Francois Luks, MD, PhD, FACS, FAAP
Biography
Dr. Francois Luks is Professor of Surgery, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. He is Chief of the Division of Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Surgeon-in-Chief at Hasbro Children's/Rhode Island Hospital. He is Co-Director of the Fetal Treatment Program of New England and Director of the Brown Program in Fetal Medicine .
Research
Previous research has focused on endoscopic fetal surgery and access to the fetal trachea, in a large animal model (sheep). Projects have mainly centered around fetal lung development and mechanisms of accelerated lung growth after fetal tracheal occlusion. This was done in conjunction with the Pathology Department (Monique E. De Paepe, M.D.) and has been funded by the American Lung Association. In addition to the ovine model, a small animal model (fetal rabbit) and in vitro studies have been conducted into the fate of type II pneumocytes and the role of apoptosis in normal and accelerated fetal lung development.
One or more undergraduate and medical students from Brown University are given the opportunity each year to participate in the various fetal research projects.
Fetal research has focused on the pathophysiology of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). Following the development of a clinical program in fetal surgery and our participation (as the only North-American center) in the randomized trial on treatment for TTTS, we are now pursuing more basic research in the mechanisms of TTTS, and are developing an animal model for the condition. Clinical research in this field includes the search for markers of outcome in TTTS.
In 2009, the Program in Fetal Medicine received an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) from the FDA for the in utero treatment of congenital diaphragmatic hernia, using endoscopic tracheal occlusion.
New collaborations with the Division of Engineering have yielded research projects in non-invasive monitoring during fetal surgery and the development of advanced image display systems for laparoscopic surgery, in a partnership with Brown and the industry. The research is conducted with graduate students in Engineering and Economics, medical students and surgical residents, and grant support is being sought from the Science and Technology Advisory Committee of Rhode Island and the Food and Drug Administration.
References:
Luks FI 2009, Chang J 2006, De Paepe ME 1999, Papadakis K, 1998(a), Papadakis K 1998(b), De Paepe ME 1998, Luks FI 1997, Papadakis K 1997, Luks FI 1996(a), Luks FI 1996(b)