Troy A. Markel, MD

Bio

Dr. Markel's clinical focus is in pediatric surgery and includes the care of children of all ages. His clinical expertise surrounds neonatal surgery, trauma, surgical oncology and chest wall deformities.

He currently serves as Associate Professor of Surgery and Program Director for General Surgery Resident Research. He received his medical degree from Penn State University College of Medicine and completed his General Surgery Residency and Pediatric Surgery Fellowship at Indiana University School of Medicine.

Dr. Markel has a basic and translational research lab that focuses on necrotizing enterocolitis, a rare condition in preterm infants that results in intestinal death and the need for surgical intervention. His lab focuses on novel cellular therapy techniques to treat necrotizing enterocolitis, as well as state of the art diagnostic techniques to predict NEC onset. He has served as principal investigator or contributor to more than 130 peer reviewed publications and has successfully competed for NIH funding to support his research.

Dr. Markel is a member of the American College of Surgeons, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Society of University Surgeons, the Association for Academic Surgery, the NEC Society and the American Pediatric Surgical Association. He currently serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of the NEC Society, the Membership Committee of APSA, the Publications Committee of the SUS and the Program Committee for the American College of Surgeons.

Key Publications

1. Markel TA, Weil BR, Hermann JL, Abarbanell AM, Meldrum DR. Mesenchymal Stem Cells Enhance the Viability and Proliferation of Human Fetal Intestinal Epithelial Cells Following Hypoxic Injury Via Paracrine Mechanisms. Surgery. 2009; 146(2): 190-7. PMID:19628073

2. Wang Y, Weil BR, Herrmann JL, Abarbannell AM, Tan J, Markel TA, Kelly M, Meldrum DR. MEK, P38 and PI3K Mediate Novel Cross Talk Between EGFR and TNFR in Enhancing EGF Production from Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells. AJP-Cell Phys. 2009; 297(5): C1284-93. PMID:19692652

3. Markel TA, Ball CG, Hayward TZ. Acute aortic rupture after a trans-spinal gunshot injury
J Trauma. 2011; 70(2):522. PMID:21307758

4. Markel TA, Wanner MR, Billmire DF. Gastric Pneumatosis Secondary to Pyloric Stenosis. J Peds Surg. 2013; 48(3): 655-7. PMID:23480927

5. Markel TA, Lin J, Fan R, Billmire DF. Bronchogenic/Foregut cyst of the ileal mesentery in a child mimicking ovarian mass. Fet & Ped Pathol, 2013; 32(5): 357-61. PMID:23438792

6. Graham KA, Laituri CA, Markel TA, Ladd AP. A Review of Postoperative Feeding Regimens in Infantile Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis. J Peds Surg, 2013; 48(10):2175-79. PMID:24094977

7. Markel TA, Engelstad H, Poindexter BP. Predicting Disease Severity of Necrotizing Enterocolitis: How to Identify Infants for Future Novel Therapies. J Clin Neonatol. 2014; 3(1): 1-9. PMID:24741531 *

8. Savoie KB, Huang EY, Aziz SK, Blakely ML, Dassinger S, Dorale AR, Duggan EM, Harting MT, Markel TA, Moore-Olufemi SD, Shah SR, St. Peter SD, Tsao K, Wyrick DL, Williams RF. Improving Gastroschesis Outcomes: Does Birthplace Matter? J. Ped Surg. 2014; 49(12): 1771-5. PMID:25487481 *

9. Crafts TD, Jensen AR, Blocher-Smith EC, Markel TA. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor: Therapeutic Possibilities and Challenges for the Treatment of Ischemia. Cytokine. 2015; 71(2):385-93. PMID:25240960 *

10. Markel TA, Rescorla FJ. A Survey of the Pediatric Surgery Program Directors: Optimizing Resident Research to Make Pediatric Surgery Training More Efficient. J Ped Surg. 2015; 50(6): 1053-7. PMID:25805008 *

11. Markel TA, Proctor C, Ying J, Winchester PD. Environmental Pesticides Increase the Risk of Developing Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis. J Ped Surg. 2015; 50(8): 1283-8. PMID:25783294 *

12. Markel TA, Crafts TD, Jensen AR, Hunsberger EB, Yoder MC. Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Decrease Mortality Following Intestinal Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury. J Surg Res. 2015; 199(1):56-66. PMID:26219205 *

13. Crafts TD, Hunsberger EB, Jensen AR, Rescorla FJ, Yoder MC, Markel TA. Direct Peritoneal Resuscitation Improves Survival and Decreases Inflammation Following Intestinal Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury. J Surg Res. 2015; 199(2):428-34. PMID: 26169030 *

14. Peters LE, Ladd AP, Markel TA. Obstructive Choledocholithiasis Requiring Intervention in a Three Week Old Neonate: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. J Ped Surg Case Rep. 2016; 4(1):13-16. *

15. Jensen AR, Doster DL, Hunsberger EB, Manning MM, Stokes SM, March KL, Yoder MC, Markel TA. Human Adipose Stromal Cells Increase Survival and Mesenteric Perfusion Following Intestinal Ischemia. Shock. 2016; 46(1):75-82. PMID: 26796571 *

