Faculty Research Mentors
Basic Science
Surgical Oncology
My research interests are in translational efforts in GI oncology. I am the head of the pancreas cancer tissue bank and NU pancreas cancer database. In addition, we study quality measures for cancer surgery.
Basic Science
Our research focuses on understanding the pathogenesis of lung injury as well as the mechanisms of injury resolution using models of lung transplantation and advanced lung fibrosis, mimicking human disease. We use high-throughput genomic and transcriptomic techniques as well as intra-vital imaging to determine the host immune response to injury mechanisms such as ischemia-reperfusion and infections. We hope that by finding solutions to commonly encountered clinical problems in the lung biology we can make a broad impact in patients with advanced lung disease as well as those undergoing lung transplantation. The overarching goal of our research is to develop novel areas of therapeutics in patients with advanced lung disease and for those undergoing lung transplantation.
Healthcare Outcomes
Dr. Bilimoria is the Director of the Surgical Outcomes and Quality Improvement Center (SOQIC), a center of 35 faculty and staff focused on outcomes, quality improvement, health services, implementation science, and health policy research. Dr. Bilimoria leads the 56-hospital Illinois Surgical Quality Improvement Collaborative (ISQIC), the 151-hospital FIRST Trial, and the upcoming national SECOND Trial. His personal research interests are in methods and policies used to compare hospital quality. As the Program Director for the SOQIC Resident Research Fellowship and the American College of Surgeons Clinical Scholars in Residence program, he has trained more than 30 prior mentees.
Translational Research
Dr. Ellis’s clinical and academic practice focus on reconstructive microsurgery and head/ neck surgery. His projects include outcomes analyses of cranioplasty and scalp reconstruction. His research also focuses on developing and designing implants for craniofacial surgery.