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Return to Research Opportunities for Medical Students Overview

Research

Return to Research Opportunities for Medical Students Overview

Surgery Training and Education

Return to Research Opportunities for Medical Students Overview

Research Opportunities for Medical Students

Thomas J. Fahey III, MD and Rasa Zarnegar, MD

The endocrine surgery section is focused on clinical and basic science research on endocrine disorders. Patients are now able to have surgical resection of their thyroid to differentiate benign from cancerous lesions when fine needle aspiration cannot distinguish between them. Our researchers have been developing new techniques for differentiating benign thyroid nodules from thyroid cancer without surgery. Our group identified an innovative molecular basis for differentiating benign from malignant thyroid cancer, an important new discovery that will enhance patient care. We plan to initiate clinical trials in patients with thyroid nodules. Our group is also involved in many multi-center clinical studies focused on improved diagnosis and management of numerous endocrine disorders. Contact: Dr. Fahey at tjfahey@med.cornell.edu or Dr. Zarnegar at raz2002@med.cornell.edu

Meena Katdare, PhD

Research efforts focus on identification of fundamental molecular mechanisms responsible for initiation and promotion of breast and colon cancers. Activities also investigate the molecular mechanisms responsible for prevention of breast and colon cancer by phytochemicals present in fruits, vegetables, grain, etc. Lead compounds identified will be tested in a neoadjuvant or adjuvant clinical setting to examine whether these compounds can enhance the efficacy and reduce the toxicity of chemotherapeutic agents.

Contact: Dr. Katdare at msk2004@med.cornell.edu

Sandip Kapur, MD, David Leeser, MD, and Jose Figieiro, MD

The transplant division has a rigorous program of clinically based research in delayed graft function and acute rejection rates after extended-criteria deceased donor renal transplantation. Other studies involve the impact of ethnicity, transplant type, immunologic risk and other factors on outcomes under steroid-sparing immunosupression. Rituximbad is being investigated for its use in the prevention and treatment of antibody mediated rejection in renal transplants. Other research includes: evaluating steroid-free regimes; a new non-invasive urine test to diagnose rejection while minimizing immunosuppression; new methods for desensitizing transplant candidates to potential receipients; and clinical research in the developmental process of new immunosuppressive and transplant related pharmaceuticals. In addition, basic science work in the area of regulatory t-cells and the role of memory t-cells in regulatory t-cell's function and cell cycling are ongoing.

Contact: Dr. Kapur at sak2009@med.cornell.edu or Dr. Leeser at dbl9004@med.cornell.edu

Suzanne Schwartz, MD

The Burn Surgery section provides students with the opportunity for participation in clinical, translational and applied research in the field of cutaneous healing and the post-injury response. We are conducting a NIH-funded patient-oriented study, Impact of Diabetes Upon Burn Injury. This controlled prospective study involves examination of clinical outcomes; biology of wound repair; clinical and biologic predictors of healing and post-burn response in diabetes. Other projects involve use of animal (healthy and healing-impaired) models to investigate the effects of biodegradable dressings and sustained release of pharmaco-active substances in promoting the healing of partial- and full thickness injuries, in addition to a CTSC-funded pilot study examining the effects of curcumin supplementation on modulation of wound repair in diabetes.

Contact: Suzanne Schwartz at sus2003@med.cornell.edu

Marco Seandel, MD, PhD

Dr. Seandel's lab has basic science and translational research projects that students are invited to participate in for varying periods of time. The lab has two separate interests: one in adult stem cell biology (using the spermatogonial stem cells of the testis as a model) and a second in the role of the vascular niche in solid tumor pathobiology. In addition, we have ongoing projects examining ways to manipulate vascular endothelial cell function for regenerative medicine purposes.

Contact: Dr. Marco Seandel at (212) 746-3071 or at mas9066@med.cornell.edu

Rache Simmons, MD

The Breast Surgery section welcomes students to help with retrospective data analysis studies, at any time during the academic year as well as in summer. Students will be taught detailed information about breast cancer pathology, diagnostic modalities, various surgical treatments, as well as adjuvant therapy. While they are working on the database, they will have the opportunity to observe a surgeon during office hours and will be invited to observe one breast operation. The student will be included as a co-author on abstracts and papers written using the data that they help us collect.

