Gail E. Besner

Biography

 Dr. Besner received her undergraduate degree from Cornell University and her medical degree from the University of Cincinnati. She did her General Surgery Residency at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital and her Pediatric Surgery training at Buffalo Children’s Hospital. She completed her research training in the laboratory of Dr. Judah Folkman, during which time she discovered a new growth factor known as heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF). She participates actively on many national surgical and research committees. She previously served a four-year term as a member of the Surgery, Anesthesia and Trauma Study Section of the NIH, and a four-year term as a member of the National Advisory General Medical Council of the NIH.

Research Interest

 Her research focuses on identifying novel therapeutic strategies to protect the intestines from necrotizing enterocolitis including the use of probiotics, stem cells and a growth factors, as well as the production of tissue engineered intestine.