Cardiology | Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism | Gastroenterology and Hepatology | General Internal Medicine | Geriatrics | Infectious Diseases | Nephrology | Oncology/Hematology | Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine | Rheumatology/Immunology
Detection and Modulation of Vascular Inflammatory Events
Principal Investigator: Daniel R. Anderson, MD, PhD
Granting Agency: National American Heart Association
OPTIMUM Lead Insulation Material Registry
Principal Investigator: Daniel R. Anderson, MD, PhD
Granting Agency: St. Jude Medical
DEfibrillators To REduce Risk by MagnetIc ResoNance Imaging Evaluation (DETERMINE)
Principal Investigator: Daniel R. Anderson, MD, PhD
Granting Agency: St. Jude Medical
CryoFACTs Trial: CryoCath Freezor CryoAblation Catheter System
Principal Investigator: Arthur Easley, MD
Granting Agency: CryoCath Technologies, Inc
Placement of Coronary Sinus/Left Ventricular Pacing Leads with Endocardial Solutions, Incorporated Nav-X Guidance Protocol.
Principal Investigator: Christopher Erickson, MD
Granting Agency: St Jude Medical, Endocardial Solutions
Microbubble Potentiated Ultrasound as a New Method of Declotting Thrombosed Dialysis Grafts and Examination of the Effect of Ultrasound Attenuation on Thrombus Dissolution
Principal Investigator: Thomas R. Porter, MD
Granting Agency: ImaRx Therapeutics
Sonothrombolysis of Vascular Clots with Targeted Bubbles
Principal Investigator: Thomas R. Porter, MD
Granting Agency: NuVox Pharma
Targeted Blood Brain Barrier Permeability Changes with Ultrasound and Microbubbles
Principal Investigator: Thomas R. Porter, MD
Granting Agency: National Institutes of Health
The Definity Real Time Perfusion During Dobutamine stress Echo Database
Principal Investigator: Thomas R. Porter, MD
Granting Agency: Lantheus Medical Imaging
Regadenoson Real Time Perfusion Study
Principal Investigator: Thomas R. Porter, MD
Granting Agency: Astellas Pharma Inc
Advancing Academic and Community Practices Through IAIMS
Principal Investigator: John R. Windle, MD
Granting Agencies: DHHS/NIH/National Library of Med
DIVISION OF DIABETES, ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM
Faculty in the Section of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism are predominantly focused on basic and clinical studies on the pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment of diabetes and its complications, and prevention and treatment of transplant or cystic fibrosis related bone disease. We would welcome any residents interested in getting involved in either a basic or clinical research project related to any one of the areas below or possibly others that may come available. You can contact any of the faculty directly about topics below or contact Dr. Larsen (559-4837) to discuss your interest in research.
DIVISION OF GASTROENTEROLOGY/HEPATOLOGY
Carol Casey, PhD; ccasey@unmc.edu
- Alcoholic liver injury studies
- Examination of interactions of vaious liver cell types following alcohol administration using animal models
- Utilization of knockout mice to examine altered receptor function and its role in liver injury
- Examining a role for impaired endocytosis during alcoholic apoptosis
Terrence M. Donohue, Jr., PhD; 995-3556 tdonohue@unmc.edu
- Ethanol, protein catabolism and liver cell injury
- Impairment by ethanol metabolism of hepatic proteasome activity and on the subsequent formation of Mallory-Denk bodies (i.e protein aggregation). Alleviation of protein aggregation by proteasome activation
- Mechanisms of hepatic steatosis (fatty liver) after acute (vs chronic) ethanol administration
- Role of specific transcription factors in hepatic steatosis and their regulation by antioxidants
- Ethanol-induced suppression of hepatic autophagy. Role in alcohol-induced liver injury
Duygu Dee Harrison-Findik, DVM, PhD; 402-559-6355 dharrisonfndik@unmc.edu
- Research interests, mostly employing molecular biology and transgenic mouse models, include:
- Iron metabolism, genetic hemochromatosis
- Iron regulatory hormone hepcidin
- Role of estrogen rceptors in the regulation of iron metabolism
- Inflammation, oxidative stress and the liver
- Interaction of iron with alcohol or fatty liver n the progression of liver injury
Kusum K. Kharbanda, PhD; 995-3752 kkharbanda@unmc.edu
- Alcohol-induced alterations in methionine metabolic pathways resulting in the development of liver injury
- Consequent methylation defects that lead to the development of alcoholic steatosis, apoptosis and the accumulation of altered proteins - hallmark features of alcoholic liver injury.
