Research Syposium

Alan Flake, MD, FACS, FAAP
Ruth M. and Tristram C. Colket, Jr. Endowed Chair in Pediatric Surgery at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Co-Director of CHOP’s Center for Fetal Research
Professor of Surgery and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
 

Dr. Flake is an attending surgeon in the Division of Pediatric General, Thoracic and Fetal Surgery and holds the Ruth M. and Tristram C. Colket, Jr. Endowed Chair in Pediatric Surgery at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He serves as co-director of CHOP’s Center for Fetal Research and is a professor of Surgery and Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Flake’s research focuses on prenatal treatments, including fetal surgical repair of anatomic anomalies and pioneering advancements in prenatal stem cell and gene therapy. He has played a key role in developing models for in utero transplantation and investigating surgical approaches for congenital malformations. His work has contributed to multiple clinical trials, including those comparing prenatal and postnatal repairs of congenital diaphragmatic hernia and myelomeningocele. As a surgeon at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, he is actively involved in major research initiatives, including the Biliary Atresia Research Consortium and the NICHD/Neonatal Research Network NEST trial.

A leader in fetal surgery and regenerative medicine, Dr. Flake was the first to explore in utero stem cell transplantation (IUSCT) for treating hematopoietic and genetic disorders, demonstrating its potential to establish clinically significant hematopoietic chimerism. He continues to refine this approach with a goal of prenatal treatment for hemoglobinopathies. His research also extends to in utero gene therapy, where he has evaluated vector tropisms and therapeutic efficacy in disease models. Recognized for his extensive contributions to fetal surgery, Dr. Flake has been instrumental in advancing prenatal repair techniques, particularly for congenital diaphragmatic hernia, myelomeningocele, and sacrococcygeal teratoma, significantly influencing the field’s clinical applications.

Kellen Chen, PhD
Assistant Research Professor, Surgery (Research Series)

Dr. Kellen Chen is an assistant research professor in the Department of Surgery and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Arizona, College of Medicine – Tucson. He completed his postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University and holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Virginia and a B.S. from UC Berkeley. Chen co-directs the lab of Geoffrey Gurtner, MD, where he investigates therapies to enhance healing after injury, skin grafting, chronic wounds, and biomedical device implantation. His research focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of fibrosis and regeneration across organ systems, with ongoing work on FDA approval for a clinical trial exploring pharmacological approaches to accelerate deep dermal wound healing.

Chen has co-authored over 35 peer-reviewed publications and three book chapters, with first-author work in prestigious journals like Science Translational Medicine, Nature Communications, and PNAS. His accolades include the First Place Young Investigator’s Award from the Wound Healing Society and the Bernard G. Sarnat Excellence in Grant Writing Award from the Plastic Surgery Foundation. Additionally, he serves as a guest editor for several journals and is an active member of professional organizations, including the Wound Healing Society and the Biomedical Engineering Society.

Klearchos Papas, PhD
Member of Graduate Faculty
Professor, Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences
Professor, BIO5 Institute Professor, Medical Imaging - (Research Scholar Track)
Professor, Surgery
Professor, Physiological Sciences - GIDP

Dr. Klearchos Papas, Director of the Institute for Cellular Transplantation, has dedicated his research to applying engineering principles and developing innovative technologies in cell therapy and tissue engineering, with a primary focus on diabetes treatment. His work explores the properties of insulin-secreting tissue to enhance the viability, function, and effectiveness of cell-based therapies. By improving cost-effectiveness and availability, he aims to advance clinical outcomes for diabetes patients. His research has led to the development of real-time assessment tools, such as oxygen consumption rate (OCR) assays, to evaluate islet cell quality before transplantation—an approach validated in both animal models and human clinical trials.

A key area of Dr. Papas’ research involves optimizing the islet transplantation process, including pancreas preservation, islet isolation, and engraftment, to improve transplant success. He is also working on novel organ preservation techniques to extend the viability of donor organs. Currently, his NIH- and JDRF-funded research focuses on enhancing β-cell transplantation to treat diabetes without immunosuppression. He has developed a miniaturized, implantable oxygenation device to support beta-cell function, reducing the size of traditional immunoisolation devices while improving cell survival and glucose responsiveness. If successfully translated to clinical use, his work could significantly lower costs, increase accessibility, and improve long-term outcomes for diabetes treatment.

Taylor Riall, MD, PhD, FACS
Member of Graduate Faculty
Division Chief, Surgical Oncology
Associate Director, Cancer Services - Cancer Center 
Professor, Surgery
Co-Director, Oncology Service Line

Riall is a professor in the Department of Surgery, associate director of the University of Arizona Cancer Center, and co-director of the Oncology Service Line at Banner – University Medical Center Tucson. She specializes in pancreaticobiliary surgery, managing conditions such as pancreatic and periampullary cancer, pancreatitis, gallstone disease, and gastrointestinal cancers. She is a leading surgeon in her field, personally performing nearly half of the 90-100 pancreatic resections conducted annually at the University of Arizona Cancer Center.

Riall’s research has made significant contributions to pancreatic and periampullary cancer, spanning basic science, clinical trials, and population-based studies. She has published extensively on pancreatic cancer care quality, surgical treatment patterns, and patient outcomes, establishing herself as a nationally recognized expert with over 180 publications. Beyond surgery and research, she is a former president of the Society of University Surgeons and has held leadership roles in multiple professional organizations. Additionally, as a certified executive leadership coach, she mentors surgeons and residents, helping them develop emotional intelligence, set goals, and integrate personal and professional growth to reach their full potential.