Surgery Research
two reachers in white lab coats work in cederna lab

Discover How We Change Lives

Scientific curiosity and a deeply human commitment to improving our patients’ quality of life guide our researchers at the Department of Surgery.

The Future of Surgery

Our research spans basic science, translational and health services investigation, and our impact speaks for itself. Our department has consistently ranked in the top 5 for National Institutes of Health funding. We have more than 60,00 square feet of research space, and over 2 dozen labs. 

Research Areas

Our faculty, scientists and trainees are pursuing discoveries that shape the future of surgery with innovative patient care and a robust training environment.

Research Hubs

We foster collaboration and cutting edge research in five core areas —basic and translational science, outcomes and policy, training research, surgical innovation and global surgery.

Support from the Ground Up

Faculty and trainees in the department benefit from extensive physical and intangible resources — from more than 50,000 square feet of research space across the U-M medical campus, to a departmental tradition of openness that encourages investigators to work together.

You can see this collaboration in the way that we’ve organized our labs at U-M’s North Campus Research Complex, a 28-building scientific and administrative facility. In this multidisciplinary environment, cancer biologists, pharmacologists, engineers, health policy researchers and others work side-by-side. In just one recent example, a basic scientist has partnered with a biomedical engineer in order to study how miniature organoids could enable tissue transplantation for the treatment of diabetes.

Within the department, this support includes incentives not just for clinical effort, but for research as well, with some faculty spending up to 60 percent of their time on investigation. This freedom enables faculty to accelerate advances, and to invest more time in mentoring the residents and fellows who will become our future colleagues.

Lab Experience

If you are interested in working in a department-affiliated lab or research group, please reach out to the Office of Research. Our Director, Marlie Bartow, can provide you with more information.

Our office can help you find a group that matches your research interests and guide you on how to partner with these groups.

Contact Surgery Research Office
North Campus Research Complex (NCRC)
1600 Huron Pkwy, Building 520
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2800
Moses Gunn Research Conference

This event celebrates our tradition of research and innovation—showcasing projects by residents, fellows, research scientists and medical students.

Learn More About the Conference
Featured News & Stories See all news
Department News
Meet the Michigan Medicine 2025 Surgery Intern Class
Introducing the newest intern cohort who will be training within the Department of Surgery.
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The Fundamentals
Epigenetics, Inflammation and the Human Immune System
People with diabetes often have a host of other conditions including cardiovascular disease and kidney disease driven by inflammation. On today's episode, we talk with Dr. Katherine Gallagher, professor of surgery, professor of microbiology and immunology, and the Leland Ira Doan Research Professor of Vascular Surgery at U of M, who is looking at how epigenetics - the influence of environmental factors and behaviors impact on gene expression - might explain changes in the immune system in people with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other conditions related to inflammation.
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Not that Nimesh Patel: The curious case of the surgeon-comedian mixup
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The Fundamentals
Psoriasis, Diabetes and Other Inflammatory Conditions
Today on The Fundamentals, we have a conversation with Dr. Sonya Wolf-Fortune, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, whose work focuses on investigating the underlying mechanisms of psoriasis, diabetes, and other inflammatory conditions. Dr. Wolf-Fortune is trying to uncover what sets off the cascades of inflammation related to these conditions and related diseases.
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Health Lab
Medicare reimbursement codes for hernia procedures have small impact on patients
A change to Medicare reimbursement coding for hernia procedures states that hernias must be three centimeters or larger for full reimbursement. Researchers at University of Michigan examine the impact this has had on reported hernia sizes.