On The Cutting Edge | August 2025

August 22, 2025

Award Announcements

Congratulations!

2025 We Care Awardees

NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - R21 Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant

Biomarkers to identify regional exposure to radiation

John Baker, PhD
Professor
Division of Congenital Heart Surgery

American Cancer Society Pilot Grant, MCW Cancer Center

AI-Driven Integration of Transcriptomic and Clinical Data for Improved Pancreatic Cancer Prognostication

Y. David Seo, MD
Assistant Professor
Division of Surgical Oncology

In Case You Missed It

Faculty Mentorship/Student Help: The Division of Research has an established process for matching research residents and medical students with faculty members for research opportunities. These opportunities are to be strictly for volunteer work done by the student. Specifics on task work is completely up to the faculty member’s discretion. If you are interested in mentoring, please fill out this Qualtrics survey.
NIH Scientific Data Sharing Website: Whether you are involved in an NIH-funded project and want to understand which sharing policies apply to your research and how to comply, or you are a researcher looking to access scientific data from NIH-affiliated repositories, this site is for you. | More information
Department of Surgery Intranet Site: Funding Opportunities, Cultural Complications/Grand Rounds/Quality Minute presentations, Surgery Sparks of Gratitude, Global Surgical Programs, Finance/Reimbursement links, DOS Phone list, and resources for logos/fonts/templates. | More Information
Abstract Deadlines and Meeting List: List is updated weekly. | More Information
Judges needed September 18 for medical student research poster contest | More Information

Faculty Feature

Upcoming Events

HRPP Professionals Meetings
- Tuesday, August 26 | The CRDW and CBMI Services
- Tuesday, September 30 | Custom Devices, Compassionate Use, & HDE/HUDs
- Tuesday, October 28 | QA/QI, Case Reports and NHSR Projects
- Tuesday, December 2 | TBD

Please note: This roundtable will be an educational session.

Kristen Osinski, MS, FAMIA (CTSI) will be covering the Clinical Research Data Warehouse.

Ashley Zeidler, MLIS will cover large database utilization, literature search strategies, research database management, qualitative analysis software, searching for grant funding opportunities, etc.

SurPASS Tip of the Month

Policy on AI Use in NIH Research Applications and Limiting Submissions per PI

NIH has recently announced a new policy that will continue to support originality, creativity, and fairness in the research application process. NIH has noticed that some PIs have been submitting a large number of research applications that far exceed the numbers traditionally expected and may have been prepared using artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

While AI may be a helpful tool in preparing applications, the rapid submission of large numbers of research applications from a single PI may undermine the fairness and originality of the research application process and unfairly strain NIH’s application review processes.

As use of AI tools becomes more commonplace, it is important to remember that applicants may use AI in limited aspects to reduce administrative burden while preparing applications. However, applicants should be mindful of the concerns around research misconduct or lack of originality when using such tools. Remember, NIH peer reviewers are prohibited from using AI for their critiques.

To address these issues, the new policy is effective for the September 25, 2025, receipt date and beyond:

Applications that are either substantially developed by AI or containing sections substantially developed by AI are not considered the original ideas of applicants and will not be considered.
NIH will also only accept up to six new, renewal, resubmission, or revision applications from an individual PD/PI or Multiple Principal Investigator for all council rounds in a calendar year. For more details on applicability, investigator roles, and impacted application types, please see these new FAQs.

Based on historical data, we expect this policy will impact a relatively small number of investigators. For example, in 2024 only 1.3% of applicants submitted more than 6 applications.

Please contact Lynn Cummings with any questions!

Clinical Research Tip of the Month

FH Office of Clinical Research & Innovative Care Compliance (OCRICC)

The Office of Clinical Research and Innovative Care Compliance (OCRICC) is the centralized body that ensures all research at Froedtert Health (FH) affiliates meets operational and financial feasibility requirements, including Medicare billing compliance. Importantly, even after IRB approval, research cannot begin until OCRICC administrative approval is granted.

