Vascular Research Laboratory
The Vascular Research Laboratory (VRL) is a basic and translational research facility dedicated to the study of peripheral vascular disease and the identification of critical rate-limiting steps where targeted interventions could prevent or hinder development of vascular pathologies. The laboratory focuses on research into the molecular and cellular mechanisms of vascular restenosis, intimal hyperplasia development, and vessel graft failure. Additionally, significant emphasis is placed on defining the role of hormone replacement therapy in the exacerbation of these pathologies in post-menopausal women. The primary aim is the development of pre- or intra-operative interventions that improve long-term outcomes of vascular reconstructive surgery. The Vascular Research Laboratory also supports clinical research projects within the Department of Surgery and plays a primary role in research education for surgical residents, vascular fellows, and undergraduate and graduate students.
The Vascular Research Laboratory is under the direction of Oscar H. Grandas, MD, Director and Associate Professor, and the experimental oversight of research activities performed in the laboratory is managed by Deidra J.H. Mountain, PhD, Research Scientist and Assistant Professor. Stacy S. Kirkpatrick, Laboratory Supervisor is responsible for personnel oversight and maintenance of supplies and equipment in laboratory. The lab can support research and clinical projects requiring technical expertise in small animal survival surgery, lab animal pathology, immunohistochemistry, histological interpretation, fluorescent microscopy, tissue & cell cryo-preservation, cell isolation, cell and tissue culture, retroviral gene insertion and gene silencing, cell fractionation and protein isolation, electrophoresis, Western Blot analysis, ELISA, FACS, HPLC, and RT- and q-PCR.
Opportunities
General Surgery Residents with an interest in academic medicine or the possibility of a career as a physician scientist may benefit from additional training in a multifaceted basic and translational research program. Those residents interested in devoting one year of their residency program to research training may be accepted to the Vascular Research Team to gain experience in a wide array of laboratory techniques and make original contributions to the field of vascular biology research.
Vascular Surgery Fellows in the first year of their fellowship training are assigned to the Vascular Research Team for a six month rotation. During this time the fellow achieves technical proficiency in a number of basic laboratory techniques, gains significant experience in microsurgical techniques and the use of an operative microscope, and is expected to make an original contribution to the field of basic vascular biology research in the form of peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national meetings.
Additional opportunities for research education are available to undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, graduate students as well as through the Collmann Medical Student Educational Endowment. Contact the Vascular Research Laboratory for details.
The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine
Vascular Research Laboratory
Department of Surgery
1924 Alcoa Highway, Box U-11
Knoxville, TN 37920
Phone: 865-305-9774 or 865-305-9160
Fax: 865-305-6048