- Efficacy of betaine and betaine analogs and esters in preventing and treating liver injury of various etiologies including alcohol and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
Natalia Osna, MD, PhD; 995-3735 nosna@unmc.edu
- Chronic hepatitis C: antigen presentation, interferon signaling, proteasome function in liver cells
- Chronic hepatitis C: effects of interferon alpha treatment
- Effects of ethanol on liver cells: antigen presentation, interferon signaling, proteasome function
DIVISION OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
The Division of General Internal Medicine has a strong history of students and residents participating in new and ongoing research projects. Several faculty in General Internal Medicine are involved in research projects, the majority of which are investigator-initiated.
All may be reached at 559-7502
Rachel Bonnema, MD MS rbonnema@unmc.edu
- Women's health
James Campbell, MD campbell@unmc.edu
- Medical information technology applications
Gay Canaris, MD MSPH gcanaris@unmc.edu
- Impact of PQRI on physician behavior and outcomes
- Correlating thyroid function with functional capacity among geriatric patients
- Preventive medicine
- Women's health
Gale Etherton, MD gmetherton@unmc.edu
- Through the Omaha VAMC, working on quality and safety issues. (Improvement capability grant through the VA)
- Quality improvement at UNMC, along with General Internal Medicine colleague Julie Fedderson, MD
Katie Kueney, PhD
- Relationship counselling and intervention
Phyllis Nsiah-Kumi, MD pnkumi@unmc.edu
- Childhood obesity and diabetes in underserved communities
Jason Shiffermiller, MD jshiffermiller@unmc.edu
- Perioperative care of orthopedic patients
Tom Tape, MD tgtape@unmc.edu
- Clinical judgement, decision analysis and prediction rules
Chad Vokoun, MD cvokoun@unmc.edu
- Perioperative care of orthopedic patients
Robert Wigton, MD wigton@unmc.edu
- Clinical judgement, decision analysis and prediction rules
DIVISION OF GERIATRICS AND GERENTOLOGY
The Section of Geriatrics offers rich clinical research opportunities to staff, fellows, residents, and students. Dr. Jane Potter and Dr. Brenda Keller have served as research mentors for trainees at all levels. The Geriatric Assessment Clinic at UNMC has been the source of a comprehensive clinical database on geriatric functional status, physical and emotional well-being, social interactions as well as severity and etiology of dementia.
Stephen J. Bonasera, MD, PhD; 559-8409 sbonasera@unmc.edu
- Age-related changes in mouse and human functional behavior (eating, drinking, activity)
- Age-related changes in mouse and human regional CNS gene expression
- Advanced approaches for behavioral phenotyping in mice
- Advanced approaches to measure functional behaviors in ambulatory human populations
- Identification of genetic loci that influence age-related changes in behavior
- Age-related dysregulation of CNS signalling networks
- Basic biological mechanisms underlying delirium in mice
Brenda Keller, MD; 559-7519 bkkeller@unmc.edu
- The relationship of ambient lighting to use of antidepressants and antipsychotics in nursing home residents.
- Telemedicine as a venue for interdisciplinary teaching of dementia care to rural nursing home staff.
- Retrospective Data Analysis of the Geriatric Assessment Database to Explore Factors Related to Function and Disability in Older Outpatients.
- Perceptions of physicians and nursing staff on the availability and quality of mental health services in rural nursing facilities.
DIVISION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Diana F Florescu, MD; 559-8609 dflorescu@unmc.edu
Various projects in the transplantation area are available. Contact Dr. Florescu for additional information on current research projects.
Alison Freifeld MD; 559-8650 afreifeld@unmc.edu
- Bloodstream infections and emerging antimicrobial resistance in fever and neutropenia
- Assessing 'appropriate' emperical antibiotic therapy in cancer patients
- Fungal infections immunocompromised hosts
- Granulocyte transfusions in neutropenic patients with active infections
- Histoplasmosis in immunosuppressed patients: clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment and course
- Laboratory diagnosis of infectious pathogens by rapid PCR technology (M. tuberculosis, C. difficile assay in development)
- Mathematical modeling of tuberculosis epidemiology in resource-poor populations: relationship to HIV transmission and treatment
- Travel and vaccine clinic: development of new UNMC clinic at Village Pointe to handle global travel medical advice and prevention and vaccination as well as routine vaccinations
Howard Gendelman, MD; 559-3549 hegendel@unmc.edu
- Visit the following website to view potential projects with Dr. Gendelman http://www.unmc.edu/pharmacology/gendelman
Angela Hewlett, MD; 559-8650 alhewlett@unmc.edu
- Sonication for enhanced diagnosis of culture-negative prosthetic joint infections
- Implementation of a perioperative prevention bundle for prosthetic joint infections
- Mathematical modeling of airflow in biocontainment units
- Screening for fever using an infrared thermal detection system
- Influenza screening using cough acoustics and thermal imaging
- Hospital room decontamination using Chlorine Dioxide gas
Andre Kalil, MD; 559-8650 akalil@unmc.edu
- Various projects in the transplantation area are available. Contact Dr. Kalil for additional information on current research projects.
