Department of Medicine Faculty

Bio

Admin Info
Name: DHM Admin Team
Email: dhmadmin@umn.edu
Phone: 612-624-0579
Fax: 612-624-3189

Summary
I am a true Minnesotan, born and raised. I left briefly to complete my medical training at Des Moines University of Osteopathic Medicine before returning to Minneapolis to complete my internal medicine residency at Hennepin County Medical Center. I completed an additional year at Hennepin Healthcare as a Chief Resident where I discovered a passion for medical education.

Research Summary

• Medical Education

Clinical Summary

• Hospital Medicine

Bio

Dr. Logeais graduated with Honors with an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies from Washington University in St. Louis. She received her medical degree from Georgetown University in Washington DC. She then went on to Yale University to complete her Internal Medicine residency training. She spent time abroad during her medical training in Uganda and South Africa. She currently practices at the Primary Care Clinic. Her clinical interests include medical education, health care disparities, chronic disease management and preventative medicine.

Clinical Summary

Chronic Disease Prevention and Management; Healthcare Disparities; International Health; Medical Education; Weight management; Quality improvement

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: Admin
Phone: 612-624-9996
Fax: 612-625-4410
Email: idimdivision@umn.edu
Mail: Microbiology Research Building, 1st floor mail room, MMC 2821, 689 23rd Ave S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455

Summary
Research in our neurovirology laboratory specifically investigates the role of CNS-infiltrating peripheral immune cells in driving chronic activation of brain-resident glial cells following viral infection. We are currently investigating the role of CD19(-)CD38(+)CD138(+) plasma cells and antiviral antibodies persisting within the CNS during chronic herpesvirus brain infection. We are also applying our viral brain infection models to study experimental immune reconstitution disease of the CNS (CNS-IRD) using T-cell repopulation of lymphopenic hosts (MAIDS animals) harboring HSV brain infection. As well as in the brain, dysregulated chronic immune activation and immune cell infiltration likely promote analogous nerve damage and neurotoxicity within the lumbar spinal cord (LSC) and dorsal root ganglia (DRG). These findings have led us to new studies on the neuropathogenesis of LP-BM5 retrovirus infection (i.e., MAIDS)-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Research Summary

Our research laboratory studies the pathogenesis of viral brain infection in mice. We work in the field of neurovirology; which is at the interface of virology, immunology, and neuroscience. We are a biomedical research laboratory, working on modeling disease processes. We currently have two projects funded through individual R01 grants from the National Institutes of Health. In the first project, funded through NINDS, we are investigating whether recall immune responses from virus-specific, brain-resident memory T cells (bTRM) activate brain-resident glia and induce production of neurotoxic mediators. Our goal is to determine whether adaptive recall responses to viral Ag trigger tissue-wide innate immune responses from reactive glia and promote inflammation-induced synaptic damage, neurotoxicity, and long-term neurocognitive impairment. In our second project, which is funded through the NIMH, we are trying to determine whether glial cells are viable cellular targets for immunotherapy. Microglia are the main reservoir for HIV-1 within the brain and potential exists for negative immune checkpoint blockade immunotherapies to purge viral reservoirs. There is currently a great deal of research interest in using checkpoint inhibitors to purge HIV in “cure” strategies. The vast majority of these trials target the PD-1: PD-L1 pathway. In this project, we are investigating cytolytic responses of CD8+ T lymphocytes against primary microglia loaded with viral peptide epitopes to determine whether immune checkpoint blockade targeting this pathway may be beneficial in clearing viral brain reservoirs.

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: Drew Keup
Email: keupx013@umn.edu

Summary
Dr. Lotfi-Emran is a physician-scientist trained clinically in Rheumatology with a doctorate in Immunology. She received her MD and PhD from Virginia Commonwealth University and completed her Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology Fellowship at University of Minnesota. Dr. Lotfi-Emran believes that understanding immunopathology mechanisms of autoimmune diseases will provide patients with answers as to and how and why they are sick. She is developing a basic science and translational research program examining the intersection of infection and autoimmunity through the lens of tissue resident immune networks. Currently, as a member of Dr. David Masopsust’s lab, she is focused on the interplay between viral infections, establishment of CD8+ T resident memory cells, and inflammatory arthritis.

