Eric Chien-Wei Liao, MD, PhD

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Eric Chien-Wei Liao, MD, PhD, is a pediatric plastic surgeon-scientist and the founding Director of the Center for Craniofacial Innovation at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Areas of Expertise: Cleft lip and palate repair, breast procedures (reduction, augmentation), Otoplasty, Rhinoplasty (reconstructive and cosmetic), Gynecomastia excisions, Fat grafting/liposuction, Microtia, Pierre Robin Syndrome, Protruding Ears, Rare Craniofacial Clefts, Van der Woude Syndrome
Locations: Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care
Phone: 215-590-2208

Background

Dr. Eric Liao is the founding Director of the Center for Craniofacial Innovation at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Liao is a pediatric plastic surgeon-scientist who leverages convergent advances in fetal care, human genetics and developmental biology to initiate first-in-child trials and treatments. As a surgeon, Dr. Liao cares for patients born with orofacial clefts and complex craniofacial conditions. Dr. Liao also leads the Department of Surgery as the Vice Chair of Academic Affairs, where he is dedicated to nurturing trainees and faculty toward impactful academic careers.

Prior to joining CHOP, Dr. Liao was a Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, lead the Mass General Department of Surgery as Vice Chair of Research, and lead Shriners Children’s Boston as Chief of Staff. Dr. Liao pioneered the zebrafish model to investigate the developmental basis of craniofacial anomalies, elucidated the genetic basis of arhinia (SMCHD1), oblique facial cleft (SPECC1L), frontonasal dysplasia (ALX1) and other complex congenital craniofacial problems. Dr. Liao works to address critical knowledge gaps in human genetics to determine pathogenicity of gene variants, by using the zebrafish model as a high throughput functional assay. Through this work, Dr. Liao has been leading teams in longstanding NIH and Shriners funded research programs, with over $15 million awarded to Dr. Liao as PI since 2008.

“As a pediatric cleft surgeon, it is incredibly humbling and rewarding to restore form and function to patients born with cleft lip and palate anomalies. As surgeon-scientists, we hope our discoveries will lay the foundation for advances that will impact patients everywhere."

Dr. Liao is a graduate of Stanford University (B.S., M.S.), Harvard Medical School / M.I.T. (M.D., Ph.D.), and trained in plastic surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is Board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Liao's clinical and academic achievements have earned numerous prestigious awards, including American Surgical Association Research Fellowship, March of Dimes Basil O'Connor Scholar Award, and the Presidential Endowed Chair at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Education and Training

Medical School

MD - Harvard Medical School/ Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

Internship

General Surgery - Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

Residency

General Surgery - Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Plastic Surgery, Combined Plastic Surgery Residency Program - Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Chief Resident)

Board Certification

Plastic Surgery – American Board of Plastic Surgery

Graduate Degree

MS in Developmental Biology - Stanford University, Stanford, CA
PhD in Genetics - Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

Additional Training

Independent/Postdoctoral Researcher - Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

Titles and Academic Titles

Vice Chair of Surgery, Academic Affairs

Director, Center for Craniofacial Innovation

Presidential Endowed Chair

Professor of Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Departments and Services

Publications

Papers

2022

Faulkner HR, Coopey SB, Liao EC, Specht M, Smith BL, Colwell AS: The safety of performing breast reconstruction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Breast Cancer 29(2): 242-246, Mar. 2022 Notes: Epub Oct. 15, 2021.

Yoon B, Yeung P, Santistevan N, Bluhm L, Kawasaki K, Kueper J, Dubielzig R, Vanoudenhove J, Cotney J, Liao EC, Grinblat Y: Zebrafish models of Alx-linked frontonasal dysplasia reveal a role for Alx1 and Alx3 in the anterior segment and vasculature of the developing eye. Biology Open 11(5): bio059189, May 2022 Notes: Epub June 7, 2022.

Jimenez RB, Packowski K, Horick N, Rosado N, Chinta S, Koh DJ, Sobti N, Specht MC, Liao EC: The timing of acute and late complications following mastectomy and implant-based reconstruction. Annals of Surgery July 15 2022 (Epub) Notes: doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000005574.

Specht MC, Kelly BN, Tomczyk E, Ford OA, Webster AJ, Smith BL, Gadd MA, Colwell AS, Liao EC: One-year experience of same-day mastectomy and breast reconstruction protocol. Annals of Surgical Oncology 29(9): 5711-5719, Sept. 2022 Notes: Epub May 11, 2022.