Mark Rupp, MD; 559-5276 merupp@unmc.edu
- Infection Control Issues:
- Hand Hygiene: Correlation between hand hygiene and nosocomial infection. Relationship between use of a long-acting hand hygiene antiseptic and antimicrobial resistance.
- Environmental aspergillus and invasive aspergillosis: Study of correlation between environmental aspergillus and invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised hosts.
- Device utilization and infection prevention: Study of necessity of invasive device utilization (IV catheters, foley catheters, etc) and infection.
- Efficacy of Chlorhexidene patient bathing on healthcare-associated infections
- Role of environment in healthcare-associated infections
- Antimicrobial resistance/antimicrobial utilization:
- Correlation between use/resistance
- Utilization guidelines
- Significance of serum cidal testing in orthopedic infections and correlation with outcome
- Prosthetic device infections:
- Adherence of coagulase-negative staphylococci to biomaterials
- In-vivo models of prosthetic device infection
- Miscellaneous projects in specific infectious diseases:
- Community-acquired MRSA
Uriel Sandkovsky, MD; 559-5392 usandkovsky@unmc.edu
Various projects in the broad area of HIV/AIDS are available. Residents should contact Dr. Sandkovsky for additional information. Visit the following website to view potential projects with Dr. Sandkovsky: http://www.unmc.edu/hiv/
Philip W. Smith, MD; 559-8650 pwsmith@unmc.eud
- Biopreparedness and public health project examples:
- Survey of long-term care facility influenza preparedness (published in JAMA)
- Survey of hospital preparedness (published in the American Journal of Disaster Medicine)
- Survey of pharmacies regarding oseltamivir stockpiling
- The use of geographic information technology to evaluate infectious disease outbreaks
- Tele-epidemiology, the use of distance technology to evaluate infectious disease outbreaks
- A review of Department of Homeland Security Biopreparedness Target Capabilities list with development of metrics
- Study of altered standards of medical care in an emergency (in progress)
- Biocontainment unit projects
- A study of disinfection of transport units for highly infetious patients
- A study of methods of disinfection of large equipment used in biocontainment units
- An analysis of breaks in technique during the donning and doffing of isolation garb
- Mathematical modeling of airflow in biocontainment units
- Infection control in geriatrics and nursing homes
- An analysis of antibiotic-stewardship programs in long-term care facilities (in progress
- A study of infections occurring in home health care patients
- A survey of nursing home evacuation plans
- Mathematical modeling of nursing home influenza outbreaks
- Field testing of a LTCF preparedness scoring system (in progress)
- General ID
- An analysis of patients with a positive semiquantitative IV tip culture, and the outcomes and cost effectiveness of such culture
- An analysis of cefazolin pharmacokinetics in renal failure patients
- A study of the impact of VRE carraige on long term survival
- A study of the impact of, and compliance with, "curbside" ID consult recommendations.
- The cost effectiveness and utilization of EBV panels
- A study of prehistoric infectious diseases in archeology and art
Susan Swindells, MD; 559-5392 sswindells@unmc.edu
- Various projects in the broad area of HIV/AIDS are available. Residents should contact Dr. Swindells for additional information. Visit the following website to view potential projects with Dr. Swindells: http://www.unmc.edu/hiv/
Trevor VanSchooneveld, MD; 559-5276 tvanscho@unmc.edu
- Correlation between antibiotic use and resistance
- Effect of guidelines on antibiotic use
- Effect of alternate dosing of antibiotics on patient outcomes
- Significance and utility of fungal blood cultures
- Use of antibiotics in "pneumonia"
- Algorithm based Clostridium difficile diagnosis and treatment
- A variety of other projects in both antimicrobial stewardship and infection control are available
DIVISION OF ONCOLOGY/HEMATOLOGY
Edward Faber, Jr., DO; 559-5520; efaber@unmc.edu
- Translational research
- Gene expression profiles of multiple myeloma (MM)
- Identification of new gene targets in relapsed/refractory myeloma
- Clinical research
- Phase I-III clinical trials on MM, AML, stem cell transplantation and GVHD
- Response rates and survival based on genetic changes of MM
- Familial genetic links to MM
Apar Ganti, MD; 559-6210; aganti@unmc.edu
- Clinical trials for patients with lung cancer who are not eligible for standard therapies
- Disparities in the treatment and outcomes from lung cancer in various ethnic populations
- Evaluation of novel biomarkers in lung cancer
- Effect of comorbid conditions on lung cancer outcomes
Fausto Loberiza MD, MS; 559-3234 floberiza@unmc.edu