Research Summary

• Mouse models of inflammatory arthritis
• Natural microbial exposure mouse models CD8+ T cells
• Tissue resident memory cells

Teaching Summary

Bench research on inflammatory arthritis

Clinical Summary

Rheumatologic, autoimmune and autoinflammatory disorders, including inflammatory arthritis

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: Ms. J. Knapp
Phone: 612-626-1422
Fax:  612-625-6919
Email: jknapp@umn.edu
Mail: 420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 480, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Summary
After completing undergraduate studies in biochemistry at SUNY College at Geneseo, Dr. Lou received his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees (Microbiology and Immunology) from SUNY Upstate Medical University in 2004. He performed his residency training in Internal Medicine at Duke University Medical Center and then subsequently completed his Medical Oncology and Hematology fellowship at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in 2010. He also completed an additional fellowship in Neuro-Oncology at the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke. Dr. Lou, a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, is board certified in Medical Oncology and Internal Medicine. In addition he is also board certified in Neuro-Oncology through the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties. He joined the faculty in the Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation in 2011 and is a member of the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota. Care Philosophy New Patients If you are scheduled or interested in scheduling a clinic consultation with Dr. Lou, click here for more information and a welcome from Dr. Lou. Tips to be a Great Patient Advocate Dr. Lou's interview with Caringbridge.org

Research Summary

Role of tunneling nanotubes in intercellular communication and pathophysiology of cancer.  Biomarkers of drug resistance in cancer Genomic markers of exceptional response or non-response to drug therapy in solid tumor malignancies (colorectal cancer and malignant brain tumors) 

Clinical Summary

Appendix Cancer; Neuroendocrine Tumors; Pancreatic Cancer; Esophageal Cancer; Gastric Cancer; Colorectal Cancer; Cancer Metastasis; Solid Tumor Metastasis to the Brain; Brain Tumors

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: Amy Wang
Email: ausen018@umn.edu

Bio

I specialize in treating blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma utilizing chemotherapy and radiation, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and cellular therapy. I focus particularly on cellular therapies such as bone marrow transplantation and modified lymphocytes (CAR-T and CAR-NK). My research focuses on making these products safer to administer and more widely available.

Research Summary

My research focuses on utilizing biomarkers to predict outcomes of novel cellular therapies. In the short term, this will allow for better patient care and safer delivery of these novel treatments. In the long run, it will allow us to determine who benefits and who doesn't from these, and more specifically, what to do with patients who are unlikely to benefit.

Clinical Summary

T-cell lymphoma; Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; Acute leukemia; Bone marrow transplant; Cellular therapies; CAR-T cells

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: Colleen Doyle
Email: doyl0050@umn.edu
Mail: 420 Delaware ST SE
MMC 741
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Summary
Dr. Macomber is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and is board certified in Internal Medicine. He earned a bachelor's degree in Chemistry and a doctorate in Organic Chemistry from the University of Massachusetts. He was a Chemistry Professor at Kansas State University from 1983 to 1986. He went on to complete both Medical School and Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Minnesota. After Residency he completed a fellowship in Clinical Pharmacology at the Mayo Clinic from 1999-2001. He has been practicing Internal Medicine at the Primary Care Center of the University of Minnesota since 2001.

Clinical Summary

General internal medicine; Drug metabolism; New drug development; Transplant medicine for primary care

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: Bill Clark
Phone:
Email: wclark10@umphysicians.umn.edu
Fax: 
Mail: 420 Delaware ST SE
MMC 508 Mayo
8508A (Campus Delivery Code)
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Summary
Dr. Madhu's clinical practice comprises noninvasive cardiac imaging (including echocardiography, cardiac CT, and cardiac MRI) and general cardiology. His general-cardiology clinic treats all adult patients, including those with congenital heart disease, valvular disease, and coronary-artery disease.

Research Summary

In addition to cardiac imaging, Dr. Madhu is interested in computer-enhanced acoustic diagnostic techniques. He has partnered in biomedical engineering research to improve stethoscope technology, and is currently involved in clinical studies to determine whether preliminary diagnosis of coronary and carotid blockages can be accurately determined using an electronic acoustic recording instrument.

Clinical Summary

General cardiology; Valvular heart disease; Coronary artery disease; Marfan's syndrome; Adult congenital heart disease; Echocardiography; Cardiac MRI; Cardiac/coronary CT angiography

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: Ashley Fuchs
Phone: 612-624-0999
Email: fuchs@umn.edu
Fax: 612-625-2174

Summary

Dr. Kathleen Mahan specializes in caring for adults with cystic fibrosis, and other chronic lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, lung transplant. Her clinical expertise includes the management and care of complex critically ill patients in the medical intensive care unit. She strives to provide comprehensive and compassionate care to all of her patients. As the co-director of Med 7532, she is actively engaged in teaching future physicians through the medical school and in the hospital and clinics.

Research interests include studying the effects of COVID-19 within the CF population, evaluation and better understanding of the lung microbiome and its effects on patient outcomes, particularly those who have undergone lung transplantation, and exploration of alternative therapies to antibiotics for chronic lung disease.

