Plastic Surgery Research Initiatives
Research (both clinical and basic science) is a vital part of Plastic Surgery program at Vanderbilt. Our research team is powered by dedicated research staff including a research specialist, research nurse specialist, study coordinator, and research fellow, as well as attending physicians, research assistant professor, and collaborators from other disciplines.
Current research endeavors include:
- Regenerative medicine to enhance nerve repair and growth after injury
- Department of Defense funded multidisciplinary assessment of nerve injury and repair
- Development of MRI protocols for peripheral nerve assessment
- Industry sponsored outcomes research on breast reconstruction
- Industry partnerships for advancing drug discovery
- Responses to burn injury
- Cutaneous wound healing
- National Breast re-sensation clinic trial for Breast DIEP Flaps reconstruction
- Plastic surgery expectations for postoperative opioid prescriptions
- Reducing opioid prescribing after ambulatory plastic surgery with the PICASSO pain control protocol
- Migraine surgery studies
- Transgender Care and Surgical Ethics studies
Dedicated and Available Research Facilities
The dedicated 1650 sq. ft. laboratory facility includes a histopathology lab, molecular biology lab, a microscope with computerized morphometry, a small animal surgery suite, and tissue culture facilities. The lab is located in Medical Center North is staffed with seasoned research assistants. Trainees have the opportunity to work alongside faculty as well as access to other campus-wide scientific resources at the Medical Center and University.
The Plastic Surgery Research Laboratory
The S.R. Light Surgical Operating Suites are maintained by the Section of Surgical Sciences and operate as the University's Survival Surgical Suite.
The VUMC Office of Research is a wealth of knowledge when navigating through the vast resource systems at Vanderbilt.