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.
The Use of Alloderm in Two Stage, Tissue Expander/Implant Reconstruction
Colleen McCarthy MD
2007
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
National Endowment
Breast (Cosmetic/Reconstructive)
The routine use of AlloDerm (Life Cell, N.J.) in tissue expander/implant (TE/I) reconstruction is advocated by some. Proponents suggest that the use of the implantable dermal matrix affords multiple advantages when compared to traditional techniques. Firstly, by using AlloDerm in the creation of the infero-Iateral expander pocket, elevation of the serratus fascia/muscle is avoided. It is hypothesized that the pain and sensory morbidity experienced due to the surgical disruption and subsequent expansion of the lateral intercostal nerves is therefore minimized (Spear 2005; 2006). Secondly, because of the pliability of the dermal matrix, it is suggested that the rate of postoperative expansion can be accelerated. Thirdly, by facilitating expansion in the lower pole of the breast, it is theorized that a breast(s) with greater ptosis and more natural contours can be created. While the proponents of AlloDerm encourage its use, however, there is a paucity of scientific data which supports its clinical effectiveness in the setting of TE/l reconstruction. Before a practice is established as routine care, it is imperative that it is tested under controlled conditions to generate evidence for its efficacy. The high cost of AlloDerm and the widespread use of tissue expander/implant reconstruction in postmastectomy patients underscore the need to objectively evaluate its effectiveness. A double-blind, multicenter, randomized, controlled-trial is designed. Patients who elect to undergo immediate TE/I reconstruction will be considered eligible for participation. Women will be randomized to undergo expander placement with or without the use of AlloDerm. In patients who are randomized to receive AlloDerm, the dermal matrix will be used to create the infero-Iateral expander pocket thereby eliminating the elevation of the serratus musculature/fascia. Patients and evaluators will remain blinded to the treatment received. The primary endpoint of this study will be patient-reported pain and sensory morbidity. The secondary endpoint will be the rate of post-operative tissue expansion. Tertiary outcomes will include long-term patient satisfaction and quality of life, capsular contracture grade and overall aesthetic results.