Research Summary

• Lung microbiome
• Post-covid lung disease
• COVID and CF
• Alternative antimicrobials

Teaching Summary

• MED 7532 course co-director, medical student, resident and fellow education

Clinical Summary

Cystic fibrosis; Critical Care; Lung transplant

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: Mai Xiong
Phone: 612-626-1370
Email: mtxiong@umn.edu
Fax: 612-626-4411

Summary
Dr. Maharaj is an Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant cardiologist. He received his medical degree from the University of Minnesota, completed internal medicine residency training at Loyola University Medical Center, and came back to the University of Minnesota for general cardiology and heart failure fellowships. His interests include treatment of advanced heart failure, cardiomyopathies, and cardiogenic shock, use of temporary and durable mechanical circulatory support devices, and studying outcomes and complications related to heart transplantation.

Research Summary

• Use of Temporary Mechanical Circulatory Support
• Cardiorenal Syndrome
• Heart Transplant Outcomes and Complications

Teaching Summary

Hemodynamics, Pathophysiology, Temporary Mechanic Circulatory Support

Clinical Summary

Amyloid and Infiltrative Cardiomyopathies; Advanced Heart Failure

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: Nephrology Division
Phone: 612-624-9444
Email: renaldiv@umn.edu

Summary
Born in India, obtained a medical degree in ASRAM medical college, did a residency at HCMC, Minneapolis, and completed a Nephrology fellowship at the University of Minnesota. Clinical expertise in hypertension and chronic kidney disease.

Research Summary

• Chronic Kidney Disease
• Glomerulonephritis

Teaching Summary

Hypertension; Chronic Kidney Disease; Dialysis

Clinical Summary

Hypertension; Chronic Kidney Disease

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: GI Division
Phone: 612-625-8999
Email: gidivision@umn.edu
Mail: 420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 36, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: DHM Admin Team
Email: dhmadmin@umn.edu
Phone Number: 612-624-0579
Fax Number: 612-624-3189

Summary
Salman Mallick completed his medical school from Dow Medical College, Pakistan. Completed Internal Medicine and Nephrology training from Case Western University, Cleveland, Ohio. Apart from clinical experience he has keen interest in technology and computer programming, making use of technology in health care delivery and management. His most enjoyable part of practice is interacting with patient and family.

Research Summary

Medical Education

Teaching Summary

Resident Education

Clinical Summary

Electrolyte Disturbances

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: DHM Admin Team
Email: dhmadmin@umn.edu
Phone Number: 612-624-0579
Fax Number: 612-624-3189

Summary
Dr. Rachael Mangaudis is a med-peds hospitalist who attended the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine and completed her internal medicine and pediatrics residency at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She has interests in undergraduate and graduate medical education and quality improvement.

Research Summary

• Hospital-based quality improvement
• Medical education

Teaching Summary

Graduate and undergraduate medical education

Clinical Summary

Hospital Medicine; Evidence-based medicine; Transitions of care

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: Ms. J. Knapp
Phone: 612-626-1422
Fax:  612-625-6919
Email: jknapp@umn.edu
Mail: 420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 480, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Summary
I am a medical oncologist and clinical researcher and care for and treat primarily patients with lung or head and neck cancers as part of the thoracic oncology group. My research lies at the clinical end of the translational spectrum and focuses on development and implementation of novel immunotherapies, including cellular therapies, for lung cancers and other solid tumor malignancies.

Research Summary

Clinical trials; Drug development; Targeted therapy; Immunotherapy; Cellular therapy

Clinical Summary

Thoracic oncology; Lung cancers; Head and Neck cancers; Immunotherapies; Cellular therapies; Clinical trials

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: DHM Admin Team
Email: dhmadmin@umn.edu
Phone Number: 612-624-0579
Fax Number: 612-624-3189

Summary
I am dual certified in internal medicine and pediatrics with a clinical focus in hospital medicine.

Research Summary

• Communication surrounding advanced illness (external validation of GO-FAR and GO-FAR 2 scores most recently)

Teaching Summary

Point of care ultrasound

Clinical Summary

Inpatient medicine; balancing competing health priorities

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: Bill Clark
Email: wclark10@umphysicians.umn.edu 
Mail: 420 Delaware ST SE
MMC 508
Minneapolis, MN 55401

Summary
Dr. Markowitz received his M.D. from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, then completed his Internal Medicine residency at UPMC in Pittsburgh PA, and then completed Cardiology and Advanced Cardiac CT Imaging Fellowships at the University of Minnesota.

His clinical interests include Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Cardiac Sarcoidosis, as well as Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging, with a particular interest in the use of Cardiac CT for planning of complex structural interventions.

