Research Connections
November 3, 2025
Langford Lobby
12 – 1 p.m.
Discovery students, please familiarize yourself with the Vanderbilt researchers listed below prior to the Nov. 3 RC event. Everyone on this list has expressed an interest in mentoring you for Research Immersion (RI). The * listed before a name means that this researcher and/or lab representatives plan to attend RC in person. This is a bit of a moving target with the mentors’ busy schedules.
Research Mentors 2025
| Name | Email address | Title and Department | Primary Research Specialty | URL | Other Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agrawal, MD, PhD, Vineet* | vineet.agrawal@vumc.org | Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine | Understanding and treating heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), right ventricular dysfunction, and pulmonary vascular disease in heart failure. | ||
| Bastarache, MD, Julie* | julie.bastarache@vumc.org | Associate Professor Department of Medicine, Allergy, Pulmonary, and Critical Care Medicine | Mechanistic and translational research program in acute and chronic lung diseases including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and bronchiectasis. She also has an interest in non-pulmonary organ dysfunction during sepsis and studies delirium and acute kidney injury in experimental models. | ||
| Coyan, MD, Garrett* | garrett.coyan@vumc.org | Assistant Professor of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, and Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering | Medical Device Development, Cardiovascular Device Testing and Simulation, Clinical Outcomes in Congenital Cardiac Surgery and Critical Care | ||
| Davidson, PhD, Mario* | mario.davidson@vumc.org | Course Director for PLAN and VSM Biostatistician | Biostats | ||
| Esbenshade, MD, MSCI, Adam* | adam.esbenshade@vumc.org | John N. Lukens, Jr. Chair in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Professor of Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology | Research focuses on Cancer Control, Supportive Care, Central Nervous System Malignancy, and Cancer Survivorship. | ||
| Fissell, MD, Rachel* | - | Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension | The goals of Dr. Fissell's research are to improve survival and quality of life for patients with End Stage Renal Disease. Her training and background are in epidemiology, statistics, and clinical trial design, particularly in the hemodialysis population. Her contributions in the past have involved sampling large data sets such as the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study, the United States Renal Data System, and the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, to test for associations between patient characteristics and practice patterns, and patient outcomes. | ||
| Gohar, PhD, FAHA, Eman* | eman.gohar@vumc.org | Department of Medicine Nephrology and Hypertension | The current goal of the Gohar Lab research program is to define the molecular mechanisms underlying sex-differences in hypertension and associated cardiovascular and renal disease. | ||
| Gokey, PhD, Jason* | Jason.j.gokey@vumc.org; | Assistant Professor of Medicine Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine | Dr. Gokey is affiliated with the laboratory of Dr. Jonathan Kropski at VUMC. The Kropski lab investigates the mechanisms of lung injury, repair and fibrosis with a focus on disease initiation and propagation with a goal of developing strategies for early diagnosis and novel therapeutic strategies to prevent progression of these diseases. | ||
| Grueter, PhD, Carrie A* | carrie.grueter@vumc.org | Research Associate Professor Research Division Associate Director BH Robbins Scholar Program | My research program investigates the role of lipid synthesis enzymes, DGAT1 and DGAT2, in the CNS with a focus on neuroinflammation and neurogenesis as they relate to reward circuitry. A second arm of my program focuses on the role of intestinal lipid synthesis in regulating whole-body energy balance via the gut-brain axis. | ||
| Hawkins, MD, MPH, FACS Alexader* | alex.hawkins@vumc.org | Associate Professor of Surgery Vice Chair Section Clinical Research Director Colorectal Research Center Division of General Surgery Department of Surgery | Colon & rectal surgery outcomes, health service research, patient reported outcomes and global surgery | ||
| Holowatyj, PhD, MSCI, Andreana* | andreana.holowatyj@vumc.org | Assistant Professor of Medicine & Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center Research Director & Research Immersion Co-Director, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Research Program Faculty Fellow, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) Board of Directors, VICC Young Adults with Cancer Program | Non-interventional clinical trials and laboratory-based models/experiments focused on cancer biology/genetics, reproductive health (e.g., fertility) and tumor biology, and clinical care/survivorship. | ||
| Hung, MD, MPH, Adriana M* | adriana.hung@vumc.org | Department of Medicine Nephrology and Hypertension | Research in Kidney Genetics Team Kidney Phenomics and Genomics. | ||
| Khan, MD, FACS, Aimal* | aimal.khan@vumc.org | Assistant Professor of Surgery Division of General Surgery Department of Surgery | Dr. Khan's research interests include computer vision analysis of surgical videos for automated identification of operative steps and structures during robotic surgery. Additionally, he is also interested in development of image-guided precision tools for minimally invasive rectal cancer surgery. He has multiple publications in peer reviewed scientific and clinical journals including Journal of Surgical Research, Colorectal Disease, and International Journal of Surgery. He has also co-authored multiple chapters and online modules on minimally invasive techniques in surgery. | ||
| Lopez, MD, MS, FACS, FAAP, Monica | monica.lopez@vumc.org | Associate Professor of Pediatric Surgery Vice Chair for Surgical Quality and Evidence-Based Programs Department of Pediatric Surgery Medical Director, Surgical Outcomes Center for Kids (SOCKs) Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt | In her research pursuits, Dr. Lopez has used her experience in building an institutional health analytics platform to monitor appendectomy outcomes resulting in multiple quality improvement initiatives generating value to pediatric appendicitis care. Based on this work, her team received the 2015 Healthcare Informatics Annual Innovators Award for effectively employing information technology to make a difference within the organization and in the industry at large. Dr. Lopez is interested in the application of novel cost accounting methodologies, such as Time-Driven Activity Based Costing, and investigating alternative payment models in pediatric surgery. She remains committed to studying the adoption of value-based strategies that reward high quality surgical care. | ||
