Labs at the MUSC Department of Surgery

Pages in this Section

Advancing Discovery Through Surgical Innovation

The Department of Surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina brings together a distinguished community of clinician-scientists leading pioneering research across disciplines that shape the future of surgical care. From transplantation immunobiology and cancer immunotherapy to vascular remodeling and regenerative science, our labs address some of medicine’s most pressing challenges with compassion, rigor, and innovation.

Faculty mentors and research teams provide trainees and postdoctoral fellows with access to cutting-edge technologies, translational models, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, preparing the next generation of scientists to transform surgical outcomes worldwide.

Exploring Immune Mechanisms in Organ Transplantation

The Allen Lab studies ischemia-reperfusion injury and immune mechanisms in organ transplantation. The team unites basic scientists and clinicians to develop cell-based therapies and improve transplant outcomes.

Explore the Allen Lab

Innovating Pancreatic Cancer Therapies

The Hawkins Lab focuses on developing and testing novel therapeutic strategies for pancreatic adenocarcinoma through interdisciplinary collaboration and translational research that improves patient survival.

Explore the Hawkins Lab

Understanding Vascular Remodeling in Disease

Dr. Jones and his team investigate the molecular mechanisms that drive thoracic aortic aneurysm development, uncovering how altered TGF-β signaling and matrix remodeling contribute to vascular disease progression.

Explore the Jones Lab

Targeting Tumor Growth & Angiogenesis

The Klauber-DeMore Lab leads pioneering studies on tumor angiogenesis and drug development for breast and bone cancers. Current projects include new therapeutics and natural product trials aimed at creating less toxic treatment options.

Explore the Klauber-DeMore Lab

Enhancing T Cell Therapies for Cancer

The Mehrotra Lab studies how T cell metabolism can be reprogrammed to enhance immunotherapy. Ongoing trials explore metabolically optimized CAR-T cells and combination therapies to achieve long-term tumor control.

Explore the Mehrotra Lab

Transforming Diabetes Treatment Through Islet Research

The Wang Lab investigates novel therapies for type 1 and type 2 diabetes, including generating insulin-secreting cells from stem cells, protecting islets from apoptosis, and developing encapsulation methods to improve transplant outcomes.

Explore the Wang Lab