Dr. Markowitz is also interested in Medical Informatics, and is the Informatics Director for the Cardiovascular Service Line.  

Research Summary

• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
• Cardiovascular CT

Teaching Summary

• Human Health & Disease: Cardio & Resp - INMD 6808
• OSUR5277

Clinical Summary

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy; Cardiac Sarcoidosis; Cardiac Imaging; Cardiac CT

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: DHM Admin Team
Email: dhmadmin@umn.edu
Phone Number: 612-624-0579
Fax Number: 612-624-3189

Summary
​​​​​​​Dr. Markowitz is an Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and serves as the Chief Medical Informatics Officer (CMIO) for M Health Fairview, concentrating on virtual care, ambulatory care, documentation improvement, and clinician use of the electronic health record (EHR) including programs in retraining and refreshing skills with the EHR. She graduated from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, where she also received a Master's degree in medical humanities and bioethics. She completed her residency in internal medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where she stayed on to practice in the General Internal Medicine department prior to coming to Minnesota. Since practicing at the University of Minnesota she received her Clinical Informatics certification and has served in the role of Associate Chief Medical Informatics Officer for Hospital Medicine since 2018.

Clinical Summary

Medical Informatics; Medical Education; Hospital Medicine; Medical Humanities and Bioethics

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: Linsey Roschen
Email: rosch053@umn.edu
Mail: 420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 480, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Summary

I am a hematologist specializing in disorders of thrombosis (clotting) and hemostasis (bleeding).  I practice in the inpatient consultative setting, where I help teams manage disorders of thrombosis and hemostasis in hospitalized patients.  I have a specific interest in women's health and how clotting and bleeding disorders are impact and are impacted by issues including menorrhagia, pregnancy, menopause, and gender-affirming hormonal therapy.  In addition to my clinical practice, I am an advocate for women (physicians and patients) and focus my advocacy efforts on gender equity in medicine as well as leadership development for women physicians.

Honors and Awards

2019                Mayo Clinic Graduate Medical Education (GME) Innovation Award;

2017                Mayo Clinic Teacher of the Year Award in Hematology-Oncology;

2017                Mayo Clinic Endowment for Education Research Award;

2015                Mayo Clinic Department of Medicine Innovation Award in Quality Improvement;

2013                Partners Center of Expertise Medical Education Travel Award;

2009                Harvard Medical School Bemy Jelin '91 Prize (overall academic excellence with a career interest in oncology)

Professional Memberships and Affiliations

Women in Medicine 501(c)3: Chief Innovation Officer and Chair of Speakers' Bureau; American Society of Hematology Women in Hematology Working Group:  Co-Chair; American Society of Hematology Maternal Health Task Force; IGNITEMed: Curriculum Chair; American Medical Women's Association

Research Interests

Gender Equity; Women's Health

Clinical Interests

Consultative Classical Hematology; Thrombosis and Hemostasis; Women's Hematology

Academic Interests

Leadership Development; Gender Equity; Women's Health and Advocacy

Bio

Doug Mashek, PhD, is currently a professor with a primary appointment in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics (BMBB) and a secondary appointment in the Department of Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism. Dr. Mashek earned his B.S. from Iowa State University, M.S. from Michigan State University and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin. Doug did his postdoctoral training in Nutritional Biochemistry at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

Research Summary

Research in the Mashek Lab focuses on the relationship between lipid metabolism and the development of metabolic and aging-related diseases. A primary emphasis is on studies involving lipid droplet biology in the context of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Type 2 Diabetes, cancer and aging. A major focus is on understanding how lipid droplets are catabolized and how they communicate within cells to influence cell function. We also conduct pre-clinical and clinical studies to determine how alterations in diet and dietary patterns (fasting, time-restricted feeding, etc.) and exercise alter metabolism to improve health.

Bio

Dr. Mauer completed his Fellowship in Pediatric Nephrology at the University of Minnesota (UMN) and joined the faculty there in 1972. He was promoted to the rank of Professor of pediatrics in 1979. He was Co-Director of the Pediatric Nephrology Division from 1992 to 2009. His early clinical interests were in the management of acute and chronic kidney failure, helping to adapt hemodialysis and kidney transplantation to infants and small children. His more basic research efforts initially focused primarily on diabetic kidney disease, the cause of nearly half of chronic kidney failure in the Western world. Initially in animal studies and then in research kidney biopsies in humans, he helped to describe the structural changes in the kidney in diabetes that lead to kidney failure. He explored the cellular basis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in a series of studies in cells cultured from patients with diabetes. He showed that the structural changes of DKD were reversible by cure of insulin dependent (type 1) diabetes by pancreas transplantation. He was Principle Investigator of two large international multicenter NIH funded clinical treatment trials in type 1 diabetes. In the last 12 years he has also studied a relatively rare form of inherited kidney injury related to Fabry disease and has helped to elucidate the kidney structural basis of this disorder. His lab trained more than 20 young investigators, many of whom remain actively involved in research. He has published more than 350 research articles and 90 book chapters. For 16 years he was Chair of the UMN Medical School Committee of Student Scholastic Standing, helping medical students to overcome academic difficulties. He also was Chair of the Department of Pediatrics Promotions Committee for more than 10 years. He is a member of the UMN Academy of Excellence in Health Research. Although semi-retired he remains actively engaged in research.

