Research

While we are a clinical department within the U-M Medical School, the Department of Internal Medicine is also home to more than 130 basic, translational, and clinical research faculty members. Spread across 13 divisions, our research community successfully competes for funding from national agencies, foundations, and industry sponsored projects. Our scientists are dedicated to identifying and implementing real solutions to redefine how we practice medicine. We understand that great science can dramatically transform the lives of our patients here in Michigan and beyond.      

LEADERSHIP

Vibha Lama, MD, MS - Vice Chair, Basic and Translational Research
Rodica Pop-Busui, MD, PhD - Vice Chair, Clinical Research

BY THE NUMBERS

U-M, which has ranked No. 1 in research volume among the nation’s public universities for the past nine years, reported $1.62 billion in research expenditures during 2019. Among U-M units the Medical School ranked No. 1 in research expenditures, with $690 million. More than a third of that funding comes from the work of internal medicine faculty. In 2019, the Department of Internal Medicine competed for and obtained $198 million in research support and published more than 2,200 research publications.

COVID-19 RELATED RESEARCH

Department of Internal Medicine researchers across our specialties are conducting COVID-19 research to learn more about the disease and to develop improved and more personalized treatment methods. The below articles highlight some of their work.
 

COVID-19 Antibody Tests, Even Rapid Finger Pricks, Are Effective, New Study Finds

Charles Schuler, IV, MD; James Baldwin, MD; and James Baker, Jr, MD find that antibody testing is predictive of prior COVID-19 infection, and rapid screening methods, even from finger pricks, are effective testing tools. Read more.

From Collaboration to Validation: How a Multidisciplinary Team Evaluated One of the Most Widely Implemented Predictive Models

Karandeep Singh, MD, MMSc and Thomas Valley, MD, MSc collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of U-M researchers to study how well EDI actually worked in predicting which COVID patients were at highest risk for deteriorating and requiring ICU-level care. Read more.

The Non-Veteran Experience at VA Hospitals

Ashwin Gupta, MD and team find that patients admitted to VA systems during the pandemic’s surge had overwhelming positive experiences. Read more.

Subset of COVID-19 Patients Have Increased Bleeding Risk

A multidisciplinary team of Michigan Medicine researchers identify a potential clinical biomarker for high bleeding risk and poorer outcomes in COVID-19. Read more.

County by County, Study Shows Social Inequality in COVID-19’s Toll

Renuka (Renu) Tipirneni, MD, MSc finds that the higher a county’s score on a national index of social vulnerability, the more cases and deaths per 100,000 – highlighting the role of social factors in spread. Read more.

COVID-19 Deaths Really Are Different. But Best Practices for ICU Care Should Still Apply

Michigan Medicine researchers examine the specific cause of death in critically ill coronavirus patients to find that the kind of care needed to help sustain people through the worst cases of all forms of lung failure is highly similar. It just needs to be fine-tuned to focus on the damage COVID-19 does to the lungs. Read more.

RESEARCH AREAS, CENTERS, SYMPOSIUM & HISTORY

Learn more below about the research being conducted across our 13 divisions, our research centers, our annual research symposium, and our rich research history.

Allergy and Immunology
Cardiovascular Medicine
Gastroenterology and Hepatology
General Medicine
Genetic Medicine
Geriatric and Palliative Medicine
Hematology and Oncology
Hospital Medicine
Infectious Diseases
Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes
Nephrology
Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Rheumatology
RESEARCH CENTERS
RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM
RESEARCH HISTORY

MICHIGAN MEDICINE - A RESEARCH POWERHOUSE

U-M researchers have access to robust services, equipment, testing, and technologies. Whether you are engaged in basic science research or clinical trials, U-M provides the support you need:

MICHIGAN RESEARCH EXPERTS

Michigan Research Experts is a searchable database of research expertise across the University of Michigan, developed by the Medical School Office of Research and custom-tailored for our research community to foster collaboration on campus and around the world.

Basic / Translational Research (internal link)
Clinical Research (internal link)
Research Centers (internal link)
Research Symposium (internal link)
Research History (internal link)