- Determinants of patient-centered care in patients with cancer
- Effect of follow-up care provider source in the outcome of patients receiving stem cell transplantation for hematologic malignancies
- The value of transplant center accreditation on the outcomes of stem cell transplantation
- Interaction of biological, psychological, cultural, spiritual and religious domains as determinants of outcomes in cancer patients
- Phenomenology of patient-care oscillation in the context of continuum of care
- Implications of tumor cytogenetic classification on cost and medical service utilization of patients with lymphoma
Nicole Shonka, MD; 559-5520; nshonka@unmc.edu
- Epidemiologic factors in the development of primary brain tumors
- Clinical and translational research on gliomas
- Clinical and translational research on CNS metastases and leptomeningal disease
Epidemiologic factors in the development o f primary brain tumors
Julie M. Vose, MD; 559-3848 jmvose@unmc.edu
- Clinical and translational research on non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), Hodgkin's lymphoma (HD), and multiple myeloma (MM)
- Clinical trials involving novel chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and stem cell transplantation for NHL, HD and MM
DIVISION OF PULMONARY, CRITICAL CARE, SLEEP AND ALLERGY MEDICINE (PCCSA)
Tricia LeVan, PhD; 559-4088 tlevan@unmc.edu
- Gene and environment interactions in respiratory disease
- Population-based studies
- Polymorphisms in pathogen recognition receptors and COPD
- Effect of agricultural exposure on COPD
- Molecular-based studies
- Role of haemophilus influenzae in COPD
- Epigenetic responses to organic dust
Jill Poole, MD; 559-6266 japoole@unmc.edu
- Laboratory studies include: evaluation of inhaled environmental bacterial agents and organic dust in innate immune responses in vitro and in vivo.
- Clinical study - Evaluation of the role of vitamin D in chronic urticaria (hives) and angiodema (swelling).
Steve Rennard, MD; 559-7313 srennard@unmc.edu
- Long term studies of the natural history of COPD.
- Evaluation of prostaglandins in the lung in COPD.
- Assessment of vitamin D and the function of vitamin D binding protein in COPD.
- Assessment of retinoids as aids for new alveolar wall formation in emphysema.
- Evaluation of novel approaches to smoking cessation.
- Evaluation of novel treatments for COPD.
- Laboratory studies include:
- Evaluation of the role of circulating stem cells in lung repair
- Evaluation of the role of stem cell deficiency as a risk factor for emphysema
- Evaluation of the control mechanisms directing mesenchymal cell mediated tissue repair
- Evaluation of mesenchymal cells differentiation.
- Evaluation of control mechanisms that regulate lung repair
Debra Romberger, MD; 559-4875 dromberg@unmc.edu
- Developing an approach to screening for osteoporosis in patients with lung disease at the VA.
- Risks (including genetic risk) for agriculture-related lung disease.
- Smoking cessation in special populations.
- Protocols for treatment of latent TB infection at the One World Health Center.
Joe Sisson, MD; 559-8834 jsisson@unmc.edu
- The value of a fertility history in the diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia in patients with lifelong cough and sinusitis.
- Measuring the cilia-stimulatory (or inhibitory) capacity of human secretions from intubated ICU patients.
Austin Thompson, MD; 559-9101 athompso@unmc.edu
- Any interested resident, please contact Dr. Thompson to discuss possible projects.
DIVISION OF RHEUMATOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY
The Section of Rheumatology at UNMC directs the Rheumatoid Arthritis Investigational Network (RAIN) which is a consortium of rheumatologists throughout the Midwest that design and conduct clinical trials designed to elucidate better treatments for RA. Over the last 12 years, a number of trials have been completed and results published.
Amy Cannella, MD; 559-7288 acannella@unmc.edu
- The use of ultrasound imaging techniques in rheumatic disease.
Ted Mikuls, MD; 559-7288 tmikuls@unmc.edu
- Gout treatment safety and gout quality of care.
- Omaha VA Rheumatoid Arthritis (OVARA) Registry: study of disease epidemiology and outcomes in veterans with RA.
- Environmental (i.e. smoking) and genetic determinants of RA risk and outcomes.
- Post-operative outcomes in RA patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty.
- Epidemiology and outcomes of lymphoproliferative disease in the context of RA.
- Associations of periodontal disease with RA.
Jim O'Dell, MD; 559-7288 jrodell@unmc.edu
- Are there correlations between lab changes and joint scores?
- How do methotrexate dose, folic acid dose, and MCV correlate and how does this correlate with outcome?
- How does patient-derived information (Health Assessment Questionnaires, Patient Pain Scale, etc.) correlate with physician-derived parameters?
