Advancing Pediatric Research Care

Located in a brand new research building on the Stanford University campus, the 14,000 sq. ft. Children's Surgical Research laboratory is fully equipped for cellular, molecular, and animal research. Under the guidance of Dr. Michael T. Longaker, the laboratory investigates the fundamentals of bone and soft-tissue biology with application towards tissue engineering and regeneration. For example, the bone group studies models of endogenous bone tissue engineering in order to develop a molecular and cellular "blueprint" of successful osteogenesis. These models include cranial suture fusion, mandibular distraction osteogenesis, and immature calvarial re-ossification. Using such models, we are trying to understand how the body builds bone naturally, so that we can manipulate this complex system to precisely regulate bone formation in a variety of clinical situations. More

Featured research

Distraction osteogenesis

Endochondral bone lengthening by osteotomy and gradual distraction has been described for nearly a century. This technique has revolutionized orthopedic tissue engineering and its application to membranous bone has expanded our armamentarium of craniofacial reconstructive procedures.

Using a canine model, Snyder et al. were the first to adapt endochondral distraction principles to the membranous craniofacial skeleton. More