Plastic Surgery Clinical Research Program

Overview

To advance patient care, the Plastic Surgery Clinical Research Program in the Massachusetts General Hospital Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery leverages surgical innovations, clinical practices and technological developments to improve diagnosis and treatment in plastic surgery.

Our current projects are focused on craniofacial surgery and breast reconstruction. Craniofacial anomalies, such as cleft lip and palate, are among the most common congenital (present at birth) anomalies. Breast cancer, one of the most common cancers to affect adults, may result in a mastectomy, which is often accompanied by breast reconstruction.

Craniofacial Surgery

Our clinical and translational research investigation in craniofacial surgery is directly synergistic to our basic genetics and developmental biology research in the Craniofacial Developmental Biology Laboratory.

Our study leverages the latest advances in:

• DNA editing (CRISPR)
• Genomics
• Novel imaging technology to revolutionize craniofacial care
• Stem cell biology

The Cleft and Craniofacial Center first engages the patient before birth, where we coordinate prenatal consult as part of the Fetal Care Team with MassGeneral Hospital for Children. As a result of modern technology, we are able to diagnosis craniofacial abnormalities in utero, begin treatment shortly after birth and devise a treatment plan that continues throughout childhood.

We combine their clinical expertise with our fundamental research program to incorporate multidisciplinary and longitudinal care, and follow our patients over time to evaluate outcomes.

The team of health care professionals includes plastic surgeons, oral maxillofacial surgeons, orthodontists, speech therapists and dietitians, allows us to provide the best clinical care and surgical planning for our families.

Breast Reconstruction

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers to affect adults. Our research group has expertise working with direct-to-implant breast reconstruction, with particular interest in safety and efficacy of breast reconstruction outcomes.

Our current studies on breast reconstruction compare different variables such as surgical and patient factors, surgical materials and methods of breast reconstruction. We are proud to be one of the early pioneers of the pre-pectoral breast in direct-to-implant reconstruction. In addition to examining new approaches to reconstruction, we have also evaluated surgical efficacy and practice improvements.

Affiliations and Funding

The Plastic Surgery Clinical Research Program is affiliated with many Mass General departments as well as outside institutions, including:

• Mass General Department of Surgery
• Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• Mass General for Children
• Harvard Medical School
• Shriners Hospital for Children

The Plastic Surgery Clinical Research Program receives funding from outside institutions, including:

• Shriners Hospital for Children
• Plastic Surgery Foundation
• National Institutes of Health
• Musuloskeletal Transplant Foundation

Research Projects

The Plastic Surgery Clinical Research Program at Mass General is involved with the following research projects:

Craniofacial Projects

• Craniofacial Rare Genomes Project
• Congenital Abnormality Diagnosis and Fetal Care
• Cleft Lip and Palate Multidisciplinary Care

Breast Reconstruction Projects

• Breast Reconstruction with acellular dermal matrix (ADM) and other surgical biomaterials
• Pre-pectoral vs. Sub-pectoral Direct to Implant Breast Reconstruction
• Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Surgical Instrumentation

Research Positions

Interested in participating?

We accept applications for clinical research from surgery or plastic surgery residency training programs in the United States. Applications are encouraged 18 months in advance of the expected start date in order to compete for various funding mechanisms.

Full time research fellow opportunities may be available for trainees with appropriate experience and interest. A minimum of one year tenure is necessary, two years preferred.

Interested residents should send inquiries to Dr. Liao with cover letter, CV and three letters of reference.

Publications

The Plastic Surgery Clinical Research Program at Mass General involved with the following publications:

