The University of Minnesota and the Department of Surgery rank extremely high in the number and amount of research grants, according to the National Science Foundation. We receive several million dollars each fiscal year in sponsored research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), internal allocations, and private donations. The Department of Surgery currently ranks 9th in NIH research funding among all departments of surgery in the nation.
To name just one example, the Department has pursued intensive research for the past three decades under the auspices of the only NIH-sponsored program project grant in organ transplantation. This grant supports research in transplant immunology in animals and humans, with studies in xenotransplantation, pancreas and islet transplantation, basic transplant immunology, and comparison of various immunosuppressive regimens.
Although the clinical training of residents here is superb, it is the unique research experience offered to all that distinguishes our program from many if not most others. At the completion of the PGY-3 year, over 95% of our residents conduct independent, supervised research - without clinical responsibilities - for an intense period of 1 to 4 years.
