Skip to main content

Vascular Surgery Research

Vascular surgeons at Northwestern University are dedicated to scientific discovery and the application of these discoveries to the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Our active investigations in basic science, translational, clinical and health services research result in over 70 publications and presentations at regional and national meetings each year.

Our research enterprise is supported by funding from many sources, including an NIH T32 Research Training Grant that encourages and equips bright, well-trained and academically-minded surgical trainees to pursue careers dedicated to research.

Our research efforts are also strengthened by collaborations with experts in other disciplines that focus diverse scientific backgrounds and perspectives to help solve complex problems and promote a shared vision of better health and surgical solutions.

Visit the pages to learn more about our work and training opportunities:

Faculty Research Interests

 Anand Brahmandam, MD

Research Interests

  • Failure modes of open and endovascular therapy
  • Contemporary surgical education
  • Device design and advanced imaging modalities in vascular surgery

View Dr. Brahmandam's publications.

 Mark K. Eskandari, MD

Research Interests 

  • Stoke prevention with CAS and CEA
  • TEVAR for blunt traumatic injuries
  • Percutaneous EVAR
  • Infected prosthetic grafts
  • Quality improvement 

View Dr. Eskandari's publications.

 Karen J. Ho, MD

Research Interests 

  • Animal and cell-based models of arterial injury and remodeling
  • Mechanisms of gut microbe regulation of arterial inflammation, restenosis and atherosclerosis
  • Microbe-derived metabolomics in peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
  • Gene and stem cell therapy for PAD

Learn more about the Ho Laboratory and view Dr. Ho's publications.

 Andrew W. Hoel, MD

Research Interests

  • Quality improvement
  • Patient optimization and communication throughout the continuum of care, risk stratification and the use of minimally invasive technology to treat complex vascular disease
  • Value optimization

View Dr. Hoel's publications.

 Bin Jiang, PhD

Research Interests 

  • Stem cell-based regenerative therapeutics for peripheral artery disease and other ischemic conditions
  • Advanced biomaterials development for vascular scaffold and angiogenesis
  • Translational imaging for vascular regenerative engineering
  • Mechanistic understanding and therapeutic development for vascular calcification and other vascular complications

Learn more about the Jiang Laboratory and view Dr. Jiang's publications.

 Neel A. Mansukhani, MD

Research Interests

  • Healthcare disparities and social determinants of health
  • Development of novel minimally invasive and hybrid therapies
  • Surgeon and trainee wellness

View Dr. Mansukhani's publications.

 Heron E. Rodriguez, MD

Research Interests 

  • Minimally invasive treatment of aneurysms
  • Lower extremity occlusive disease

View Dr. Rodriguez's publications.

 Tadaki M. Tomita, MD

Research Interests 

  • Improvement of surgical education
  • Enhance simulation-based training of endovascular and ultrasound guidance skills for surgical residents and fellows
  • Developing an ultrasound-guided femoral access simulator to enhance the training of endovascular skills to trainees

View Dr. Tomita's publications.

 Ashley K. Vavra, MD

Research Interests 

  • Quality and process improvement
  • Nitric oxide based therapies to prevent neointimal hyperplasia following vascular intervention for occlusive disease

View Dr. Vavra's publications.

Starzl Academy

The Starzl Academy serves as an umbrella over our many specific and highly accomplished PSTP programs across Northwestern Medicine clinical departments. We seek a community that keeps individuals connected to the investigative component of their training throughout their programs, exposing them to the full breadth of opportunity here at Northwestern, and encouraging multi-disciplinary interaction and collaboration.

Follow Surgery on