The University of Minnesota’s Preclinical Research Laboratory Partnering with ESS gives academic and industry-based sponsors unparalleled access to the University of Minnesota’s state-of-the-art resources and expertise.

ESS’s in-house scientific staff can support and facilitate the most complex and important in-vivo study designs required to advance new technologies into clinical investigation and adoption.

For over 40 years, industry investigators have entrusted ESS to answer their most important research questions through rigorous and scientifically valid in vivo research studies.

Fields of Expertise
• Cardiac surgery
• Interventional cardiology
• Vascular surgery
• Cardiovascular imaging
• Organ transplantation
• Interventional radiology
• Neuromodulation
• Intrapartum / neonatal
• Trauma / critical care
• Orthopedics
• Drug development
• Animal model development

Comprehensive Support Through the Regulatory Pathway to Market Approval
ESS provides end-to-end study support for our research sponsors, at any phase in product development.

Services include:
• GLP - compliant studies
• In vivo protocol development
• Data collection, analysis and reporting
• Post-application support
• Regulatory strategy

Animal Models
Animal models as human surrogates:
• Ovine (sheep)
• Porcine (domestic & exotic)
• Rodents (rats & mice)
• Caprine (goats)
• Bovine (calves)
• Rabbits • Canine

Resources: Partnering with ESS gives you unparalleled access to the University of Minnesota Health Sciences research capabilities. From state of the art equipment to consultation with the highest regarded professionals in their field, ESS can utilize the resources of a world-class research university to meet your project needs.

Experimental Surgical Services celebrates 40 years of Advancing Health

Experimental Surgical Services: 40 Years of Excellence.

Housed within the Department of Surgery, ESS is the only public pre-clinical research center in the country, and is at the forefront of medical research, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the field of surgery by testing and perfecting medical devices and surgical techniques before they go to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for commercial approval.

Advancing medical technology and patient care through translational research

Complete rigorous and scientifically valid medical research studies using large and small animal models

Advancing the field of medical research using animals

Share and publish our use of animal models in the scientific literature

Educating future animal and human healthcare leaders

Create opportunities for learning and development of staff, undergraduates and professional students.

Tradition of Innovation

ESS is the birthplace of open heart surgery. Since that first procedure over sixty years ago, the faculty and staff of Experimental Surgical Services have worked to carry on the tradition of performing the highest quality research to meet the ever-changing needs of patients.

John P. Carney, PhD, MBA

Leadership and Faculty


John P. Carney, PhD, MBA,
Program Director & Assistant Professor 
Phone: 612-626-2599

Email: [email protected]


Mignon Finn, Administrative Director
Phone: 612-625-8930
Email: [email protected] 

Stefanie B. Yorek, ESS Program Office
Assistant to John Carney
Contact for appointment's and general inquiry
Phone: 612-625-4937
Email: [email protected]