202159. Liu D, Alhazmi N, Matthews H, Lee MK, Li J, Hecht JT, Wehby GL, Moreno LM, Heike CL, Roosenboom J, Feingold E, Marazita ML, Claes P, Liao EC, Weinberg SM, Shaffer JR: Impact of low-frequency coding variants on human facial shape. Scientific Reports 11(1): 748, Jan. 12, 2021.

Alhazmi N, Carroll SH, Kawasaki K, Woronowicz KC, Hallett SA, Trevino CM, Li E BH, Baron R, Gori F, Yelick PC, Harris MP and Liao EC: Synergistic roles of Wnt Modulators R-spondin2 and r-spondin3 in craniofacial Morphogenesis and Dental Development. Scientific Reports 11(1): 5871, Mar. 12, 2021.

Broyles JM, Liao EC, Kim J, Heistein J, Sisco M, Karp N, Lau FH, Chun YS: Acellular dermal matrix-associated complications in implant-based breast reconstruction: A multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial comparing two human tissues. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 148(3): 493-500, Sept. 1, 2021 Notes: Epub Apr. 20, 2021.

Milligan MG, Zieminski S, Johnson A, Depauw N, Rosado N, Specht MC, Liao EC, Jimenez RB: Target coverage and cardiopulmonary sparing with the updated ESTRO-ACROP contouring guidelines for postmastectomy radiation therapy after breast reconstruction: A treatment planning study using VMAT and proton PBS techniques. Acta Oncologica 60(11): 1440-1451, Nov. 2021 Notes: Epub July 27, 2021.

2020

Nealon KP, Sobti N, Gadd M, Specht M, Liao EC: Assessing the additional surgical risk of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy and immediate breast implant reconstruction. Breast Cancer Research & Treatment 179(2): 255-265, Jan. 2020 Notes: Epub Oct. 11, 2019.

Sobti N, Weitzman RE, Nealon KP, Jimenez RB, Gfrerer L, Mattos D, Ehrlichman RJ, Gadd M, Specht M, Austen WG, Liao EC: Evaluation of capsular contracture following immediate prepectoral versus subpectoral direct-to-implant breast reconstruction. Scientific Reports 10(1): 1137, Jan. 24, 2020.

Nealon KP, Weitzman, RE, Sobti, N, Gadd, M, Specht, M, Rachel JB, Ehrlichman, R, Faulkner, HR, Austen, WGA, Liao EC: Prepectoral direct-to-implant breast reconstruction: Safety outcome endpoints and delineation of risk factors. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 145(5): 898e-908e, May 2020.

Specht M, Sobti N, Rosado N, Tomczyk E, Abbate O, Ellis D, Liao EC: High-efficiency same-day approach to breast reconstruction during the COVID-19 crisis. Breast Cancer Research & Treatment 182(3): 679-688, Aug. 2020 Notes: Epub June 19, 2020.

Serebrakian AT, Ortiz R, Christensen JM, Pickrell BB, Irwin TJ, Karinja SJ, Broyles JM, Liao EC, Eberlin KR, Helliwell LA: Webinar during COVID-19 improves knowledge of changes to the plastic surgery residency application process. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Global Open 8(10): e3247, Sept. 29, 2020.

Pini J, Kueper J, Hu YD, Kawasaki K, Yeung P, Tsimbal C, Yoon B, Carmichael N, Maas RL, Cotney J, Grinblat Y, Liao EC: ALX1-related frontonasal dysplasia results from defective neural crest cell development and migration. EMBO Molecular Medicine 12(10): e12013, Oct. 7, 2020 Notes: Cover article; Epub Sept. 11, 2020; erratum in EMBO Mol Med. 2022 Jul 7;14(7):e16289.

Carroll SH, Trevino CM, Li E B-H, Kawasaki K, Alhazmi N, Myers N, Hallett SA, Cotney J, Carstens RP, Liao EC: An Irf6-Esrp1/2 regulatory axis controls midface morphogenesis in vertebrates. Development 147(24): dev194498, Dec. 23, 2020.