Contact: Dr. Simmons at rms2002@med.cornell.edu.

Jeffrey Milsom, MD and Koiana Trencheva, BSN

Particular areas of research interest are colorectal cancer, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and anorectal conditions. Colorectal research projects include: development and testing of new surgical technologies and techniques for colorectal diseases; development and testing of new surgical devices used in open and laparoscopic surgical treatment of colorectal diseases; outcome research; conducting different types of clinical trials for IBD and colorectal cancer. Currently, the Colorectal Research group has more than 15 ongoing research projects. Medical students will have an opportunity to participate in basic science, translational and clinical research projects. Under professional research guidance, the medical students will take part in writing the scientific proposals for new projects; implementation of the ongoing research projects; participate in data collection and data analyses. Students will participate in the weekly Colorectal Research Conference.

Contact: Koiana Trencheva at kivanova@med.cornell.edu.

Alfons Pomp MD and Gladys Strain, PhD

The Section of Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgery has several protocols that could involve the participation of medical students.

Contact: Dr. Pomp at alp2014@med.cornell.edu

Eleni Tousimis, MD

The Weill Cornell Breast Center has several ongoing Clinical Research projects that students can participate in. Current students include:

• Breast cancer survey of women in their 30's with breast cancer. This is a study of a large group of women in the NYC area looking at patient and tumor characteristics as well as treatment and quality of life.
• Sentinel Lymph node biopsy after Mastectomy: The Cornell Experience
• The Incidence of Premenopausal Breast Cancer in Women with Bloody Nipple Discharge
• The Presentation and Management of Stiffman Syndrome

Examples of student research activities include assisting with IRB approval, data analysis, and review of literature; abstracting data from the Breast Center database, electronic medical records, as well as the pathology database; and participation in Breast Clinic, journal club and tumor board meetings with Dr. Tousimis.

Contact: Dr. Tousimis at eat2002@med.cornell.edu.

Elliott Silverman, PA-C and Gregory Dakin, MD

The Department of Surgery has created a surgical simulation initiative entitled SAIL Skills Acquisition and Innovation Laboratory. SAIL allows for research into more effective methods of achieving surgical skill.

Contact: Mr. Silverman at sailsurgery@med.cornell.edu

Francesco Rubino, MD

Dr. Rubino leads the clinical research on metabolic/bariatric surgery for the treatment of type 2 diabetes at Weill Cornell Medical College's Diabetes Surgery Center at the section of GI Metabolic Surgery. Current studies include the following:

• A Longitudinal prospective study evaluating safety and efficacy of RYGB in diabetic patients with BMI 26-35
• Very low calorie diet vs RYGB: effects on glucose homeostasis and gut hormones
• RYGB vs Lifestyle changes and optimal medical therapy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in overweight to moderately obese patients: a randomized clinical trial

The clinical research experience includes assisting in protocol design, involvement in the IRB and CTSC process, data management and analysis, literature review, and interaction with research subjects. Students may participate in the clinic, observe surgical procedures, and be involved at senior level research meetings, where they can learn about clinical trial design, data collection and analysis.

The laboratory for Gastrointestinal Metabolic Surgery was founded in 2008. The major focus of the lab is to investigate the role of the small intestine in the pathophysiology/resolution of type 2 diabetes using the rodent model as well as in-vitro experiments. In recent years, it has become evident that the gastrointestinal tract and the small bowel in particular, play a critical role in the regulation of blood sugar levels, fat metabolism, and in the control of appetite and body weight. Therefore, changes in gastrointestinal anatomy imposed by operations commonly used to treat morbid obesity (i.e. gastric bypass and biliopancreatic diversion) as well as by novel, emerging surgical techniques can influence diabetes and other metabolic disorders through direct mechanisms and not only by inducing weight loss. The lab is exploring the molecular mechanisms involved in the improvement in glycemic control after gastrointestinal surgery by collaborating with academic and pharmaceutical industry.

The lab experience involves a combination of microsurgical procedures (rats and mice), In vivo tests (oral glucose tolerance test), plasma chemistry (hormone, triglyceride, free fatty acid, cholesterol measurements, etc.) and basic laboratory techniques (western blot, histology, RNA isolation, real time PCR).

Contact: Dr. Rubino at frr2007@med.cornell.edu