Clinical Summary

Fabry Disease; Pediatric kidney transplantation; Pediatric dialysis

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: Linsey Roschen
Phone: 612-626-6553
Email: rosch053@umn.edu
Mail: 420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 480, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Summary
I am a clinical researcher in rare blood disorders, with a particular focus on thrombotic microangiopathies. In 2014, I co-founded and now co-direct the US Thrombotic Microangiopathies (USTMA) Consortium, with the goal of improving outcomes in these rare diseases through collaborative clinical trials and translational research. I also lead several clinical trials in these and other rare blood disorders.

Research Summary

• Acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
• Thrombotic Microangiopathies
• Disorders of Hemostasis and Thrombosis

Teaching Summary

Hematology

Clinical Summary

Hemophilia; Acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP)

Bio

Terri McCarthy, MD, MS, is faculty at the Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation. She served as the physician team lead for the interprofessional geriatric education program at Walker Methodist Health Center Transitional Care Unit. McCarthy's research experience includes falls, urinary incontinence, osteoporosis, care transitions/rehospitalization, and interprofessional teams.

Clinical Summary

Geriatric syndrome assessment and management, geriatric education, interprofessional team care, transitions management, long-term care medical direction, comprehensive geriatric assessment.

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: Emily Awes Anderson
Phone: 612-624-0999
Email: awes0005@umn.edu
Fax: 612-625-2174

Summary
My pulmonary and critical care fellowship entailed a combined clinical and research training track at the University of Maryland Medical Center and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at the NIH. Thus, my experience was inclusive of both general pulmonary and critical care medicine training as well as a focus on translational endothelial biology regarding rare autoinflammatory diseases that were associated with pulmonary vascular disease and interstitial lung disease.

Research Summary

Interstitial lung disease; pulmonary vascular disease; overlap of ILD and vascular disease; application of bioinformatics to investigate disease processes and to advance targeted therapeutics (precision medicine).

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: Colleen Doyle
Email: doyl0050@umn.edu
Mail: 420 Delaware Street SE
MMC 741
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Summary
Dr. Melnik is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Minnesota. She earned her M.D. from the University of Minnesota Medical School. She completed her residency in internal medicine at the University of Minnesota as well. Her main clinical interests are general internal medicine, women's health and complicated pregnancies.

Clinical Summary

General internal medicine; Complicated pregnancies

Bio

Admin Info
Name: DHM Admin Team
Email: dhmadmin@umn.edu
Phone: 612-624-0579
Fax: 612-624-3189

Summary
I recently joined the Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota as a Med-Peds Hospitalist. I completed medical school at the University of Minnesota and residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin. I am interested in advancing medical education for medical students and residents, improving quality of care for adults with chronic childhood illnesses, and inpatient hospital medicine.

Research Summary

• Medical Education
• Quality Improvement

Teaching Summary

• Medical student and resident education

Clinical Summary

• Hospital medicine
• Pediatric to adult transitions of care
• Bedside procedures

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: Karen Fitz
Phone: 612-626-5906
Email: fitz0355@umn.edu

Summary
My research focus is in natural killer cell biology and their use in cancer therapy. My clinical interests are multiple myeloma and plasma cell dyscrasias.

Research Summary

Natural Killer Cell Biology and their use to treat cancers

Teaching Summary

Hematology

Clinical Summary

Multiple Myeloma; Plasma Cell Dyscrasias

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: Ashley Fuchs
Phone: 612-624-0999
Email: fuchs@umn.edu
Fax: 612-625-2174

Summary
Dr. Mesfin's clinical expertise is in the diagnosis, work-up, and management of critically ill patients, ventilator management, and multidisciplinary care coordination within the ICU. Dr. Mesfin is a health services researcher with an interest in observational studies assessing outcomes of critical illness with a focus on end-of-life care, goals of care communication, and health disparities during critical illness.

