
Kevin Bohannon, Ph.D.
Biological Chemistry
Michigan Experts Profile
"As an inaugural member of the Research Scouts, I'm looking forward to having an extra incentive to listen for bold, emerging concepts in our great seminar and research-in-progress series here at Michigan Medicine. I'm a microscopy expert that's always on the lookout for new technical and biological ideas in imaging but I have wide interests in cell biology, microbiology and immunology, and pharmacology. It's exciting that being a Research Scout will allow me to help my colleagues explore advances in the basic sciences that help us understand the cellular basis of disease."

Lorraine Buis, Ph.D., M.S.I.
Family Medicine
Michigan Experts Profile
"I’m excited to serve as a Research Scout and help to identify early-stage, innovative, and potentially high impact research. Supporting good ideas and passionate investigators to get to a position where they are ready to be competitive for major research awards is exciting. I’m looking forward to meeting new people across the university and learning more about the awesome work that’s happening across campus."

John DeLancey, M.D.
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Michigan Experts Profile
"U-M has long been a launching pad for junior faulty with unusual ideas who need a collaborative environment in which to pursue ideas whose importance has not yet been recognized. The Scout program is an exciting effort to help these early investigators with novel ideas prove the worth of their vision. I’m excited to be a part of this effort."

Ivo Dinov, Ph.D.
Computational Medicine & Bioinformatics
Michigan Experts Profile
SOCR
"My areas of interest are at the interface of mathematical modeling, statistical computing, data science, health analytics, and biomedical applications, and I believe that some unorthodox ideas are bound to radically change healthcare practice. I have a deep appreciation of the potential healthcare impact of innovations capitalizing on the University of Michigan’s unique and dynamic research ecosystem."

Sarah Hawley, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Internal Medicine: General Medicine
Michigan Experts Profile
"I'm thrilled to be a Research Scout, as it will provide the opportunity to identify, develop and promote the work of the outstanding faculty at UM. With my co-scout and long-term colleague, Dr. Megan Haymart, we are excited to build upon our work with the Patients First Innovation Initiative to support exciting and innovative research at UM."

Megan Haymart, M.D.
Internal Medicine: Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetes
Michigan Experts Profile
ThyCARE
"I'm excited to be a Research Scout because it is an opportunity to help promote and highlight the work of U-M's talented, creative faculty. I look forward to working with my long-time colleague, Dr. Hawley, as we try to identify and support innovative research."

Jorge Iñiguez-Lluhi, Ph.D.
Pharmacology
Michigan Experts Profile
"I look forward to scouting across our campus for novel ideas that can spark innovation and interaction, especially at the interface of disciplines, where bright areas of progress often emerge. It will be fun to engage with the diverse members of our research community and catalyze impactful science."

Frederick Korley, M.D., Ph.D.
Emergency Medicine
Michigan Experts Profile
"I am excited about the opportunity to help identify compelling research ideas in their nascent stage and help catalyze their ultimate transformation into solutions that may improve human health and well-being. So many bold ideas go unstudied because traditional funding opportunities find them risky. I am excited about the opportunity to look for the novel and risky!"

Joanna Kountanis, M.D.
Anesthesiology
Michigan Experts Profile
"I am thrilled to be a Research Scout and identify hidden research opportunities. In the past, I was fortunate enough to have my own exploratory project receive seed money, which led to future funding. I am looking forward to supporting a novel research idea in the same capacity."

Andrew Lieberman, M.D., Ph.D.
Pathology
Michigan Experts Profile
Lieberman Lab
"I'm excited about the opportunity to help catalyze new ideas and foster new scientific connections."

Njira Lugogo, M.D.
Internal Medicine: Pulmonary/Critical Care
Michigan Experts Profile
MI Asthma Research
"Being a research scout affords me the opportunity to invest in ideas that are high risk and have immense potential. Diverse experiences inform new ways of thinking and contribute to the richness of scientific discovery. I am excited about playing a small part in catalyzing new ideas."

Michael McKee, M.D., M.P.H.
Family Medicine
Michigan Experts Profile
"I am most excited about the opportunity to support my colleagues' ideas that are both community-supported and focused on addressing the accessibility and quality of health care for those with disabilities."

Venkatesh Murthy, M.D., Ph.D.
Internal Medicine: Cardiovascular Medicine
Michigan Experts Profile
"I’m honored to be a part of the Research Scout program and am looking forward to the chance to catalyze innovative science. My areas of interest are applications of quantitative approaches to cardiometabolic disease, advanced imaging and multiomic integration methods.”

