The Plastic Surgery Foundation
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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.

Formation of Osteoblastic Meaninfgul Networks in 3D Dynamic Cell Culture

Principal Investigator
Alexander Allori MD

Year
2008

Institution
New York University Medical Center

Funding Mechanism
Basic Research Grant

Focus Area
Wounds/Scar

Abstract
The project described below aims to characterize the functional adaptation of osteoblastic cells in response to fluid shear stress. Specifically, we intend to demonstrate that osteoblasts form meaningful networks in 3D dynamic culture - i.e., they communicate with other cells via podocytic extensions and gap-junction formation. We hypothesize that gap-junction intercellular communication (GJIC) is necessary for cellular growth and proliferation, and that abrogation of gap junctions will prevent osteoblasts from responding normally to stimulatory fluid shear forces. In order to test the central hypothesis, we propose the following specific aims: 1. To characterize the structure and function of osteoblastic gap junctions in 3D dynamic cell culture 2. To study the effect of increasing fluid shear force on cellular proliferation, function, and formation of gap junctions 3. To determine the role of gap junctions in effecting the osteoblastic functional adaptation to fluid shear force

Biography
Dr. Allori studied biochemistry and economics at Rice University and subsequently attended the University of Texas School of Public Health, where he obtained a master’s degree in public health with a concentration in management and policy studies. Dr. Allori earned a medical doctorate at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, completed general surgery residency at Beth Israel Medical Center – New York, recently completed plastic surgery residency at Duke University Hospital, and is now a pediatric plastic and craniofacial surgical fellow at Harvard University–Children's Hospital Boston. With regard to research, Dr. Allori has trained at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center's Laboratory for Reparative Biology and Bioengineering, and at the New York University Medical Center's Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery. His 2013 PSF Pilot Research Grant utilizes a modified Delphi method and ontology-building processes to develop a standardized practical framework and set of data standards to guide the measurement of clinical outcomes in cleft care.