He is particularly interested in identifying risk factors for low-value care near the end of life and optimizing goals of care communication to mitigate potentially unwanted intensive care near the end of life. His prior work focuses on understanding the role of recommendation during goals of care conversations.

Research Summary

• Critical illness outcomes
• End-of-life care in seriously ill patients
• Goals of care communication

Clinical Summary

Critical illness outcomes; End of life care in seriously ill patients; Goals of care communication

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: Lisa Moe
Email: seif0046@umn.edu
Mail: Cancer & Cardiovascular Research Building
Lillehei Heart Institute
2231 6th Street SE
1st Floor Mailroom CCRB
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Summary
Focus Areas:

• Myocardial Calcium Cycling 
• Therapies for Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction
• Biological Effects of Heart Rate and Chronotherapy

Research Summary

• Heart Failure

Research Funding Grants

• R01 HL122744-01A1 NIH-NHLBI

Service Summary

• Heart Failure

Clinical Summary

Hypertension and Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: Drew Keup
Email: keupx013@umn.edu

Summary
Dr. Michalska-Smith earned her B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Notre Dame in 2012 and earned her MD at Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine in 2017. She completed her medicine-pediatrics residency at the University of Minnesota in 2021 and her rheumatology fellowship at George Washington University in 2023. She is excited to be returning to Minnesota to join the Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases as an academic physician and Assistant Professor. Her academic and clinical interests include healthcare disparities and pediatric to adult transitions in patients with rheumatic diseases.

Awards and Recognition

• Honors in Bioethics, Stritch School of Medicine
• President of Physicians for Human Rights National Student Program Chapter of the Year

Professional Memberships and Affiliations

• American College of Rheumatology (ACR)
• Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA)
• American College of Physicians (ACP) membe

Research Summary

Healthcare disparities; pediatric to adult transitions

Teaching Summary

Autoimmune and autoinflammatory disorders

Clinical Summary

Autoimmune and autoinflammatory disorders including systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, systemic sclerosis, vasculitis, inflammatory myopathies, and inflammatory arthritis.

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: Amirah Muwahid
Phone: 612-626-4024
Lab Phone: 612-626-4217
Email: muwah012@umn.edu
Mail: 420 Delaware Street SE
MMC 806
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Summary
Dr. Miller has been interested in NK cell biology, NK cell development, the acquisition of NK cell receptors and seamless translation into clinical trials throughout his entire academic career. Currently, the lab is focused on mechanisms which determine the enhanced function seen with CMV induced adaptive NK cells, facilitating immune synapses with IL-15 containing Trispecific Killer Engagers (TriKEs), IL-15 biology, NK cell killer immunoglobulin receptor (KIR) acquisition and function (NK cell education), and developing NK cell therapeutics.

Throughout his career at the University of Minnesota, he has mentored faculty and delivered hundreds of NK cells products to patients with cancer. His team has identified unique NKC2C+ NK cell repertoires exhibit a methylation signature of CD8+ T cells with properties of immune memory. Adaptive NK cells are distinctly different from canonical NK cells and signal through CD16 using a dominant CD3? signal by downregulation of FcR?R1?. Adaptive NK cells are better primed for killing, cytokine production, ADCC and exhibit unique metabolic signatures that enhance their survival. He has developed state-of-the-art functional readouts to study NK cells from the laboratory and the clinic based on high resolution testing. He was the first to report that haploidentical allogeneic human NK cells can persist and expand for up to one month after adoptive transfer. Based on these studies a significant part of his effort is trying to understand how to exploit NK cells for therapeutic purposes against infection and cancer and how to improve outcomes from allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Clinically, he has developed first-in-human trials using allogeneic donor NK cells, rhIL-15, IL-15/IL-15R?-Fc (ALT-803, now called N-803), an NK cell TriKE that engages NK cells and AML targets that costimulates NK cells with an IL-15 linker. Dr. Miller's experience and translational expertise has supported a transition from individual related donor NK cell products to induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) derived NK cells. Advantages of using this off-the-shelf platform include the flexibility of multiple gene edits, immediate cryopreserved product availability, multi-doing strategies and combinatorial therapy with targeted agents to enhance NK cell function.

Dr. Miller is devoted to team science and mentoring. He has supervised > 400 NK cell products and sponsored >10 INDs and his team has studied >4000 transplant patients. Dr. Miller's experience, NIH grants and translational expertise provides a rich environment for training.