When is OCRICC review required?
Any project that uses FH resources—such as imaging, labs, pharmacy, space, staff time, equipment, or PHI—requires OCRICC review and approval. Projects that use only FH PHI (with no other FH services or space) are exempt, but must still be registered with the IRB as a Category 8 project and submit a PHI Accounting Log to OCRICC.

What do I need to submit for approval?
Investigators must provide:

Study protocol
Final/negotiated informed consent form
Completed Operational Feasibility Planning Tool
Additional documents if applicable (e.g., FDA/CMS device letters, imaging manuals, training materials)
If billable services are involved, a budget should be created in OnCore financials. A Froedtert research chargemaster is available in OnCore.

How does OCRICC review?
OCRICC evaluates operational feasibility, consults with FH leaders, conducts a Medicare Coverage Analysis, and, if needed, establishes pricing for FH resources. Industry-sponsored studies are subject to a one-time $2,200 startup fee.

Key takeaway: IRB approval alone does not allow research to begin. OCRICC approval is a required step to ensure compliance and appropriate use of FH resources.

GRANT$ Alert

PCORI Broad Pragmatic Studies Supplemental Funding
GCO deadline: August 26, 2025
Application due: September 3, 2025

Cycle 2 2025 - no LOI required

AAS Joel J. Roslyn Faculty Research Award
$50,000 for 1 year
GCO deadline: August 28, 2025
Application due: September 5, 2025

Must be an Assistant Professor, active member of AAS, cannot hold an R01 or K award.

AAS/AASF Henri Ford Junior Faculty Research Award
$50,000 for 2 years
GCO deadline: August 28, 2025
Application due: September 5, 2025

Must be an Assistant Professor, active member of AAS, cannot hold an R01 or K award.

MCW Cancer Center Cycle 2 Our Patient Project (OPP)
$1,000,000 over 4-5 years
LOI due: September 1, 2025
Application due: March 1, 2026

Researchers working in all areas of cancer science are invited to apply. Priority will be given to projects that use multi-disciplinary technologies and approaches, propose to study topics related to understanding or addressing cancer disparities in WI, and address clinically important challenges faced by the WI population and their cancer care givers.

Extramural Loan Repayment Program
Application period: September 1, 2025 to November 20, 2025

The NIH Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs) are programs established by Congress and designed to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals into biomedical or biobehavioral research careers. The Extramural LRP repays up to $50,000 annually of a researcher's qualified educational debt in return for a commitment to engage in NIH mission-relevant research. Research funding from NIH is not required to participate in the Extramural LRP. LRP awards are based on an applicant's potential to build and sustain a research career.

NIH Director's Pioneer Award Program (DP1)
$700,000/year over 5 years
GCO deadline: September 2, 2025
Application due: September 9, 2025

Preliminary data and detailed experimental plans are not requested. This program requires proposed research that is substantially different from those being pursued by the PI's current research program. Awardees are required to commit 51% effort in the first 3 years, reduced down to 33% in year 4 and 25% in year 5.

CVRC 2025 Cullen Scholar Award
$50,000 for 1 year
GCO deadline: N/A
Application due: September 10, 2025 to cvc_grants@mcw.edu

For MCW faculty to acquire pilot data in a cardiovascular research area that will lead to a submission of an extramural grant in the next 2 years. All key personnel must be members of the CVRC.

American College of Surgeons 2026-2028 Faculty Research Fellowship
$40,000/year for 2 years
GCO deadline: 5 business days prior to app due
Application due: September 2025, date TBD

New for 2025: Franklin H Martin Award and C. James Carrico Award for Trauma and Critical Care. For Fellows or Associate Fellows who have completed chief residency year or fellowship training within the preceding 5 years and have a faculty appointment. Minimum 50% effort toward research project.

Thank you to everyone around MCW who contributed to the Courage+ drive! The Courage+ staff was very appreciative of everyone's generosity!