• Pre-pectoral muscle sparing direct to implant breast reconstruction, avoid breast animation deformity.
  Gfrerer L and Liao EC. Technique Refinement in Pre-pectoral Direct to Implant Breast Reconstruction with Vicryl Mesh Pocket and Acellular Dermal Matrix Support. Plast. Reconstr. Surg. Go., in press.
• Evaluation of Acellular Dermal Matrix Efficacy in Prosthesis-Based Breast Reconstruction
  Sobti, N., Ji, E., Brown, R. L., Cetrulo, C. J., Colwell, A. S., Winograd, J. M., & ... Liao, E. C. (2018). Evaluation of Acellular Dermal Matrix Efficacy in Prosthesis-Based Breast Reconstruction. Plastic And Reconstructive Surgery, 141(3), 541-549. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000004109
• Avoiding Breast Animation Deformity with Pectoralis-Sparing Subcutaneous Direct-to-Implant Breast Reconstruction
  Kobraei, E. M., Cauley, R., Gadd, M., Austen, W. J., & Liao, E. C. (2016). Avoiding Breast Animation Deformity with Pectoralis-Sparing Subcutaneous Direct-to-Implant Breast Reconstruction. Plastic And Reconstructive Surgery. Global Open, 4(5), e708. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000000681
• Occult Histopathology and Its Predictors in Contralateral and Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomies
  Mattos, D., Gfrerer, L., Ling, I. C., Reish, R. G., Hughes, K. S., Halpern, E. F., & ... Liao, E. C. (2016). Occult Histopathology and Its Predictors in Contralateral and Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomies. Annals Of Surgical Oncology, 23(3), 767-775. doi:10.1245/s10434-015-4896-2
• Assessment of Patient Factors, Surgeons, and Surgeon Teams in Immediate Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction Outcomes
  Gfrerer, L., Mattos, D., Mastroianni, M., Weng, Q. Y., Ricci, J. A., Heath, M. P., & ... Liao, E. C. (2015). Assessment of Patient Factors, Surgeons, and Surgeon Teams in Immediate Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction Outcomes. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, 135(2), 245e. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000000912
• Lifetime Costs of Prophylactic Mastectomies and Reconstruction versus Surveillance
  Mattos, D., Gfrerer, L., Reish, R. G., Hughes, K. S., Cetrulo, C., Colwell, A. S., & ... Liao, E. C. (2015). Lifetime Costs of Prophylactic Mastectomies and Reconstruction versus Surveillance. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, 136(6), 730e. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000001763
• Impact of Surgeon and Surgical Team on Outcomes in Immediate Implant Based Breast Reconstruction
  Gfrerer, L., Mattos, D., Mastroianni, M., Weng, Q. Y., Ricci, J. A., Heath, P., & ... Liao, E. C. (2014). Impact of Surgeon and Surgical Team on Outcomes in Immediate Implant Based Breast Reconstruction. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, 13494. doi:10.1097/01.prs.0000455445.88873.10

View recent publications

Support Us

Cleft lip and palate are the most common congenital anomalies, occurring in 1 out of 700 births. As clinical-scientists, we hope our work will one day improve the health of children. With the rapid and revoluntionary advances in genetics, it is our vision to diagnose craniofacial malformations before they develop or mitigate the risk of malformation pharmacologically.

Our research program is focused on the understanding the genetic basis of why children develop clefts of the lip and palate.

Support from you can help us make what was previously unimaginable, possible. There are several opportunities to make a direct impact in the supporting of trainees, investigators and patients through our research and clinical programs. Nothing is more personal and wonderful than making a child better. Fundamental research breakthroughs can have a broader impact, to touch the lives of children and their families everywhere.

Support Us

Group Members

Principal Investigator

Eric C. Liao, MD, PhD
Director, Cleft and Craniofacial Center, Mass General
Associate Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
Principal Faculty, Harvard Stem Cell Institute
Principal Investigator, Harvard Stem Cell Institute
Faculty, Program in Genetics, Biomedical and Biological Sciences, Harvard Medical School

Clinical Research Coordinators

• Kassandra Nealon
• Megan Rebello

Residents

• Ryan Cauley, MD
• Edward Kobrei, MD
• Daniel Roh, MD, PhD

Medical Students

• Emily Ji- Harvard Medical School
• Nikhil Sobti– Boston University
• Rachel Weitzman – Harvard Medical School

Collaborators

• Ethylin Wang Jabs – Mount Sinai School of Medicine
• Daniel MacArthur – Broad Institute of Genetic, Harvard/MIT
• Yang Chai – University of Southern California
• Sashank Reddy – Johns Hopkins University

Alumni

• David Mattos, MD, MBA – Plastic Surgery Residency, Harvard Program
• Lisa Gfrerer, MD, PhD – Plastic Surgery Residency, Harvard Program
• Theo Nyame, MD – Plastic Surgery Research Residency, Harvard Program
• Lin Lin Gao, MD – University of Pennsylvania Plastic Surgery Residency Program
• Valeriy Shubinets - University of Pennsylvania Plastic Surgery Residency Program
• Sashank Reddy, MD, PhD – Johns Hopkins Plastic Surgery Residency Program