Research Summary

Natural Killer (NK) Cell Development 

Throughout his academic career Dr. Miller has been interested in NK cell biology. His laboratory is focused on understanding the mechanisms of NK cell development and determining how NK cell killer immunoglobulin receptor (KIR) acquisition affects NK cell function through a process referred to as NK cell education or licensing. Most recently, he has been exploring the role of cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation after hematopoietic cell transplantation in enhancing NK cell reconstitution and function. CMV is the only virus known to induce the development of ”adaptive” NK cells with memory properties which are long lived and exhibit enhanced responses to subsequent exposures. Dr. Miller and his team have identified these adaptive NK cells in humans and determined that they have a methylation signature remarkably similar to that of CD8+ T cells. His long-term goal is to translate these novel findings into better NK-cell based immunotherapies to treat cancer without the morbidity of CMV infection.

Targeted Immunotherapy to Treat Human Cancer 

Dr. Miller was the first to report that related donor haploidentical allogeneic NK cells can expand after adoptive transfer and induce remission in patients with refractory leukemia. Building on this landmark study, he spends significant effort developing novel methods to exploit NK cells therapeutically to treat infections, to cure cancer and to improve outcomes from allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). He also leads a focused effort to understand the association of KIR immunogenetics with protection against relapse after allogeneic HCT. Dr. Miller and his team have demonstrated that transplants from donors with favorable KIR genes protect against relapse of acute myeloid leukemia after unrelated donor HCT. He is currently testing novel strategies to activate NK cells in vivo (using novel proteins such as interleukin-15) and to create antigen-specific NK cells with Bispecific Killer Engagers (BiKEs), which are proteins that facilitate targeting of tumor antigens by NK cells.

Current Discovery & Research Themes in the Miller Laboratory:

• NK cells and their receptors after hematopoietic cell transplantation
• CMV induced adaptive NK cells exhibit enhanced function through CD16
• Induction of NK cells antigen specificity through CD16 targeting
• Preserving and enhancing NK cell function through antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicy (ADCC)

Clinical Summary

Bone marrow transplant; Cancer immunotherapy

Bio

Administrator Info
Email: endofixer@umn.edu
Mail: 420 Delaware Street SE
MMC 101
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Summary
Dr. Amir Moheet graduated from Dow Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan. He completed his Internal Medicine residency training and was chief resident at State University of New York at Buffalo, NY. He completed his Endocrinology fellowship from University of Minnesota in 2012. Dr. Moheet is currently an Associate Professor in Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at University of Minnesota. He is actively engaged in clinical and translational research. His research is focused on examining the effects of diabetes and its complications on brain metabolism, structure and function. His clinical and research interests also include cystic fibrosis related diabetes.

Research Summary

• Examine the effects of diabetes, hypoglycemia, and obesity on brain structure and function.
• Develop novel treatment options for the prevention and treatment of impaired awareness of hypoglycemia.
• Understand the pathogenesis on hypoglycemia in cystic fibrosis
• Developing novel strategies for management of diabetes in obese or overweight people with cystic fibrosis

Clinical Summary

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes, General Endocrinology, Cystic fibrosis related diabetes

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: Drew Keup
Email: keupx013@umn.edu

Summary
Dr. Jerry A. Molitor is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Dr. Molitor earned his PhD in Microbiology and Immunology at Duke University, where he helped develop evidence of a family of NF-kappa B nuclear transcription factors in T lymphocytes. He completed his MD at the University Of Iowa College Of Medicine. Dr. Molitor completed his Internal Medicine Internship and Residency, as well as a Rheumatology Fellowship, at the University of Washington. Dr. Molitor conducted numerous clinical and translational research projects through the Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, where he was Director of the Arthritis Clinical Research Unit from 2001-2007, and Associate Director of Clinical Research from 2004-2007. He joined the University of Minnesota in 2007, where he heads the multidisciplinary Scleroderma clinic. He has participated in the Scleroderma GWAS, and in multiples studies of Systemic Sclerosis biomarkers and natural history, as well as in various aspects of drug development. Dr. Molitor has clinical research interests in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Sclerosis pathogenesis and disease prevention, and has been a consultant or investigator in multiple trials of candidate therapies for these conditions. His translational research focuses on understanding the interplay between impaired immune responses to infections and associated autoimmunity. He leads current studies examining this phenomenon in individuals with periodontal disease and the development of Rheumatoid Arthritis–associated autoantibodies.

