The Department of Surgery is pleased to congratulate two general surgery residents on receiving prestigious research fellowship awards from the Frederick A. Coller Surgical Society. Michael Fassler, M.D., and Maksymilian Pilecki, M.D., will each receive $10,000 grants to support their research and will obtain associate membership with the Coller Society.
The Coller Society was founded in 1947 in honor of Frederick A. Coller, M.D., chair of the University of Michigan Department of Surgery from 1930 to 1957 and a leading voice in the history of academic surgery. The society’s objective is to “perpetuate the ideals and philosophy exemplified by Dr. Coller in patient care, continuing surgical education, clinical and laboratory investigation and the perpetuation of friendships.”
Fassler and Pilecki will present their work at the next annual meeting of the society in the Fall 2027, at which time they will also be recognized as 2025 recipients of the fellowship award.
Read on for more information about the important work being done by these residents.
Fassler is a member of the University of Florida Aortic Aneurysm Research Laboratory.
“We study the molecular basis of abdominal aortic aneurysms, or AAAs, with the goal of identifying targeted treatments for AAA growth and development. We have been investigating PCSK9, an enzyme involved in lipid metabolism, and its role in aneurysm pathogenesis. The funding provided by the Coller Society will allow us to perform additional experiments to delineate the specific mechanisms through which PCSK9 inhibition attenuates AAA formation, as we believe it functions through various pathways beyond alterations in lipid metabolism.
“It’s a privilege to be selected as a Coller Society fellow, and I am thankful for the support and mentorship I have received from Dr. Upchurch and the rest of the department faculty throughout my time as a general surgery resident at the University of Florida.”
Pilecki is a doctoral student in the University of Florida Biomedical Sciences Program, as well as a general surgery resident.
“My current work focuses on pancreatic cancer tumor immunology and the epigenetic regulation of the tumor immune microenvironment. Specifically, this fellowship will support research investigating microRNA expression and its role in regulating the tumor microenvironment, with the goal of understanding how these mechanisms influence disease progression and treatment response of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
“This support will be instrumental in advancing my research at the intersection of surgery and cancer biology. I’m incredibly honored to receive the Coller Research Fellowship.”