John Meara, MD, DMD, MBA

Department	Plastic Surgery
Hospital Title	Plastic Surgeon-in-Chief
Academic Title	Associate Professor
Phone	617-355-4401
Fax	617-738-1657
Email
Location	300 Longwood Avenue Boston MA 02115

Research Overview

John Meara's research focuses on examining the genetic, phenotypic, cognitive, and behavioral components of nonsyndromic craniosynostosis.

In collaboration with researchers at Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne Australia, Dr. Meara and department staff are working to develop a comprehensive assessment protocol for the management of craniosynostosis that will allow providers to select the most appropriate treatment and advise families regarding the course, prognosis, and ongoing management of the disease.

The three major goals of Dr. Meara's research:

1. To understand the genetic mechanisms that underlie the variety of phenotypic presentations of craniosynostosis.
2. To improve diagnosis of subtypes of craniosynostosis, as well as identify neuropsychological outcomes of subtypes.
3. To examine the correlative and predictive relationships between genetics, neuropsychological outcomes, and craniofacial structure.

About John Meara

John Meara received his MD from the University of Michigan. He completed his postgraduate training at the University of Michigan, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Children's Hospital Boston, and Royal Children's Hospital.

Dr. Meara was Associate Investigator, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, a sustainable multidisciplinary best practice early intervention care model for the assessment and diagnosis of children with craniosynostosis, 2005-2006.

Key Publications

• Boyadjiev SA, Meara JG, Boggan J, et al. Genetic analysis of non-syndromic craniosynostosis. Orthod Craniofacial Res. 2007;10(3):129-137.
   
• DaCosta AC, Walters I, Savarirayan R, Anderson VA, Wrennall JA, Meara JG. Intellectucal outcomes in children and adolescents with syndromic and nonsyndromic craniosynostosis. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2006;118(1)175-181; discussion 182-183. 
   
• Meara JG, Smith EM, Harshbarger RJ, Farlo JN, Matar MM, Levy ML. Blood-conservation techniques in craniofacial surgery. Ann Plast Surg. 2005;54(5):525-529.