2011 to address the increasing priority of integrating health services research into the advancement of surgical care.
Humanized Mouse Core Service
The Humanized Mouse Core of the University of Wisconsin-Madison provides investigators with a variety of humanized mouse models for their individual research needs.
Histology Core Service
The UW Department of Surgery Histology Core facility, located at H4/337 in the Clinical Science Center, provides Histology services to clinical and basic science researchers associated with the Department of Surgery.
Surgical Education Research
The Surgical Education Research team works to improve the quality and effectiveness surgical education through research and innovation.
WiSOR Qualitative Core
The WiSOR Qualitative Core offers faculty and staff consultation, support, and expertise on study design, methodology, data collection and analysis, and interpretation of results. It also offers transcription services.