Clinical Summary

Rheumatology; Early rheumatoid arthritis; Scleroderma; Systemic Sclerosis; Polymyocitis/Dermatomyositis

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: Drew Keup
Email: keupx013@umn.edu
Mail: 420 Delaware ST SE
MMC 108
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Summary
Dr. Daniel Mueller is a Professor of Medicine, and the Director of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases at the University of Minnesota Medical School. He undertook his medical studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine, and later obtained his Internal Medicine training at the Ohio State University Hospital. In 1986, he received training in basic molecular immunology in the Laboratory of Immunology at the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease, NIH, under Drs. Ronald Schwartz and William Paul. It is there that he initiated his research into fundamental mechanisms involved in the development and maintenance of immune self-tolerance. In 1990, Dr. Mueller entered the Rheumatology Fellowship Training Program in the Rheumatic Diseases Division/Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, under Dr. Peter Lipsky. Since the completion of his medical and research training, he has been on the University of Minnesota Medical School faculty. He currently holds the John F. Finn Arthritis Foundation Land Grant Chair. He is also a member of the Autoimmunity Program, within the University's Center for Immunology. The major focus of his academic program is the investigation of the biological and biochemical mechanisms that underlie the induction and maintenance of T- and B-cell tolerance within the peripheral immune system. His goal is the design of curative antigen-specific treatment strategies for autoimmune disease.

Research Summary

• Biological and biochemical nature of immune self-tolerance
• T cell immune tolerance
• T cell clonal expansion
• Breakdown of B cell tolerance during autoimmune disease development
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Current Research Efforts: 

Autoimmunity develops as the consequence of a loss of tolerance to self-antigens. Investigations carried out by Dr. Daniel Mueller are leading to a better understanding of the biological and biochemical nature of immune self-tolerance. Of particular interest are those factors that determine whether prolonged and continuous antigen stimulation of a T cell will lead to an increase in the clone size and the development of protective (or pathological) effector function, or alternatively lead to functional inactivation (anergy) and T regulatory cell (Treg) differentiation. To approach this problem, Mueller's research team is currently using an assortment of genomics and bioinformatics techniques (scRNA-Seq, ATAC-Seq) to characterize gene regulatory patterns in CD4 T cells that are associated with anergy induction and Foxp3+ Treg generation. Candidate gene regulators are being interrogated within neonatal mice--a time at which peripheral tolerance induction is essential for the avoidance of autoimmunity.

Loss of T cell tolerance also allows for the expansion and differentiation of autoreactive B cells, and the development of B-dependent autoimmune disease. Currently, these biological principles are being investigated in models of CD4 T cell-mediated immunopathology using both monoclonal TCR-transgenic T cells as well as self-antigen specific polyclonal responder cells. Additionally, translational experiments continue to detail the repertoire of human autoreactive B cells in normal subjects as well as in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Currently, experiments are exploring the role of Ig gene somatic hypermutation in the generation of arthritogenic B cells by biochemically characterizing the antigen specificity of families of autoreactive B cell antigen receptors all derived from the same B cell progenitor.

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: Nephrology Division
Phone: 612-624-9444
Email: renaldiv@umn.edu
Fax: 612-626-3840

Summary
Dr. Murphy is a nephrologist with particular interests in caring for patients with acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease along with using clinical research methods to better understand the burdens of these conditions and to improve the care for such patients.

Research Summary

• Acute kidney injury
• Chronic kidney disease

Teaching Summary

• Acute kidney injury
• Chronic kidney disease

Clinical Summary

Acute kidney injury; chronic kidney disease

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: Nephrology
Phone: 612-624-9444
Email: renaldiv@umn.edu
Fax: 612-626-3840
Mail: 717 Delaware St SE
MMC 1932
Minneapolis, MN 55414

Summary
Dr Patrick Nachman is director of the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension. He completed his fellowship in nephrology at the University of North Carolina, where was deputy director of the UNC Kidney Center. His research focused on Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Autoantibody (ANCA) vasculitis. His translational clinical research has been in glomerular diseases and systemic vasculitis. He is particularly interested in fostering clinical research and drug development for kidney diseases in general and glomerular diseases in particular.

Research Summary

• Translational and Clinical Research in ANCA Vasculitis
• Lupus Nephritis
• Glomerular Diseases
• Polycystic Kidney Disease

Clinical Summary

ANCA vasculitis; lupus nephritis; glomerular diseases; diabetic kidney disease; polycystic kidney disease

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: Emily Olmsted-Morales
Phone: 612-624-0999
Email: olmst111@umn.edu
Fax: 612-625-2174

Summary
Dr. Nathani’s clinical expertise is in interventional pulmonology and care of critically ill patients. He practices at the University of Minnesota Medical Center as well as Southdale Hospital in Edina. Dr. Nathani is enthusiastic about providing the very best care to his patients. 

Research Summary

• Point of care ultrasound
• Lung cancer screening
• Outcome improvement in the intensive care unit

Clinical Summary

• Lung nodule evaluation
• Endobronchial valves for COPD
• Chest tube placement
• Lung biopsies
• Thoracentesis
• Medical pleuroscopy for pleural effusion
• Management of the critical ill patient
• Complex airway diseases requiring debulking or stent placement