Research - Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery ::

Research

The Plastic Surgery Research Laboratory is a significant component of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The newly renovated laboratory, directed by a basic scientist, is housed in a building that is contiguous with the Vivarium, including its state of the art surgical wing, and is readily accessible to both Duke Hospital South and North.

These facilities are available for original research by third-year medical students, plastic surgery residents and fellows. Close collaboration (recent co-authorship) exists between the Plastic Surgery Research Faculty and members of the Departments of:

Cell Biology,
Biomedical Engineering,
Pharmacology,
Biochemistry,
Pathology,
Radiation Oncology,
Anesthesiology, and
Medicine.

Current projects include:

Wound healing in compromised tissues; especially mechanisms of healing and their improvement in open fractures and ischemic tissue.
Tissue Engineering; including endothelial cell transplant to microvascular prostheses, adipocyte transplant via hydrogel matrices, and transformation of adipocytes for transplant to wounded tissues.
Regulation of the microcirculation in health and disease.

Find out more about the Human Fresh Tissue Skills Lab.