Research Under New Leadership

Rolf Brekken, Ph.D.
Rolf Brekken, Ph.D.

The Department of Surgery is pleased to announce the consolidation of its research efforts. The program is under the direction of the vice chair of research for the department, Rolf Brekken, Ph.D. Dr. Brekken is assisted by the manager of basic science operations, Deborah Carlson, Ph.D., and the manager of clinical research, Nadia Nassaj, M.S.

Three new NIH-funded investigators have joined the program: Daolin Tang, M.D., Ph.D.; Rui Kang, M.D., Ph.D.; and Dai Chung, M.D.

Dr. Tang and Dr. Kang are located in H7.102 along with their lab of visiting scholars and postdoctoral fellows. Drs. Tang and Kang investigate the regulation and function of DAMPs, e.g., high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), in cell injury, cell death, adaptation (e.g., autophagy), and their pathophysiological role in cancer (e.g., pancreatic cancer) and inflammatory disease (e.g., pancreatitis and sepsis).

Dr. Chung, chief of the division of pediatric surgery, has formed the pediatric surgery core laboratory in H7.120, along with his group of assistant professors. The Chung laboratory seeks a comprehensive understanding of the neuroendocrine regulation of neuroblastoma, the most common extra-cranial solid tumor in infants and children. In particular, Dr. Chung’s laboratory has had a longstanding interest in the role of gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR), a member of the G-protein coupled receptor family, and its ligand in neuroblastoma cell growth, differentiation and metastasis.

The Department of Surgery has also formed a research council to help foster impactful research in the department. Faculty currently serving on the research council include Drs. Adam Yopp, Michael Dellinger, Fiemu Nwariaku, Dev Desai, Courtney Balentine, Dai Chung and Rolf Brekken. A goal of the council is to help department faculty obtain extramural funding, and as such, the council will do its best to provide input on specific aims, grant proposals, mentor alignment and other options. In addition, the department recognizes the need for departmental funding for some projects. To obtain departmental support, faculty are encouraged to submit a research proposal to the research council. The council will accept research proposals on June 15, September 15 and December 15. These proposals will be vetted for scientific merit and funding recommendations will be made to the chair. Please stay tuned for more information regarding the council and how it can help you.

In addition to the increase in NIH-funded investigators, the department is in a rapid phase of remodeling and growth for basic and clinical research. A brand new larger clinical research laboratory in being built on G8. Most of G8 is now being remodeled for clinical and basic research. The department is also undertaking a multimillion-dollar remodel of E6 to house the research infrastructure of the department and serve as new space for clinical science. The remodel will result in state-of-the-art facilities that will include touch down spaces and multiple meeting areas.