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I have a wide breadth of research interests spanning pediatric craniofacial surgery, surgical education, quality of life, global health, and much more. I have active projects studying surgical outcomes after repair of craniosynostosis and cleft lip/palate. I have also been collaborating with San Diego State University on the development of a patient reported outcome measures for children with facial deformities.
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My current research efforts focus on translational research on regenerative medicine. He is currently the study surgeon for VIACYTE, a San Diego based regenerative medicine company focusing on delivering novel stem cell derived replacement therapies as a functional cure for type 1 diabetes mellitus (https://viacyte.com). Pluripotent stem cells are implanted in the human body and they transform into insulin producing islet cells. These technologies may revolutionize how type 1 diabetics and insulin requiring type 2 diabetics are treated. On a similar theme, I am also currently developing a model to investigate the angiogenic potential of Adipose Derived Stem Cells (ADRCs). Through neoangiogenesis, this may be a novel way to treat a host of diseases including radiation injury, chronic wounds, and organ damage.
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I have numerous research interests that include lymphatics, microsurgery, and healthcare systems analysis. Current projects include evaluation of the LYMPHA procedure and vascularized lymph node transfers for treatment of cancer related lymphedema. I also collaborate with faculty at Scripps Mercy Hospital to evaluate lower limb salvage amputation rates. I am also interested in investigating many healthcare systems measures including wRVU rates among different specialties performing similar procedures, and measurements of academic success among publishing researchers.
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My clinical interest is in the reconstruction of patients that have been treated for a cancer, especially using microsurgery. I lead three research programs, including: 1) bringing a surgical solution to lymphedema with a strong multidisciplinary team including occupational therapy, radiology and breast surgeons; 2) developing primary facial nerve reinnervation if injured during a patient's treatment course; and 3) validating the technique of mastectomy using a surgical robot.
UC San Diego Division of Plastic Surgery Research
Physician-scientists in the Division of Plastic Surgery are active in numerous research projects and clinical studies. For example, Ahmed Suliman, M.D., in collaboration with UC San Diego's Division of Endocrinology and ViaCyte, Inc., a biotechnology firm specializing in regenerative medicine, is launching the first-ever human Phase I/II clinical trial of a stem cell-derived therapy for patients with Type 1 diabetes. Division faculty and colleagues from San Diego State University are also investigating health-related quality of life in pediatric patients with craniofacial conditions, a project that will result in a patient-reported outcome measure in English and Spanish for patients with facial differences and their parents. This project is supported by the Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego Surgical Research Fund Grant and by the UC San Diego Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute Academic- Community Partnership Pilot Project Grant provided by the National Institutes of Health.
Publications