News & Events

Then post-graduate student Eric Nakakura, M.D., Ph.D.,  working in the lab of Johns' Hopkins cancer biologist Barry Nelkin, was struck by how the migration of neurological cells to form the developing brain bore an uncanny similarly to the inexorable migration of invasive cells to distant sites in cancer metastasis. Today, the insight of Dr. Nakakura, now an Assistant Professor in Division of General Surgery and Surgical Oncology Program, forged with  postdoctoral fellow Chris Strock, has led to the discovery that an enzyme known as CDK5 and a pathway, RAL, play key roles in the ability of [...]

The UCSF Center for Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration, led by Valerie Weaver, PhD, Professor of Surgery, moves into newly renovated lab space. This new, fully equipped lab facility provides an ideal environment for UCSF researchers to carry out the center's initiative to better understand cancer and therefore improve prognoses for cancer patients. View the Lab Website

UCSF colorectal surgeons  offer a minimally invasive procedure called Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery (TEM) for removal of rectal tumors including early stage rectal cancers.TEM is available only at a select group of instiutions nationwide. Previously, surgery to remove rectal tumors always required an abdominal incision. Now with TEM, certain types of early stage rectal cancers or benign rectal polyps may be removed using a minimally invasive procedure requiring no surgical incision. TEM is performed through the rectum with specially designed microsurgical instruments which can remove [...]

M. Margaret Knudson, MD, FACS  (center) was awarded the 2010 National Safety Council Surgeon's Award for Service to Safety at the Trauma Reception at the AAST Annual Meeting in Boston, MA. for her visionary leadership in injury prevention and control, and lifelong commitment to the care of injured patients that has saved countless lives." The award was presented by L.D. Britt, MD, FACS, ACS President and President of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (left) and Michael F. Rotondo, MD, FACS, Chair, Committee on Trauma.

Point Break LIVE! - a stage adaptation of the 1992 cult classic film starring Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze, held its last San Francisco engagement on Saturday, July 31st. As a tribute to Patrick Swayze, who died of pancreatic cancer last year, donations were collected to benefit the work of Kimberly Kirkwood, M.D. (left) a pancreatic surgeon and investigator in the UCSF Division of General Surgery. Our thanks go out to the cast and crew of this raucous and uproarious show for their generosity -- and for helping to raise awareness about this terrible disease. Producer Jason Whalen presents [...]

The Department of Surgery's Scientific Publications Manager, Pamela Derish, M.A.,  has coauthored a paper on how to write scientific papers for many high-impact basic research journals, such as Nature, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal of Clinical Investigation, and Journal of Cell Biology.  The format for papers published in these journals differs from the traditionally used format by having the Results section, rather than the Methods section, immediately follow the Introduction. 

Take Steps for Crohn's & Colitis is an evening walk and fundraiser supporting the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. Team UCSF, led by the Section of Colorectal Surgery's nurse practitioner Lois Anne Indorf, placed second, raising over $7,500. Chief of the Section, Madhulika Varma, M.D., pictured left, also attended with friends and family. Funds raised will support CCFA's research efforts into better therapies and cures to improve the lives of people with colorectal conditions.

Felsen, a classic and Indie rock band founded by drummer Andrew Griffin, Luce, Jesse Brewster and Brad Brooks held a benefit concert on Thursday, July 15th at 8 p.m at San Francisco's Red Devil Lounge. Proceeds from this exciting evening of music and dancing supported the research of the UCSF GI Oncology Research Program, led by Robert S. Warren, MD and Alan P. Venook, MD, research seeking to discover new and potentially curative treatments for gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. Andrew Griffin recently appeared on KFOG's Local Scene to promote this benefit concert.  The GI Oncology Program [...]

SFGate, the sister-site of the San Francisco Chronicle, reports on a new study that suggests that the city could not only save millions, but also improve the quality of life for some of the city's neediest residents: Facing a $522 million budget deficit, San Francisco needs to look at every possible way to save money. A new study from the San Francisco Injury Center points to one place that could not only save millions, but also improve the quality of life for some of the city's neediest residents.The issue is pedestrian safety. San Francisco is routinely cited as having the highest rate [...]

Weaver and colleagues showed that collagen crosslinking drives tumor progression. The report established a correlation between collagen crosslinking and extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness in mouse models and implicates the ECM-crosslinking enzyme lysyl oxidase (LOX) as a culprit driving stiffness-associated tumor progression. This article has been highlighted in the journals Cancer Cell and in Nature.

