Research Faculty

John B. Mulliken, MD

Department Plastic Surgery
Hospital Title Senior Associate in Surgery
Academic Title Professor, Harvard Medical School
Phone 617-355-7686
Fax 617-738-1657
Email  
Location 300 Longwood Avenue
Boston
MA 02115

Research Overview

John Mulliken's research focuses on vascular anomalies, cranioplasty and craniofacial anomalies.

Vascular anomalies: Dr. Mulliken is researching and studying the possibility of proliferating endothelium during times of growth, as well as possible predictor variables including anomaly type, history of treatment, and patient age. Also, a current 'Recurrence of Vascular Anomalies' study hopes to better document the recurrence rate for all types of vascular malformations, as well as the rate of progression during specific time frames.

Cranioplasty: Cranioplasty in young children is difficult because of limited autologous donor sites and the reluctance to use alloplastic materials in the growing skeleton. Our research has shown that particulate cranial bone graft harvested from infants effectively prevents, as well as treats, calvarial defects. We are translating our clinical findings to an animal model to compare angiogenesis and healing between particulate bone graft, other sources of autologous bone, and alloplastic materials.

Craniofacial Anomalies: Ongoing studies include those with a focus on evaluating facial growth in children with a host of different craniofacial anomalies. Research conducted includes longitudinal studies to examine genetic, phenotypic, cognitive, and behavioral components of nonsyndromic craniosynostosis.

About John Mulliken

John Mulliken received his MD from Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons. He completed his postgraduate training at Massachusetts General Hospital and The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Key Publications

  • Oh AK, Wong JL, Ohta K, Rogers GF, Deutsch CK, Mulliken JB. Facial asymmetry in unilateral coronal synostosis: Long- term results after fronto-orbital advancement. Plast Reconst Surg 2008; 121:555. 
     
  • Greene AK, Mulliken JB, Proctor MR, Rogers GF. Primary grafting with autologous cranial particulate bone prevens osseous defects following fronto-orbital advancement. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2007; 120:1603-1611. 
     
  • Fan WS, Mulliken JB, Padwa BL. An association between hemifacial microsomia and facial clefting. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2005; 63:330-334.