Research in the Bhora Lab

Bioengineered Tracheal Grafts: Dr. Bhora's team was the first to successfully replace a long segment of the anterior trachea with a customized bioengineered graft in an animal model, achieving success in 12 animals. The graft, designed using 3D prototyping, combined extracellular matrix (ECM), polycaprolactone (PCL), and human mesenchymal stem cells. This work has been presented at major thoracic surgical meetings and published in leading journals.

Clinical Management and Genetic Profiling of Tracheal Stenosis: Dr. Bhora has pioneered the use of spray cryotherapy as an adjunct to balloon dilation for tracheal stenosis, offering a minimally invasive treatment that helps maintain airway patency for longer. His current research focuses on the genetic factors contributing to treatment-resistant stenosis in certain patients.

Outcomes in Robotic Thoracic Surgery: Dr. Bhora's research utilizes large national databases like NCDB and SEER to study predictors of perioperative outcomes in minimally invasive thoracic oncologic procedures.

Airway Stenting: In a landmark 2010 study published in Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Dr. Bhora demonstrated that timely airway stenting improves survival in patients with malignant central airway obstruction, leading to significant changes in clinical management. He also showed that metal stents do not affect radiation therapy, allowing for more effective treatment.

Medical Device Innovation: Identifying a need for safe airway access during surgery without intubation, Dr. Bhora co-invented a device that provides direct oxygen delivery to the trachea. Developed in partnership with Merit Medical Systems, this device became available on the market within a year.

Thymic Tumor Lymph Node Map Proposal: Dr. Bhora led the development of the first-ever lymph node map for thymic epithelial tumors, which will be included in the 8th edition of the TNM staging system for thymic malignancies. This proposal, supported by ITMIG and IASLC, aims to improve staging and treatment protocols for thymic cancer.

Selected Publications

1. Bhora FY, Al-Ayoubi AM, Bogis A, Barsky M, Todd G, Karpeh M, Connery C, Belsley S. Robotic-Assisted Surgery: Proposed Credentialing Guidelines. 2014 ISMICS Annual Scientific Meeting.
2. Al-Ayoubi AM, Rehmani SS, Sinclair CF, Lebovics RS, Bhora FY. Reconstruction of anterior tracheal defects using a bioengineered graft in a porcine model. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 2017;103(2):381-9.
3. Bhora FY, Lewis EE, Rehmani SS, Ayub A, Raad W, Al-Ayoubi AM, Lebovics RS. Circumferential three-dimensional–printed tracheal grafts: research model feasibility and early results. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 2017;104(3):958-63.
4. Rehmani SS, Al-Ayoubi AM, Ayub A, Barsky M, Lewis E, Flores R, Lebovics R, Bhora FY. Three-dimensional-printed bioengineered tracheal grafts: preclinical results and potential for human use. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 2017;104(3):998-1004.
5. Weber JF, Rehmani SS, Baig MZ, Lebovics R, Raad W, Connery C, Bhora FY. Novel composite trachea grafts using 3-dimensional printing. JTCVS open. 2021;5:152-60.