The donations help with their mission to provide safe housing, supportive services, and affirming care for LGBTQ+ youth.

Abstracts Alert

Western Trauma Association (WTA) Annual Meeting
March 1-6, 2026 | Big Sky, MT
Abstract deadline: August 29, 2025

Competitions/Awards: Earl Young Resident Clinical Research Competition; Ernest E. Moore Resident Basic Science Competition; Tom Scalea New Member Research Award

Southern Association for Vascular Surgery (SAVS) Annual Meeting
January 21-24, 2026 | Paradise Island, Bahamas
Abstract deadline: September 2, 2025

Submission types: Case Reports; Free Papers; Videos

Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Society (VESS) Annual Winter Meeting
February 5-8, 2026 | Olympic Valley, CA
Abstract deadline: September 3, 2025

Submission categories: Standard Papers; Case Reports; Video Case Reports

American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) 2026 Winter Symposium
January 22-25, 2026 | Phoenix, AZ
Abstract deadline: September 8, 2025

The submission of abstracts related to clinical or basic research, surgical technique, or surgical practice that is new, innovative, or visionary is encouraged. Abstracts that address basic but controversial aspects of surgical management are also encouraged.

Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery (SCVS) Annual Symposium
March 28-April 1, 2026 | San Diego, CA
Abstract deadline: September 8, 2025

Abstract Submission Categories: Aortic-Thoracic / Aortic-Thoracoabdominal; Aortic-Abdominal; Cerebrovascular; Dialysis; Education/Training; Imaging; Medical management of vascular disease; Miscellaneous; Peripheral Arterial Disease; Venous; Visceral/Renal

Department of Surgery Fall Research Symposium
October 10, 2025 | HUB A6520/6628
Abstract deadline: September 15, 2025

This symposium will consist of research presentations with special emphasis on projects completed during the summer in preparation for regional or national presentations.
Who can submit abstracts: Medical Students, Residents, and Fellows
Submit abstracts to Kelly Birmingham, Research Program Coordinator

The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) 2026 Annual Meeting
March 25-28, 2026 | Tampa, FL
Abstract deadline: September 19, 2025

Presentation Topics: Abdominal Wall Hernias; Acute Care; Artificial Intelligence; Bariatric; Biliary; Colorectal; Diversity and Inclusion; Education / Simulation; Ergonomics; Flexible Endoscopy; Foregut; Global Surgery; Image Guided Interventions (Including Combined Radiologic / Endoscopic / Surgical Procedures); Leadership & Professional Development; Liver; Miscellaneous / Other; New Technologies / Techniques; Pancreas; Quality Improvement / Health System Outcomes; Robotics / Advanced Technologies; Sustainability

Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) Annual Scientific Meeting
April 11-15, 2026 | Toronto, ON, Canada
Abstract deadline: September 25, 2025

Abstract submissions: Original Scientific Research and Educational Exhibit

Department of Surgery Recent Publications

Near-Infrared Autofluorescence for Parathyroid Detection During Endocrine Neck Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Surgery. (Cousart AG, Kiernan CM, Willmon PA, Thomas G, Wang TS, Gauger PG, Duh QY, Underwood HJ, Jackson A, Patel A, Mahadevan-Jansen A, Solorzano CC)

Breaking the vicious cycle in sickle cell disease: Redox stress impairs red blood cell rheology and promotes lung vasocongestion. Free Radical Biology & Medicine. (Pant T, Li K, Jones DW, Day BW, Naylor S, Gupta K, Pritchard KA Jr)

Morbidity and Mortality After Gastrostomy Tube Placement Among Infants With Congenital Heart Disease. Journal of Surgical Research. (Salazar JH, Schuh JM, Bence CM, Van Arendonk KJ, Tanem JM, Arca MJ)

Essential surgery in crisis: A global scoping review of surgical prioritization during the COVID-19 pandemic. [Review]. Surgery. (VanDerWal JA, Wilson DJ, Keener K, Jaraczewski T, Prom JL, Seadler M, Turner H, Murphy P, Dodgion C, Iverson KR)

