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.
Cellular Therapy with Tolerogenic Cells in Face Transplant Model
Maria Siemionow MD, PhD
2008
The Cleveland Clinic
National Endowment
Technology Based
Recently, we have focused on immunomodulation protocol of selective targeting of alpha/beta T-cell receptor (alpha/beta TCR). Selective inhibition of alloreactive T-cells via application of 7- day protocol of alpha/beta TCR/CsA induced stable chimerism and tolerance (over 750 days) in rat limb allografts. Further face transplant under alpha/beta TCR/CsA supported with donor bone marrow transplantation (BMT) resulted in long-term facial allograft survival (495 days) and presence of regulatory T-cells (Treg) CD41 CD25. Selective, short acting alpha/beta TCR/CsA protocol temporarily eliminate alpha/beta TCR positive cells, and preserves gamma/delta positive T-cells, which are known to carry tolerogenic properties. We hypothesize that presence of Treg cells and/or specific population of gamma/delta dendritic epidermal T cells (OETC) is prerequisite for tolerance induction in face transplants. We will assess tolerogenic properties and immunomodulatory function of CD4+/CD25+ or gamma/delta DETC under: Specific Aim 1. To establish tolerogenic properties and efficacy of engraftment of Treg (CD4/CD25) cells of donor origin used as supportive therapy in face allograft transplantation. Specific Aim 2. To test immunomodulatory effect and migratory potential of donor Dendritic Epidermal gamma/delta T Cells (DETC) in facial allografts across MHC barrier. To test our hypothesis under S.A. 1 and S.A. 2 face transplant recipients under 7 day alpha/beta TCR/CsA and BMT augmented with tolerogenic CD4+/CD25+ or DETC will be tested. Methods of assessment include: (i) Flow cytometry for donor chimerism, lymphoid markers: CD4+/CD25+, gamma/delta T-cells, and myeloid markers; (ii) Annexin V-FITC and TUNEL technique for apoptosis; (iii) immunohistochemistry for donor-cell engraftment; (iv) Real-Time PCR for intragraft cytokine gene expression of Th1 (IL-2, IFNgamma) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-10, TGF-beta) and chemokines RANTES, MIP-1, SDF-1, CXCR4 in rejected versus tolerant allografts.