Karen J. Ho

Karen J. Ho is the John Marquardt Clinical Research Professor of Vascular Surgery at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, where she leads a research laboratory focused on vascular biology and microbiome interactions. She earned her MD from Harvard Medical School in 2003. Her work bridges clinical surgery and fundamental research, positioning her at the forefront of vascular science.

Dr. Ho's research centers on understanding how the gut microbiome influences vascular pathologies, particularly neointimal hyperplasia and atherosclerosis. Her lab employs germ-free mouse models, microbiome manipulation techniques, metabolomics, and molecular biology to investigate microbial metabolites' role in arterial healing and disease progression. Key interests include identifying dietary interventions and microbial biomarkers for peripheral artery disease complications.

Her publication record reveals a consistent focus on microbiome-vascular interactions, with recent work emphasizing metabolomic profiling, microbial modulation of inflammation, and translational applications for improving surgical outcomes. Studies frequently integrate clinical observations with mechanistic animal models to explore therapeutic strategies.

Awards and Honors

• Fellow of the American Heart Association (FAHA, 2023)
• John Marquardt Clinical Research Professorship (2020)
• SVS Foundation/American College of Surgeons Award (2016)
• NHLBI K Award (2016)

Dr. Ho mentors through Northwestern's Vascular Surgery Scientist Training Program (NIH T32) and directs student research initiatives like the Lanterman Vascular Surgery Student Award. She has secured major grants including an NHLBI R01 (2021) and funding from the Rheumatology Research Foundation. Her laboratory collaborates extensively with the Feinberg Cardiovascular Institute, Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, and University of Chicago's Digestive Diseases Research Center.