Daniel Myers, D.V.M., M.P.H. & D.A.C.L.A.M.
Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, Vascular Surgery
Michigan Experts Profile
Myers Lab
"As a Research Scout, I am excited about the opportunity to identify and invest in early-stage investigators' bold scientific visons. I would actively look for investigators that develop unique research models for benchtop or translational research applications that expand our knowledge."

Nithya Ramnath, M.B.B.S.
Internal Medicine: Hematology/Oncology
Michigan Experts Profile
"In recent years, interdisciplinary science has taken off in new ways, intersecting with the field of Medicine in previously unimaginable ways. Particularly in cancer, new knowledge derived from deep sequencing of single cells, multi-omics platforms, and computational advances allow us an unprecedented window into cancer biology that is informing the entire spectrum, from early detection to precision oncology. I am excited to be nominated as a Scout, to discover some of the scientific breadth the University of Michigan offers in this new age."

Alvaro Rojas-Peña, M.D.
Surgery
Michigan Experts Profile
"A scout in research has a similar role to a 'scout in war' who needs to evaluate the terrain, skills, assets, and allies to identify the problems to defeat the enemy and 'win the war' or help a bold idea to triumph. Having the opportunity to seek out and test a worthy idea that may solve unsolved clinical problems is a fascinating and compelling challenge that also provides a unique mentorship opportunity."

Simpa Salami, M.B.B.S., M.P.H.
Urology
Michigan Experts Profile
Rogel Cancer Center Scout
"As a urologic surgeon-scientist with a translation cancer research laboratory focused on biomarker discovery, I have mentored graduate students, residents, fellows, and junior faculty. Thus, I am in vantage position to scout for, identify, and invest in risings stars in the field of medicine, with creative and innovative thinking, that can engage in high risk, high reward projects that advance the field. I am honored and delighted to serve as a research scout for the medical school."

Charles Schuler, M.D.
Internal Medicine: Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Food Allergy Center Scout
Michigan Experts Profile
"I love the earliest phase of research, when the kernel of an idea forms. Being named a Research Scout presents me the opportunity to engage my colleagues at that early time when a little funding, some key data, and a lot of hard work determine whether a good idea takes root. I cannot wait to support the continuous renewal of our research enterprise by finding a few good ideas to help grow into full-fledged, productive projects."

Peter Scott, Ph.D.
Radiology
Michigan Experts Profile
"50 years after the all-Wolverine Apollo 15 crew, it's time for a 'Mars shot' that will pave the way for the future of research at Michigan Medicine. As a Research Scout, I will fund faculty who are intense and passionate about their work, and whose ideas have the potential to realize Michigan Medicine's equivalent of a mission to Mars."

Geoffrey Siwo, Ph.D.
Internal Medicine: Gastroenterology
Michigan Experts Profile
Siwo Research
"Many ideas that changed the world sounded crazy at first. Being a Research Scout gives me the opportunity to invest in bold ideas and creative minds that few would give a chance. I hope it unleashes the creativity of our faculty at Michigan Medicine."

Peter Todd, M.D., Ph.D.
Neurology
Michigan Experts Profile
Todd Lab
"I love the idea of giving a little push to out-of-the box concepts and truly novel thinking. These 'Loonshots' too often get ignored- even by the people producing them- because they don’t fit neatly into the mold of our expectations. Real advances happen when we break the mold and think about the world in a different way."

Matthias Truttmann, Ph.D.
Molecular & Integrative Physiology
Taubman Institute Scout
Michigan Experts Profile
Truttman Lab
"My goal as a research scout is to identify, support, and thus showcase high-potential research that has so-far flown under the radar. I'm particularly interested in learning more about research projects that involve cross-discipline collaborative aspects, may seem impossible, and/or are led by research faculty colleagues."

Susan Woolford, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.P
Pediatrics
Michigan Experts Profile
“Being a Research Scout is a super opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children who receive care at UM and beyond. I am particularly interested in advancing novel research that promotes health equity in pediatrics.”

Bing Ye, Ph.D.
Cell and Developmental Biology
Ye Lab
"I’m excited because this is an innovative program that will identify and support disruptive research in the university. Such research projects usually start small and often lack conventional funding support. Research Scouts aims to support them so they can grow into big projects."