Research, both basic and clinical, is a major activity in the Department of Pathology. Currently, Department of Pathology faculty members have over 3.6 million dollars in grants annually. Collaborative research opportunities are available with researchers within Arizona Arthritis Center, Arizona Cancer Center, Arizona Respiratory Center, Steele Children Research Center, and The Sarver Heart Center. 

Pathology residents are not required to perform research or publish a research paper during their residency.  However, nearly all residents engage in some research, either basic or clinical, and virtually all residents will have one or several publications by the completion of their residency.  Their choices in carrying out a research project are quite diverse.  While many opportunities are present within the Department of Pathology or the Cancer Center, other opportunities exist at the Tucson Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center and with other clinical or basic science departments in the Arizona Health Sciences Center. Those residents contemplating an academic career may tailor their fourth year to include research with internal or external grant funding.

Department of Pathology researchers and their major research interests are summarized here.  Margaret M. Briehl, Ph.D., has a research interest in the role of oxidative stress in cancer development.  Mark A. Nelson, Ph.D., studies the role of inflammation in epithelial tumor growth and transformation.  Naomi E. Rance, M.D., Ph.D. is an expert on neuroendocrinology and hormonal receptors in the central nervous system. Dr. Lisa Rimsza is widely recognized for her work on lymphoma.  Dr. Donna Wolk’s research focuses on molecular diagnosis, epidemiology, and pathogenesis of infectious disease/public health threats.

A number of faculty members have research interests in various organ systems. Richard Sobonya, M.D has special interests in obstructive lung disease, residency training, and respiratory cytology; Achyut Bhattacharyya, M.D., is a major interest in GI cancers. Catherine M. Spier, M.D has a major research interest in the phenotypic characteristics of hematopoietic malignancies by flow cytology. Dr. Wenzin Zheng is interested in GU cancers.