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.
Targeting Adipocyte IL-6 Production For Breast Cancer Prevention
Principal Investigator
Scott Hollenbeck MD
Scott Hollenbeck MD
Year
2012
2012
Institution
Duke University Medical Center
Duke University Medical Center
Funding Mechanism
National Endowment for Plastic Surgery Grant
National Endowment for Plastic Surgery Grant
Focus Area
Breast (Cosmetic / Reconstructive)
Breast (Cosmetic / Reconstructive)
Abstract
Obesity is one of the most important known preventable causes of cancer. Emerging evidence suggests that cytokines secreted by adipose tissue may be critical drivers of ER-breast cancer. One key adipose-derived cytokine that is increased in obese women is interleukin-6 (IL6). IL6 induces epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and has been recently shown to promote stem cell turnover. Activation of IL6-signaling predicts aggressive disease and a poor outcome in ER- breast cancer. This project will consist of 3 concise aims. In aim 1, I will test for activation of IL6-network signaling in pre-cancer (atypia) and invasive cancer from women who are normal weight, overweight, and obese. To accomplish this I will perform microdissection and IL-6 signaling profiling on tissue samples obtained from a cohort of 150 high-risk premenopausal women. In aim 2, I will investigate whether increased mammary adipose IL6 production results in activated epithelial IL6-network signaling in obese women with pre-cancer and invasive cancer. To accomplish this I will test whether levels of adipose IL6 from patients with pre-cancer and invasive cancer correlate with BMI. I will then compare adipose IL6 levels with epithelial expression of IL6 network proteins. In aim 3, I will perform a pilot trial to determine whether: 1) supervised exercise or 2) bariatric weight loss surgery or 3) body contouring plastic surgical procedures decreases adipose generated IL6 and epithelial IL6 network signaling. As a future investigator, I hope to study the interaction of adipose tissue and breast cancer initiation to identify modes of prevention. This study will have a direct impact on the way in which plastic surgeons view the interaction between adipose tissue and breast epithelium. Both in terms of the current practice of injecting fat into breast epithelium for augmentation or reconstructive purposes as well as the current practice of adipose reducing surgery.
Obesity is one of the most important known preventable causes of cancer. Emerging evidence suggests that cytokines secreted by adipose tissue may be critical drivers of ER-breast cancer. One key adipose-derived cytokine that is increased in obese women is interleukin-6 (IL6). IL6 induces epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and has been recently shown to promote stem cell turnover. Activation of IL6-signaling predicts aggressive disease and a poor outcome in ER- breast cancer. This project will consist of 3 concise aims. In aim 1, I will test for activation of IL6-network signaling in pre-cancer (atypia) and invasive cancer from women who are normal weight, overweight, and obese. To accomplish this I will perform microdissection and IL-6 signaling profiling on tissue samples obtained from a cohort of 150 high-risk premenopausal women. In aim 2, I will investigate whether increased mammary adipose IL6 production results in activated epithelial IL6-network signaling in obese women with pre-cancer and invasive cancer. To accomplish this I will test whether levels of adipose IL6 from patients with pre-cancer and invasive cancer correlate with BMI. I will then compare adipose IL6 levels with epithelial expression of IL6 network proteins. In aim 3, I will perform a pilot trial to determine whether: 1) supervised exercise or 2) bariatric weight loss surgery or 3) body contouring plastic surgical procedures decreases adipose generated IL6 and epithelial IL6 network signaling. As a future investigator, I hope to study the interaction of adipose tissue and breast cancer initiation to identify modes of prevention. This study will have a direct impact on the way in which plastic surgeons view the interaction between adipose tissue and breast epithelium. Both in terms of the current practice of injecting fat into breast epithelium for augmentation or reconstructive purposes as well as the current practice of adipose reducing surgery.
Biography
Scott Hollenbeck, MD is an Assistant Professor of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Duke University Hospital. Dr. Hollenbeck’s clinical focus is cancer related reconstruction of the breast, head and neck as well as lower extremity traumatic wounds. His practice emphasizes free tissue transfer techniques for management of complex wounds. A graduate of the University of Florida with Honors and The Ohio State University College of Medicine with Magna Cum Laude distinction; Dr. Hollenbeck attended general surgery training from 2000 to 2007 at The New York Presbyterian Hospital - Weill Cornell Medical College. While training in general surgery, he studied vascular biology for two years and the TGF-beta signaling cascade under an NIH T32 training grant. Additionally, he received the Association for Academic Surgeons and Association for Academic Surgeon Foundation Research Fellowship Award in 2002. Dr. Hollenbeck also received the Weill Cornell Medical College Resident Teaching Award from the graduating class of 2007 and the Michelassi Compassionate Care Award. In 2007, he returned to North Carolina to complete his plastic surgery residency at Duke University Hospital. During his training in plastic surgery he authored numerous papers and was selected by the Duke medical students for the Appleseed Teaching Award. Additionally, Dr. Hollenbeck was awarded a PSF pilot grant to study the effects of hypoxia on adipose cells. As a continuation of this basic science research, he is now studying the effects of obesity on breast cancer formation. He hopes to identify adipokine related biomarkers associated with obesity and breast atypia. Once established biomarkers are identified, Dr. Hollenbeck hopes to help at risk women achieve focused weight loss for prevention of breast cancer formation.
Scott Hollenbeck, MD is an Assistant Professor of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Duke University Hospital. Dr. Hollenbeck’s clinical focus is cancer related reconstruction of the breast, head and neck as well as lower extremity traumatic wounds. His practice emphasizes free tissue transfer techniques for management of complex wounds. A graduate of the University of Florida with Honors and The Ohio State University College of Medicine with Magna Cum Laude distinction; Dr. Hollenbeck attended general surgery training from 2000 to 2007 at The New York Presbyterian Hospital - Weill Cornell Medical College. While training in general surgery, he studied vascular biology for two years and the TGF-beta signaling cascade under an NIH T32 training grant. Additionally, he received the Association for Academic Surgeons and Association for Academic Surgeon Foundation Research Fellowship Award in 2002. Dr. Hollenbeck also received the Weill Cornell Medical College Resident Teaching Award from the graduating class of 2007 and the Michelassi Compassionate Care Award. In 2007, he returned to North Carolina to complete his plastic surgery residency at Duke University Hospital. During his training in plastic surgery he authored numerous papers and was selected by the Duke medical students for the Appleseed Teaching Award. Additionally, Dr. Hollenbeck was awarded a PSF pilot grant to study the effects of hypoxia on adipose cells. As a continuation of this basic science research, he is now studying the effects of obesity on breast cancer formation. He hopes to identify adipokine related biomarkers associated with obesity and breast atypia. Once established biomarkers are identified, Dr. Hollenbeck hopes to help at risk women achieve focused weight loss for prevention of breast cancer formation.