Grants We Funded
Grant applicants for the 2023 cycle requested a total of nearly $4 million dollars. The PSF Study Section Subcommittees of Basic & Translational Research and Clinical Research evaluated nearly 140 grant applications on the following topics:
The PSF awarded research grants totaling over $1 million dollars to support nearly 30 plastic surgery research proposals.
ASPS/PSF leadership is committed to continuing to provide high levels of investigator-initiated research support to ensure that plastic surgeons have the needed research resources to be pioneers and innovators in advancing the practice of medicine.
Research Abstracts
Search The PSF database to have easy access to full-text grant abstracts from past PSF-funded research projects 2003 to present. All abstracts are the work of the Principal Investigators and were retrieved from their PSF grant applications. Several different filters may be applied to locate abstracts specific to a particular focus area or PSF funding mechanism.
Elusive Deformable Tissue Engineered Cartilage: Focus on Elastin
John van Aalst MD
2011
University of North Carolina
Basic Research Grant
General Reconstructive
The need for deformable elastic cartilage to reconstruct ear deformities, including microtia, has not been met by tissue engineering strategies. The most significant hurdle to generating deformable cartilage is the inability to control elastin production. In this project, we will utilize growth factor and nanofiber scaffold strategies to improve elastin production in umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells. Scaffolding will consist of nanofibers, which are submicron fibrils, on which augmented cell growth and differentiation has been demonstrated. We will compare chondrogenesis on nanofiber mats and within nanowebs, the latter of which has a greater 3-dimensionality, and ability to interact with and influence cells. In order to test deformability, we will use microindentation techniques. For all biochemical and biomechanical parameters, we plan to compare human auricular cartilage to our tissue engineered cartilage. The potential clinical impact of generating a deformable tissue engineered elastic cartilage is significant. This cartilage will be a valuable adjunct in the reconstruction of patients with microtia and other ear abnormalities. Broader applications are also possible in patients with nasal deformities.
John van Aalst, MD completed his undergraduate studies and obtained a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Dartmouth College. He received his medical degree from Vanderbilt University and completed his general surgery training at Case Western Reserve University. While in Cleveland, he spent three years performing research at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He completed both his plastic surgery and craniofacial training at Indiana University. He is currently an Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Director of Pediatric and Craniofacial Plastic Surgery, and Director of the UNC Craniofacial Fellowship, and Associate Chief of Surgical Services at the UNC Children’s Hospital. Dr. van Aalst is a Past President of the North Carolina Society of Plastic Surgeons and a Past President of the Palestinian Cleft Society. He is currently Chairperson of the International Outreach Committee of the American Cleft Palate Association.