Introducing Dr. Sara “Mimi” Gaines: 2025 Wylie Scholar Award Recipient
July 24, 2025
We are delighted to announce that Dr. Sara Gaines, MD, has been named the 2025 Wylie Scholar Award recipient. Dr. Gaines is an Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Section of Vascular Surgery and Associate Program Director of General Surgery at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Her innovative research is set to explore an intersection of vascular biology, kidney disease, and the gut microbiome.
Dr. Gaines’ project, “The role of microbial uremic toxins on the endothelial and smooth muscle cell regulation of neointimal formation in arteriovenous fistulas,” addresses a clinical challenge faced by patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who rely on dialysis for survival. In these patients, arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs), the surgically created blood vessel connections essential for dialysis, can fail due to complications, such as dysfunctional vascular remodeling. Dr. Gaines’ research seeks to uncover how gut microbiome imbalances and their byproducts, known as uremic toxins, contribute to this failure.
Dr. Gaines will investigate how these toxins disrupt the function of endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells, ultimately impairing AVF performance. Her study will also explore molecular pathways, such as endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition, that lead to vessel narrowing.
This research holds the potential to transform care for CKD patients by laying the groundwork to develop further microbiome-based therapies, such as targeted therapies, dietary interventions, or probiotics, to protect and improve the function of the arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs). Fewer fistula failures could mean less need for surgical repeat, reduced complications, and improved dialysis outcomes, ultimately enhancing patient quality of life.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Sara Gaines on this well-deserved recognition. To learn more about her work and the Wylie Scholar Award, visit the Wylie Scholar List.
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To learn more about Vascular Cures’ Patients as Partners Program, please visit: https://vascularcures.org/patients-as-partners/
Congrats to Dr. Sara Gaines on winning the 2025 Wylie Scholar Award—her vascular research sounds groundbreaking. By the way, if you need a quick brain break, check out open sea for brainrots!; it’s a fun browser game hub.
Congrats to Dr. Sara Gaines on the 2025 Wylie Scholar Award—her work on vascular biology sounds fascinating. Speaking of interesting discoveries, I just tried DoggyDoku and it’s a fun little puzzle game!
Congrats on Dr. Sara Gaines' win! Her research into kidney, gut, and blood vessels is mind‑blowing. It reminds me of the challenge in escape tsunami brairots, where you dodge waves while collecting plaques. Both need quick thinking and teamwork.
Congrats on Dr. Mimi Gaines' award! Her work on microbes and kidneys is super interesting. By the way, if you need a break, try meccha chameleon mobile it's a fun hide‑and‑seek game that I’ve been playing to relax after studying.
Congrats on Dr. Sara Gaines’ award—her work on microbes and kidneys sounds fascinating! I love how science can be as exciting as a game, so I’m taking a quick break to play stickman hook and 10 fun battles.