Medical Research

At the Kabara Cancer Research Institute, Dr. Paraic Kenny’s team studies precision oncology approaches in breast and lung cancer, while Dr. Karen Cowden Dahl’s team focuses on understanding treatment resistant gynecological cancers. Our community supports ongoing research efforts in many ways, including Gundersen Medical Foundation’s annual Steppin’ Out in Pink walk.

Research done at Gundersen must meet stringent standards. The Human Subjects Committee/Institutional Review Board approves research that involves patients or experimental treatment before it begins. Some research projects need full review by the HSC and Research Committee. No other group can overturn the decision of the Research Committee or the HSC if a proposal or request is disapproved. Researchers must disclose financial relationships with research funders for integrity.

We encourage our nurses to pursue evidence-based research opportunities. Our Nursing Research department help our nurses, faculty and students develop their research projects presented annually to Gundersen staff. Gundersen’s Medical Journal may feature their findings.

The A.C.V. Elston III, MD, Summer Research Fellowship program grants 12 endowed fellowships to students pursuing a career in healthcare. Some are reserved for projects in a specialty (Nursing, Cardiology, Surgery and Pediatric Oncology), while others are open to research in any area of health-related scientific inquiry.

Apply for the student summer research fellowship

Apply for the nursing student summer research fellowship

The Gundersen Foundation Biobank is a tissue repository of biospecimens from more than 20,000 cancer patients. Each biospecimen is linked to de-identified pathology and clinical reports. Biospecimens are available to collaborating academic scientists at no cost and to industrial partners for a fee.