My PhD program mainly focusses on children with microtia, a congential malformation or absence of the ear. Microtia is often associated with hearing loss, asymmetry of the face, and a paralysis of the facial nerve. It is also associated with several syndromes, making it a complex abnormality with a great variation in phenotypic expression. In collaboration with several disciplines and multiple national- and international centers (e.g. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles) we examine the development of children with microtia, the best way to reconstruct the ear in individual cases and the future role of tissue engineering. Apart from this research, I am now involved in multiple research projects that aim to improve the surgical care in low and middle income countries and the worldwide burn care.