A whole-brain voxel-based analysis of structural abnormalities in PTSD: an ENIGMA-PGC study. [Review]. European Psychiatry: the Journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists. (See CRZ, Si S, Baird CL, Haswell CC, Hussain A, Olff M, Veltman DJ, Frijling J, van Zuiden M, Koch SBJ, Nawijn L, Wang L, Zhu Y, Li G, Neria Y, Zhu X, Suarez-Jimenez B, Zilcha-Mano S, Lazarov A, Stevens J, Ressler K, Fani N, Jovanovic T, van Rooij S, Kaufman M, Lebois L, Rosso I, Olson E, Baker J, Sponheim S, Disner S, Davenport N, Etkin A, Maron-Katz A, Stein M, Shenton M, Stein D, Ipser J, Koopowitz SM, Seedat S, du Plessis S, van den Huevel L, Lissek S, Berg H, Straube T, Hoffman D, Baugh L, Forster G, Simons R, Simons J, Magnotta V, Fercho K, Wang X, Cotton A, O'Leary E, Xie H, Grupe D, Nitschke J, Davidson R, Larson C, deRoon-Cassini T, Tomas C, Fitzgerald J, Blackford JU, Olatunji B, Gordon E, May G, Nelson S, Lanius R, Theberge J, Densmore M, Neufeld R, Abdallah C, Averill C, Harpaz-Rotem I, Levy I, Krystal J, Geuze E, van Lutterveld R, Dennis E, Tate D, Cifu D, Walker W, Wilde E, van der Wee N, Vermeiren R, van der Werff S, McLaughlin K, Sambrook K, Peverill M, Radua J, Salminen L, Jahanshad N, Thomopoulos S, James A, Valmaggia L, Thompson P, Morey R, Kempton M)

Association of Traditional and new Surgical Wait Time Targets and Survival for Curative-intent Colorectal Cancer Surgery: A Population-based Cohort Study. Annals of Surgery. (Bondzi-Simpson A, Sutradhar R, Wright FC, Ribeiro T, Chan WC, Perera S, Covelli A, Lofters A, Snyder RA, Clarke CN, Coburn NG, Hallet J)

Gut microbiome and bile acid changes after male rodent sleeve gastrectomy: what comes first?. American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative & Comparative Physiology. (Welsch EC, Barron M, Storage KM, Kazen AB, Aboulalazm FA, Kirby J, Kindel TL)

Understanding the heterogeneity of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. [Review]. Translational Oncology. (Iovanna J, Fraunhoffer N, Urrutia R, Dusetti N)

Percutaneous Transapical Bioprosthetic Leaflet Modification Facilitated Transfemoral Valve-in-Surgical Bioprosthetic Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Undermining Iatrogenic Coronary Obstruction With Radiofrequency Needle (UNICORN). Catheterization & Cardiovascular Interventions. (Iskander M, Anwaruddin S, Pearson P, Mason PJ)

From Podium to PubMed: Successful Manuscript Publication of Oral Breast Surgery Abstract Presentations at National Meetings from 2017 to 2022. Annals of Surgical Oncology. (Summerside M, Istl AC, Rogers CC, Cobb AN, Kong AL, Singh P, Cortina CS)

Targeting autophagy and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 increases survival and remodels the tumor microenvironment in glioblastoma. Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research. (Shifman SG, O'Connor JL, Radin DP, Sharma A, Infante L, Ferraresso F, Kastrup CJ, Lawrence DA, Tsirka SE)

Authorship Equity in Academic Surgery: Barriers and Pathways to Parity. [Review]. Journal of Surgical Research. (Umutoni A, Istl AC, Gellings JA, Alabi O, Tarpley MJ, Emamaullee J, Dodgion C, Alayande BT)

