Plastic Surgery Foundation and MTF Biologics Partnership Funds Advances in Tissue Transplantation
PSF/MTF Allograft Tissue Research Grant Program supports applied research using allograft technologies in plastic and reconstructive surgery; Applications for 2018 program now open

Arlington Heights, Ill., and Edison, NJ – The Plastic Surgery Foundation (PSF) and MTF Biologics announced that applications are now being accepted for the PSF/MTF 2018 Allograft Tissue Research Grant Program. The PSF and MTF Biologics have collaborated on the program since 2013, funding applied research on biologic reconstruction that uses dermal, adipose, placental, and other allograft transplant technologies to improve patient care. MTF Biologics has committed $1 million to the Program over the next five years, and investigators may receive $50,000 to support 1- to 2-year research projects advancing the use of allograft technologies in plastic and reconstructive surgery.

"The PSF has always focused its resources on supporting investigator-initiated research and educating the next generation of scientists," said The PSF President Arun Gosain, MD. "Combining MTF Biologics' dedication to providing high-quality tissue for transplantation with the strength and integrity of The PSF's well-established research grant programs has led to a tremendous partnership that allows us to supply the necessary funding to surgeon-scientists conducting basic science and clinical research in plastic surgery."

Grant projects supported by the PSF/MTF Allograft Tissue Research Grant Program include:

• Summer Hanson, MD, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center: "Optimizing Adipose Stem Cell Immunotherapy through Cell-Assisted Lipotransfer" (2017)
• Catherine Ly, MD, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: "Tissue-engineered lymph node transplantation for the treatment of lymphedema" (2017)
• Derek Banyard, MD, The Regents of the University of California: "Activated Adipose Stem Cells for the Prevention/Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers" (2017)
• Alan Widgerow, MBBCh, MMed, The Regents of the University of California: "Tissue engineered 3-D ear cartilage construct" (2016)
• Timothy Daugherty, MD, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine: "Skin Improvement in Radiation Wounds: The Impact of Adipose Derived Stem Cells&rdq (2016)
• Jeremy Goverman, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital: "Perfusion Decellularized Skin Flap as a Dermo-Epidermal Scaffold" (2016)
• Wenchang Zhang, MD, University of Pittsburgh: "Bio-patterned DermaMatrix to induce islet cell allograft tolerance" (2015)
• Alex Wong, MD, University of Southern California: "Evaluation of Human Acellular Dermal Matrix in Joint Arthroplasty" (2014)

"We are dedicated to innovation in plastic and reconstruction surgery to improve clinical outcomes and support health care providers," said Marc Long, PhD, Vice President of R&D at MTF Biologics. "We are delighted to partner with The Plastic Surgery Foundation to support research and look forward to exploring ways that we can continue to expand this collaboration in the years to come."

"Since 1987, MTF Biologics has provided more than $50 million to fund promising research that advances the science of tissue transplantation," said Jeffrey Cartmell, PhD, MTF's Associate Director of Intellectual Property & Grants. "Prior grant recipients have become leaders in their respective fields, while the supported research has resulted in advances to allograft science. This renewed partnership with The Plastic Surgery Foundation reinforces our commitment to excellence in research while providing vital funding to the next generation of scientists."

Applications for the 2018 PSF/MTF Allograft Tissue Research Grant Program close on Dec. 1, 2017. Investigators may apply online, or email research@plasticsurgery.org or visit www.thepsf.org for more information.