Department of Surgery Research Division

Leading Surgical Research Through Innovation, Education, and Excellence in Translational Science

We strive to promote expansion and facilitate execution of clinical and translational research in the Department of Surgery, while enhancing faculty and student development and improving quality of patient care. Our goals are to: provide formalized research education for faculty and student investigators; develop a structured student research internship program; facilitate collaborations between clinical and basic science faculty; initiate active trials in all subspecialty areas in the department; and continue to increase external research funding

The research interests of our faculty are broad, ranging from new drug and device trials to microbial pathogenesis. Wound infection has long been a focus of interest and has developed into the formation of two Centers of Research Excellence: the Burn Center of Research Excellence (BCoRE) and the The Rumbaugh Lab. We are extremely proud of our faculty, residents and students who regularly publish, present and win awards for their research activities.

Academic Research

Our institution offers students the opportunity to explore meaningful scientific questions while working alongside a Principal Investigator (PI) whose expertise aligns with their interests. We encourage prospective researchers to begin by identifying a PI whose work inspires them, using our faculty directory to learn more about ongoing projects and mentorship opportunities. Students can also strengthen their professional development by joining the American College of Surgeons, which offers valuable resources, networking, and early exposure to the surgical research community.

Surgery Research

Explore how our long-standing commitment to burns and wounds research—driven by multidisciplinary collaboration, student and faculty engagement, and nationally recognized scientific achievement—has led to the development of a designated Center of Excellence at TTUHSC. Learn more about our impactful work and ongoing innovations in burn care and translational research.

Burn Center of Research Excellence (BCoRE)

Discover how our wound infection research program—built on more than two decades of pioneering work in bacterial pathogenesis, biofilms, and polymicrobial interactions—continues to advance new therapeutic approaches and support clinical trial development. Learn more about our innovative research and its impact on improving outcomes for patients with acute and chronic wound infections.

The Rumbaugh Lab

TTUHSC Research

Learn how the research enterprise at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC)—through the Office of Research and Innovation and the Clinical Research Institute—advances discovery, supports investigators across all schools, and drives clinical research that improves health care in Texas and beyond.

• The Office of Research and Innovation
• Clinical Research Institute (CRI)