UCSF celebrated the life and legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., with a series of events  beginning January 15th. At the Awards Ceremony in Cole Hall, Dr. Andre Campbell was one of several individuals  recognized for extraordinary leadership in promoting and advancing mutual respect, understanding and appreciation for all types of diversity at UCSF.

UCSF researchers, led by Doug Hanahan, Ph.D., have identified collections of tiny molecules known as microRNAs that affect distinct processes critical for cancer progression. The findings help elucidate the important regulatory function of microRNAs in tumor biology.  Eric Nakakura, M.D., Ph.D. (pictured), a surgeon-scientist who treats patients with challenging pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, was on the team that validated the findings, which were based on an exquisite mouse model of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Many of the same altered microRNAs in were found to be present in human [...]

The National Institutes of Health awarded Valerie Weaver, PhD, Director of the UCSF Center for Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration and her colleagues a grant for the establishment of a virtual Physical Sciences - Oncology Center for the development of novel approaches to cancer diagnostics, prognosis and therapy.  The collaboration is led by Dr. Weaver, and Jan Liphardt, PhD, a world-renowned physicist at the UC Berkeley. The group encompasses the disciplines of physics, bioengineering and bioinformatics, and clinical and biological sciences spanning leading institutions including: UCSF [...]

Stanley J. Rogers, M.D., an Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery at UCSF, has been named Surgical Director of the Bariatric Surgery Program and Chief of Minimally Invasive Surgery in the Division of General Surgery. Dr. Rogers received his M.D. from the University of Utah School of Medicine and did his post-doctoral surgical training at UCSF including his residency, and a fellowship in laparoscopic surgery, surgical sonography and GI endoscopy.

The San Francisco Chronicle recently profiled UCSF breastcare surgeon Dr. Laura Esserman,  There is no starched white lab coat for Dr. Laura Esserman. Instead, the tall and striking breast cancer researcher, surgeon and visionary favors colorful clothes, high heels and, on a recent day, metallic blue nail polish. Before she operates, just as the general anesthetic is being administered, Esserman sings the patient's requested song. A talented musician with a voice for opera, Esserman delivers songs as varied as "Don't You Fret" from "Les Miserables" to the Sarah Palin rap from "Saturday [...]

For now, the only possible route to outliving pancreas cancer is complete removal of the tumor via surgery. Surgery for pancreas cancer is long and demanding, and surgeons must be practiced to consistently perform it well. Pancreas cancer surgery outcomes are better at high-volume, major medical centers such as UCSF, where surgeons can specialize - perfecting and maintaining skills and deepening their experience and judgment. UCSF surgeons Kimberly Kirkwood, M.D., and Eric Nakakura, M.D., Ph.D., remove a large number of pancreas tumors each year. They generally achieve excellent outcomes for [...]

Take Steps for Crohn's & Colitis is an evening walk and fundraiser supporting the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. .......The UCSF team raised over $3,500 for CCFA - dollars that will support important research and our shared mission to improve the lives of people with colorectal conditions.......

"Surgeons at UCSF have taken a major step down the path toward less invasive procedures, performing San Francisco's first gallbladder removal using only a single, small incision hidden within the navel. The procedure, which took place in May, is a significant advance in the field of minimally invasive surgery, said UCSF gastrointestinal surgeon Jonathan Carter, MD, who led the surgical team........."

Pancreatic cancer can be a terrifying diagnosis. Dr. Kimberly Kirkwood, a Professor of Surgery at UCSF, was invited by the web portal, Patient Power, to discuss the latest diagnostic tools and  treatments for extending the lives of those diagnosed with this disease. Dr. Kirkwood is a pancreatic cancer specialist and gastrointestinal surgeon who specializes in the treatment of pancreatic cancer as well as tumors of the stomach, spleen, gallbladder, bile duct and gastrointestinal tract. 

The Department of Surgery at UCSF is pleased to announce the appointment of Madhulika G. Varma M.D. as Chief of the Section of Colorectal Surgery, Division of General Surgery. Dr. Varma specializes in the surgical treatment of diseases of the colon, rectum and anus. Dr. Varma is also director of the UCSF Center for Pelvic Physiology.  As chief, Dr. Varma will continue to recruit top faculty and develop the colorectal fellowship program, building its clinical, research and education programs to a world-renowned level.