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.
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Latest Research News
Harris Lab Receives Research Funding from Two Campus-based Programs
The Wisconsin Surgical Laboratory in Metabolism (WiSLiM), run by Dave Harris, MD, an Assistant Professor in the Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery, conducts research on how bariatric surgery affects metabolism and aging, with the goal …
Vascular Surgery Resident Awarded ACS Research Scholarship
Kate Telma, MD, a PGY-2 vascular surgery resident, has been selected by the American College of Surgeons to receive a Resident Research Scholarship for the 2025-2027 award cycle. This two-year, $60,000 scholarship is supported by …
Dr. Luke Funk Selected as the New Editor-in-Chief of Annals of Surgery Open
Dr. Luke Funk, Professor in the Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery, was recently selected as the new Editor-in-Chief of Annals of Surgery Open. Annals of Surgery Open: Perspectives on Surgical History, Education, and Clinical Approaches …
Dr. Muhammed Murtaza Receives 2024 Bothwell Prize
Dr. Muhammed Murtaza, Associate Professor in the Division of Surgical Oncology, received the 2024 Bothwell Prize from the Carbone Cancer Center and the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research. This prize is awarded annually for a …
Wisconsin Surgery Research Roundup: December 2024
Wisconsin Department of Surgery members engage in remarkable research that yields many impactful publications every month. We’re highlighting several of these publications monthly to showcase the diversity of research in the department; see selections from …
Department of Surgery Celebrates 16th Annual Research Summit
On Thursday, Jan. 9, the Department of Surgery celebrated its 16th annual Research Summit. The theme of this year’s summit was “Advances in Surgical Research and Innovation.” There were over 300 attendees at this year’s …
Dr. David Aufhauser Awarded Grant from Association of Organ Procurement Organizations Foundation
Advances in organ storage techniques have revolutionized organ donation after cardiac death. These techniques, called normothermic regional perfusion (NRP), allow a transplant team to restore blood and oxygen to organs to help them recover normal …
Wisconsin Surgery Research Roundup: November 2024
Wisconsin Department of Surgery members engage in remarkable research that yields many impactful publications every month. We’re highlighting several of these publications monthly to showcase the diversity of research in the department; see selections from …
Harris Lab Receives Research Funding from Three Campus-based Programs and Partners
It’s been a bountiful fall for research funding for the Wisconsin Surgical Laboratory in Metabolism (WiSLiM) run by Dave Harris, MD, an Assistant Professor in the Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery. Over the last three …
Wisconsin Surgery Research Roundup: October 2024
Wisconsin Department of Surgery members engage in remarkable research that yields many impactful publications every month. We’re highlighting several of these publications monthly to showcase the diversity of research in the department; see selections from …
Dr. Catherine Jensen Awarded SOC Michael Zinner Health Services Research Fellowship
Dr. Catherine Jensen, general surgery resident, was selected for the Surgical Outcomes Club Michael Zinner Health Services Research Fellowship. This fellowship provides an avenue for junior surgical investigators to acquire the skills needed to develop, …
Brown Lab Receives Accelerator Award from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
One of the lines of research that Division of Transplantation Assistant Professor Matthew Brown, PhD, is conducting focuses on developing regenerative medicine therapies that can treat or cure disease. Regenerative medicine is a field of …
Wisconsin Surgery Research Roundup: September 2024
Wisconsin Department of Surgery members engage in remarkable research that yields many impactful publications every month. We’re highlighting several of these publications monthly to showcase the diversity of research in the department; see selections from …
Department of Surgery Postdoctoral Fellow Receives Grant to Improve Diagnosis of Sepsis
Congratulations to Haikun Zhang, PhD, who recently received a one-year, $19,000 research award from the Wisconsin Partnership Program’s 20th Anniversary Postdoctoral Grant Program. Zhang is a postdoctoral fellow who works jointly in the labs of …
Murtaza and Zafar Awarded Grant to Determine if Metastatic GI Cancer Is Detectable in Abdominal Fluid
Promising advancements have been made in the ability to detect and monitor different types of cancers by analyzing blood samples to look for tumor-specific DNA that is circulating in plasma. However, abdominal cancers that have …
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Research Leadership
Luke Funk, MD, MPH
Vice Chair of Research
Angela Gibson, MD, PhD
Vice Chair of Research
Clinical Trials Core
Provides coordinator and regulatory support for all types of human subjects research including sponsored clinical trials, survery studies, registries, and chart reviews.
Histology Resource Core (HRC)
The Histology Resource Core (HRC) provides a broad range of high-quality histology methods and resources to support basic, translational, and clinical science research at our institution.
UW Humanized Mouse Core
The Humanized Mouse Core at the University of Wisconsin–Madison provides investigators with a variety of humanized mouse models for their individual research needs.
Statistical Analysis and Research Programming (STARP) Core
Provides faculty, researchers, and residents/fellows/students with comprehensive statistical and research programming support for their research activities including study design, grant application, abstract/manuscript review, statistical analysis, programming and results interpretation.
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.