Research Overview
Cardiac Biomechanics Laboratory
The Cardiac Biomechanics Lab, led by Elaine Tseng, M.D., uses the application of mechanical engineering principles in conjunction with cardiac biology, implementing this combination of research to the improvement of cardiac health, to the design and analysis of the diagnosis and/or treatment of cardiac diseases.
Dr. Elaine Tseng is a Professor of Surgery in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the UCSF Medical Center. She has a special interest in the endovascular treatment of thoracic aortic diseases, including descending thoracic aortic aneurysms, and acute and chronic type B aortic dissection. She also has a special interest in aortic valve surgery, ascending aortic and arch surgery, mitral valve repair, reoperative cardiac surgery, off-pump coronary artery bypass, and Maze procedure for atrial fibrillation.
Development of Techniques for Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
Cardiovascular Monitor Design and Development
Quantitative Cardiovascular Physiology
Finite Element Analysis
Kratz Laboratory
The Kratz Laboratory, led by Johannes R. Kratz, M.D., focuses on the genetic and immunological mechanisms that drive early-stage, surgically resectable thoracic malignancies.The lab uses novel high-throughput "-omics" techniques such as genomic DNA and RNA sequencing, proteomics, and metabolomics to unravel the complex nature of early-stage thoracic malignancies. At the same time, the lab actively investigates the complex immunological landscapes that nurture the growth of these malignancies.
Dr. Johannes Kratz is a Professor of Surgery in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at UCSF. He holds the Van Auken Endowed Chair in Thoracic Oncology, Director of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery, Medical Director of Robotic Surgery at UCSF Health and Director of the Thoracic Surgery Residency Program
Malignancies of lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and thymic cancer.
Genetic and immunological mechanisms
Genomic DNA and RNA sequencing, proteomics, and metabolomics
Novel therapeutic targets and therapies
Lung Transplant Research Laboratory
The Lung Transplant Research Lab, led by Jasleen Kukreja, MD., is studying predictors of primary graft dysfunction (PGD) in lung transplantation, participating in a national registry and establishing a lung transplant biobank.
Jasleen Kukreja, M.D., MPH is a professor of surgery in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at UCSF and Doris F. and Donald G. Fisher Distinguished Professor in Pulmonary Therapies and Science. Dr. Kukreja is also the program and surgical director of the UCSF Medical Center Lung Transplant Program and director of the adult respiratory mechanical circulatory support (ECMO) program.
Lung Transplantation
ECMO
Related Conditions: Lung Transplant| Start Date: | End Date:
Related Conditions: Lung Transplant| Start Date: | End Date:
Related Conditions: Lung Transplant, Transplants| Start Date: | End Date:
The Transplant and Stem Cell Immunobiology (TSI) Lab, led by Sonja Schrepfer, M.D., Ph.D. and Tobias Deuse, M.D., uses multiple research directions to answer complex questions about stem cell therapy, heart and lung transplantation, and cardiovascular disease. The lab focuses on the immunogenicity of allogeneic stem cells, tissues, and organs, and is interested in designing methods to prevent immunological recognition and rejection of such materials.
Tobias Deuse, M.D. is a cardiac and heart transplant surgeon internationally renowned for his pioneering work in the development of minimally-invasive techniques for mitral valve repair. He is the co-director of the TSI Lab at UCSF.
Sonja Schrepfer, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Surgery, founded the Transplant and Stem Cell Immunobiology (TSI) Lab in 2009 in Germany. In 2016, she joined the faculty of the Department of Surgery at the University of California San Francisco. She is also the Director of the TSI Lab at UCSF.
Stem Cell Immunology
Transplant and Cardiovascular Immunobiology
Molecular & Cellular Biology
Genomic and Epigenomic profiling
Tissue engineering
Molecular Imaging Technologies
In Vitro and In Vivo studies
Vascular Biology of "mice from space"
Thoracic Oncology Laboratory
The Thoracic Oncology Laboratory, led by David M. Jablons, M.D., focuses on lung cancer whose treatment is rapidly proceeding towards the era of personalized medicine where treatment is based on the distinctive molecular characteristics of a patient's tumor.
David M. Jablons M.D., FACS is a Professor and Chief of General Thoracic Surgery at UCSF, and Program Leader of Thoracic Oncology. Dr. Jablons is also Ada Distinguished Professor in Thoracic Oncology and Nan T. McEvoy Distinguished Professor of Thoracic Surgical Oncology and the Director of the Thoracic Oncology Lab, one of the largest in the Department of Surgery, with seven principal investigators, an enviable portfolio of NIH grants, and state-of-art-equipment. Utilizing next-generation sequencing and leveraging one of the largest thoracic tissue banks in the world, the lab has compiled an enviable record of scientific discovery and invention including a life-saving prognostic assay that informs the decision for providing adjuvant therapy to early-stage lung cancer patients.
The Thoracic Oncology Lab focuses on drug target discovery, commercialization of novel therapeutics, and development of genomic assays based on predictive and prognostic biomarkers.
Immunogenetics and Transplantation Laboratory (Affiliated)
The Immunogenetics and Transplantation Laboratory (ITL), led by Rajalingam Raja, Ph.D., D(ABHI), supports the Heart and Lung Transplant programs, providing specialized diagnostic services for allogeneic transplantation and conducting related research.
Dr. Rajalingam Raja serves as the Laboratory Director, Clinical Consultant and Technical Supervisor for the UCSF Immunogenetics and Transplantation Laboratory.
The laboratory provides support for blood, bone marrow, kidney, pancreas, liver, heart, lung, small bowel, and cornea transplantation. The Immunogenetics and Transplantation Laboratory is a national reference laboratory, a referee laboratory for the ASHI proficiency testing program, a NMDP contract laboratory, a core laboratory for the NIH Immune Tolerance Network, and a participant in several national clinical trials. The laboratory also conducts basic research and provides educational programs for health care professionals. The laboratory is not-for-profit and is owned and operated by the University of California, San Francisco.