Structural covariance of early visual cortex is negatively associated with PTSD symptoms: A Mega-Analysis from the ENIGMA PTSD workgroup. Biological Psychiatry : Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging. (Harnett NG, Joshi S, Kumar P, Russell C, Dillon DG, Baker JT, Pizzagalli DA, Kaufman ML, Nickerson LN, Jahanshad N, Salminen LE, Thomopoulos SI, Frijling JL, Veltman DJ, Koch SBJ, Nawijn L, van Zuiden M, Zhu Y, Li G, Ipser J, Zhu X, Ravid O, Zilcha-Mano S, Lazarov A, Suarez-Jimenez B, Sun D, Hussain A, Huggins AA, Jovanovic T, van Rooij SJH, Fani N, Hudson AR, Sierk A, Manthey A, Walter H, van der Wee NJA, van der Werff SJA, Vermeiren RRJM, Riha P, Lebois LAM, Rosso IM, Olson EA, Liberzon I, Angstadt M, Disner SG, Sponheim SR, Koopowitz SM, Hofmann D, Qi R, Maron-Katz A, Kunch A, Xie H, El-Hage W, Berg H, Bruce SE, McLaughlin KA, Peverill M, Sambrook K, Ross M, Herringa RJ, Nitschke JB, Davidson RJ, deRoon-Cassini TA, Tomas CW, Fitzgerald JM, Blackford JU, Olatunji BO, Nelson SM, Gordon EM, Densmore M, Theberge J, Neufeld RWJ, Olff M, Wang L, Stein DJ, Neria Y, Stevens JS, Mueller SC, Daniels JK, Rektor I, King A, Davenport ND, Straube T, Lu G, Etkin A, Wang X, Quide Y, Lissek S, Cisler J, Grupe DW, Larson C, Feola B, May G, Abdallah CG, Lanius R, Thompson PM, Morey RA, Ressler K)

Data-Driven Approach to Dynamic Resting State Functional Connectivity in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: An ENIGMA-PGC PTSD Study. Human Brain Mapping. (Tomas CW, Fitzgerald JM, Baird CL, Haswell CC, Abdallah CG, Angstadt M, Baker JT, Berg H, Blackford JU, Cisler J, Cotton AS, Daniels JK, Davenport ND, Davidson RJ, deRoon-Cassini TA, Disner SG, El Hage W, Fani N, Frijling JL, Gordon EM, Grupe DW, He X, Herringa R, Hofmann D, Huggins AA, Hussain A, Ipser J, Jahanshad N, Jovanovic T, Kaufman ML, Kim Y, King A, Koch SBJ, Koopowitz S, Lazarov A, Lebois LAM, Liberzon I, Lissek S, Manthey A, May G, McLaughlin KA, Nawijn L, Nelson SM, Neria Y, Nitschke JB, Olatunji BO, Olff M, Peverill M, Quide Y, Ravid O, Ressler K, Ross M, Salminen LE, Sambrook K, Shih C, Sierk A, Sponheim SR, Stein DJ, Stevens J, Straube T, Suarez-Jimenez B, Thompson PM, van der Wee NJA, van der Werff SJA, van Rooij SJH, van Zuiden M, Veltman DJ, Vermeiren RRJM, Walter H, Wang X, Xie H, Zhu X, Zilcha-Mano S, Larson CL, Morey R)

The Destructive Cycle in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: The Rationale for Systems Pharmacology Therapeutics. [Review]. Antioxidants. (Teng M, Wu TJ, Pritchard KA Jr, Day BW, Naylor S, Teng RJ)

Breast Cancer Disparities in the LGBTQ + Community: How to Move Towards Inclusive Care from Screening to Survivorship. Current Breast Cancer Reports. (Cohen LN, Bobholz F, Cortina CS)

Spontaneous Refractory Intercostal Artery Hemorrhage in a Patient With Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis. Cureus. (Kimura J, Chauhan P, Eriksen C, Cooper M, Prasad R)

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