| Lovvorn, MD, FACS, Harold* | harold.lovvorn@vumc.org | Professor of Pediatric Surgery Program Director Pediatric Surgery Residency Department of Pediatric Surgery | Cancer, Clinical Trials, Epidemiology, Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs), Pediatrics, Trauma and Injury, molecular composition of Wilms tumor in children | ||
| Mason, PhD, Frank* | frank.mason@vumc.org | Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology | Understanding mechanisms that promote genomic instability and metabolic barriers to immunotherapy in renal cell carcinoma. | ||
| Patel, CCRP, Kalpnaben* | kalpnaben.patel@vumc.org | SOCKS | Pediatric Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, | ||
| Powers, MD, Al* | al.powers@vumc.org | Joe C. Davis Chair in Biomedical Science, Medicine, and Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Professor, Vanderbilt Diabetes Center Director, Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology Director | Pancreatic Islet Biology, Vascularization, Development, Regeneration, and Imaging; Diabetes | ||
| Ramsey, PhD, Haley | Haley.ramsey@vumc.org; | Research Assistant Professor of Medicine Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology Oncology | Currently designs pre-clinical studies for novel therapies in Acute Myeloid Leukemia, and effects of therapy on tumor metabolism. | ||
| Robinson, MD, PhD, Jamie* | jamie.robinson@vumc.org | Assistant Professor of Pediatric Surgery Assistant Professor of Biomedical Informatics Department of Pediatric Surgery Complex Aerodigestive and Esophageal Treatment Center Director of the Esophageal Atresia and Tracheomalacia Team Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt | Dr. Robinson has studied extensively how electronic health records can be linked to genotyping and phenotyping to support clinical research. Other research focus areas include the genetic roots of congenital and pediatric surgery diseases, including the roots of obesity. Included among her recent publications in numerous peer-reviewed journals are: A pilot study to determine the incidence, type, and severity of non-routine events in neonates undergoing gastrostomy tube placement, Journal of Pediatric Surgery; Quantifying the phenome-wide disease burden of obesity using electronic health records and Mendelian randomization, Obesity; and Robot-assisted Partial Splenectomy for a Nonparasitic Splenic Cyst in a 15-year-old Female, Videoscopy. | ||
| Samuels, MD, Jason* | jason.m.samuels@vumc.org | Assistant Professor of Surgery Division of General Surgery Department of Surgery | Dr. Samuels' research interests include optimizing treatment outcomes for those with obesity using a multimodal therapy approach. | ||
| Shyr, PhD, Cathy* | cathy.shyr@vumc.org | Assistant Professor Department of Biomedical Informatics Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Assistant Professor of Biostatistics | She is a statistical informatician specializing in machine learning, AI and methods for estimating personalized treatment effects. Her research focuses on the development and implementation of novel statistical machine learning (ML) and AI methods to advance precision medicine and accelerate diagnosis. | ||
| Starnes, MD, MPH, Joseph* | joseph.starnes@vumc.org; | Pulse oximetry screening, Racial and ethnic disparities in pulse oximetry, Global health programming, Risk prediction in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy | |||
| Tkaczyk, MD, PhD, Eric R* | eric.tkaczyk@vumc.org | Associate Professor of Dermatology Director, Vanderbilt Dermatology Translational Research Clinic | Dermatology and Artificial Intelligence / Data Science | VDTRC | |
| Unertl, PhD, ACHIP, FACMI, FAMIA, Kim * | kim.unertl@vumc.org | Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies Department of Biomedical Informatics | Dr. Unertl's current research focuses on the intersection of health information technology and clinical workflow, including the design and implementation of technology. | ||
| Ward, MD, Heather* | heather.b.ward@vumc.org | Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Director of Neuromodulation Research Director, Vanderbilt Psychiatry Residency Research Track Division of General Psychiatry | Dr. Ward uses neuromodulation (rTMS) and neuroimaging to understand and treat the brain-circuit basis of psychotic disorders. Dr. Ward has studied nicotine dependence in schizophrenia for the past decade. | ||
| Wellons, MD, MSPH, Jay* | jay.wellons@vumc.org | Chief, Division of Pediatric Neurological Surgery, Cal Turner Chair in Pediatric Neurological Surgery, Professor of Neurological Surgery, Pediatrics, and Radiology & Radiological Sciences, Department of Neurological Surgery | Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network (HCRN) Endoscopic minimally invasive procedures Brachial plexus and peripheral nerve treatment. | ||
| Yan, MD, PhD, Fan * | fang.yan@vumc.org | Research Professor of Pediatrics Research Professor of Medicine Research Professor of Cell & Developmental Biology | Dr. Yan's lab focuses on understanding gastrointestinal epithelial growth and response to injury as it relates to various disease states such as inflammatory bowel disease and H. Pylori-associated gastritis and gastric cancer. | ||
| Van Shaik, PhD, MD, Katherine | katherine.d.van.schaik@vumc.org | Assistant Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Musculoskeletal Imaging Assistant Research Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering; Assistant Professor of Classical and Mediterranean Studies | Investigates questions involving disease and medical decision making in the ancient (Greek, Roman, Islamic) and modern worlds; interdisciplinary methodologies in history of medicine research, including historical and textual analysis, bioarchaeology, paleoradiology and emerging techniques for studying human remains in past populations; anthropology and medical humanities; and medical ethics | VCAT Heatlh Over Time | Box File |
*Names with asterisks will be at the Research Connections event in person.
Looking for other opportunities? Check out the VUSM Research Database maintained by the Council of Class Officers.