16. Batra S, Martin SC, Nassiri M, Qureshi A, Markel TA. Histiocytic Sarcoma Associated with Coombs Negative Acute Hemolytic Anemia—A rare presentation. Case Reports in Oncological Med, 2016; 2016(Article ID 3179147): 5 pages. PMID: 27429816*

17. Markel, TA, West KW. Conservative Management of Peritoneal Dialysis Catheters That Erode Into Bowel: A Pediatric Case Series and Review of the Literature. Peritoneal Dialysis International, 2016; 11-12; 36(6):680-84 PMID: 27903851. *

18. Jensen AR, Manning MM, Khaneki S, Drucker NA, Markel TA. Harvest Tissue Source Does Not Alter the Protective Power of Stromal Cell Therapy Following Intestinal Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury. J Surg Res. 2016; 204(2):361-70. PMID: 27565072*

19. Markel TA, Scott MR, Stokes SM, Ladd AP. A Randomized Trial To Assess Advancement of Enteral Feedings Following Surgery For Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis. J Ped Surg, 2016; 52(4):534-39. PMID: 27829521.

20. Doster DL, Jensen AR, Khaneki S, Markel TA. Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy for the Treatment of Intestinal Ischemia: Defining the Optimal Cell Line for Maximum Therapeutic Benefit. Cytotherapy, 2016; 18(12): 1457-70. PMID: 27745788*

21. Gormley T, Markel TA, Jones H, Wagner J, Greely D, Ostojic J, Abkowitz M, Clarke JH. Methodology for Analyzing Environmental Quality Indicators (EQIs) in a Dynamic Operating Room Environment. Am J Inf Cont. 2016; 45(4): 354-59. PMID 28012705*

22. Markel TA, Valsangkar NP, Bell TM, Kiel BA, Zimmers TA, Koniaris LG. The Surgeon Scientist: A Comparison of Academic Productivity Between Pediatric and General Surgeons. J Ped Surg. 2016, In press. PMID 28017413*

23. Jensen AR, Drucker NA, Khaneki S, Ferkowicz MJ, Markel TA. Hydrogen Sulfide Improves Intestinal Recovery Following Ischemia by Endothelial Nitric Oxide Dependent Mechanisms. AJP: GI and Liver Phys. 2017, 312(5):G450-56. PMID 28280145*

24. Jensen AR, Drucker NA, Khaneki S, Ferkowicz MJ, Olson KR, Yoder MC, Markel TA. Hydrogen Sulfide: A potential Novel Therapy for the Treatment of Ichemia. Shock, 2017, In press. PMID 28498298*

25. Khaneki S, Jensen AR, Drucker NA, Markel TA. Direct Peritoneal Resuscitation Improves Mesenteric Perfusion by Nitric Oxide Dependent Pathways. J Surg Res. 2017, 213:274-80. PMID 28601326*

Titles & Appointments

Associate Professor of Surgery
Adjunct Associate Professor of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiology
Interim Vice Chair of Research
Program Director, General Surgery Resident Research
Director, Pediatric Surgery Research

Education

2012 FEL Pediatric Surgery Fellowship, Indiana University School of Medicine

2011 RES General Surgery Residency, Indiana University School of Medicine

2004 MD Pennsylvania State University

2000 BA University of Delaware
Research

I chose a career in pediatric surgery in part for the interesting clinical questions it presented to many of the frailest patients. No condition has more captured my passion to improve outcomes than necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). NEC impacts preterm infants and results in abundant morbidity and mortality. Long term effects on infants with this condition include short bowel syndrome, neuro-developmental delay and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The financial burden is also vast, as costs exceed one billion dollars annually. NEC has limited medical treatment options and often requires surgical intervention for definitive cure.

I have come to realize that finding a solution to NEC is best achieved through both clinical and basic science research. As such, I have made attempts to identify clinical factors that may predispose children to NEC, and also have invested significant efforts into a basic science laboratory aimed at identifying novel therapies for its prevention and treatment. Given the intense medical and financial burden of this disease, the scientific community is charged with finding novel ways to impact this condition.

One possible therapeutic modality for NEC that has not been trialed clinically surrounds the use of mesenchymal stem cells to improve mesenteric blood flow and protect the intestinal epithelium. Early cell culture and mouse models suggest that these cells can improve outcomes and protect the intestine from NEC. My lab has been focusing on understanding the protective mechanisms of these cells and have identified hydrogen sulfide gas as a protective paracrine factor.
Professional Organizations

Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society

American Academy of Pediatrics

American College of Surgeons

American Gastroenterological Association

American Pediatric Surgical Association

Association of Academic Surgeons

NEC Society

Shock Society
Board Certifications

American Board of Surgery - Pediatric Surgery

American Board of Surgery - Surgery*
Clinical Interests

Necrotizing enterocolitis, neonatal nutrition, neonatal surgery, oncology, chest wall reconstruction, and trauma.

Research Labs

Faculty research at IU School of Medicine is transforming health. Details about the medical research being conducted in faculty labs throughout IU School of Medicine are available in the Research section of this site.

Faculty Labs