Laboratory of Paula A. Ugalde Figueroa, MD
Overview
The lab’s research focuses on clinical outcomes, surgical innovation, and perioperative management in thoracic surgical oncology. Projects include studies on novel techniques for minimally invasive thoracic surgery, segmentectomy outcomes, lymph node dissection quality, recurrence patterns, and complications following thoracic surgery, often through multi-institutional collaborations and large prospective databases.
Research Projects
Clinical Outcomes and Surgical Innovation in Thoracic Oncology
The laboratory conducts a comprehensive program of clinical studies focused on optimizing surgical management and outcomes in lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies. Current projects investigate long-term complications after lung resection, comparative effectiveness of surgical approaches such as uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery versus robotic-assisted surgery, and outcomes following neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy.
Additional areas of study include segmentectomy outcomes, three-dimensional CT-based surgical planning, lymph node dissection quality, and recurrence patterns in thoracic malignancies. The group also explores perioperative risk factors, imaging-based complications, and quality metrics in oncologic resections.
Ongoing multi-institutional collaborations and database-driven analyses aim to generate high-impact evidence to guide clinical decision-making, refine staging and prognostic models, and improve patient-centered outcomes in thoracic oncology.
Publications
Open Positions
Job Title: Research Trainee-EW
General Summary
Our lab is seeking highly motivated current medical students to join the clinical research team. The student will contribute to ongoing projects evaluating the quality of care for patients with lung cancer and esophageal cancer.
Working closely with an academic thoracic surgeon and a research team, the student will develop skills to participate in retrospective single-center study collecting and curating clinical data from electronic medical records (if applicable), collaborating with statisticians, and ultimately contribute with manuscript drafting. This onsite unpaid research position offers hands-on experience in clinical outcomes research, exposure to thoracic oncology, opportunities for abstract submission and manuscript co-authorship when appropriate, and the chance to develop skills in teamwork, scientific writing, and critical appraisal of the literature.
Qualifications
- Current medical student in good academic standing.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Interest in clinical research.
- Ability to collaborate effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Availability to work onsite.
To Apply
Interested students can submit a brief statement of interest and a CV to Stephanie Korle, PhD - skorle@mgb.org.