2019

Kousa YA, Zhu H, Fakhouri WD, Lei Y, Kinoshita A, Roushangar RR, Patel NK, Agopian AJ, Yang W, Leslie EJ, Busch TD, Mansour TA, Li X, Smith AL, Li EB, Sharma DB, Williams TJ, Chai Y, Amendt BA, Liao EC, Mitchell LE, Bassuk AG, Gregory S, Ashley-Koch A, Shaw GM, Finnell RH, Schutte BC: The TFAP2A-IRF6-GRHL3 genetic pathway is conserved in neurulation. Human Molecular Genetics 28(10): 1726-1737, May 15 2019 Notes: Epub Jan. 25, 2019.

Nealon K, Rebello M, Sobti N, Sherburne A, Spracklin D, Liao EC, Specht M: Improving surgical efficiency of immediate implant-based breast reconstruction following mastectomy. Breast Cancer Research & Treatment 176(1): 159-164, July 2019 Notes: Epub Apr. 11, 2019.

Jimenez RB, Hickey S, DePauw N, Yeap BY, Batin E, Gadd MA, Specht M, Isakoff SJ, Smith BL, Liao EC, Colwell AS, Ho A, Januzzi JL, Passeri J, Neilan TG, Taghian AG, Lu HM, MacDonald SM: Phase II study of proton beam radiation therapy for patients with breast cancer requiring regional nodal irradiation. Journal of Clinical Oncology 37(30): 2778-2785, Oct. 20 2019 Notes: Epub Aug. 26, 2019; JCO1802366.

Yang X, Jounaidi Y, Mukherjee K, Fantasia RJ, Liao EC, Yu B, Forman SA: Drug-selective anesthetic insensitivity of zebrafish lacking γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor β3 subunits. Anesthesiology 131(6): 1276-1291, Dec. 2019.

2018

Ishii K, Mukherjee K, Liao EC: Genetic requirement of talin1 for proliferation of cranial neural crest cells during palate development. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Global Open 6(3): e1633, Mar. 19 2018.

Sobti N, Ji, E, Brown RLS, Cetrulo CL, Colwell AS, Winograd JM, Austen WG, Jr., Liao EC: Evaluation of acellular dermal matrix efficacy in prosthesis-base breast reconstruction. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 141(3): 541-549, Mar. 2018.

Gfrerer L, Liao EC: Technique refinement in pre-pectoral direct to implant breast reconstruction with vicryl mesh pocket and acellular dermal matrix support. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Global Open 6(4): e1749, Apr. 9 2018.

Mukherjee K, Liao EC: Generation and characterization of a zebrafish muscle specific inducible Cre line. Transgenic Research 27(6): 559-569, Dec. 2018 Notes: Epub Oct. 23, 2018; NIHMSID 1510356.

2017

Redin C, Brand H, Collins RL, Kammin T, Mitchell E, ... Liao EC, et al: The genomic landscape of balanced cytogenetic abnormalities associated with human congenital anomalies. Nature Genetics 49(1): 36-45, Jan. 2017.

Ling IT, Rochard L, Liao EC: Distinct requirements of wls, wnt9a, wnt5b and gpc4 in regulating chondrocyte maturation and timing of endochondral ossification. Developmental Biology 421(2): 219-232, Feb. 15 2017 Notes: Cover article; Epub Nov. 29, 2016.

Shaw ND, Brand H, Kupchinsky ZA, Bengani H, Plummer L, ... Liao EC, et al: SMCHD1 mutations associated with a rare muscular dystrophy can also cause isolated arhinia and Bosma arhinia microphthalmia syndrome. Nature Genetics 49(2): 238-248, Feb. 2017 Notes: Epub Jan. 9, 2017.

Ciarlo C, Kaufman CK, Kinikoglu B, Michael J, Yang S, D Amato C, Blokzijl-Franke S, den Hertog J, Schlaeger TM, Zhou Y, Liao EC, Zon LI: A chemical screen in zebrafish embryonic cells establishes that Akt activation is required for neural crest development. Elife 6: e29145, Aug. 2017.

Li EB, Truong D, Hallett, SA, Mukherjee K, Schutte, BC, Liao EC: Rapid functional analysis of computationally complex rare human IRF6 gene variants using a novel zebrafish model. PLoS Genetics 13(9): e1007009, Sept. 25 2017.

2016

Kaufman CK, Mosimann C, Fan ZP, Yang S, Thomas AJ, Ablain J, Tan JL, Fogley RD, van Rooijen E, Hagedorn EJ, Ciarlo C, White RM, Matos DA, Puller AC, Santoriello C, Liao EC, Young RA, Zon LI: A zebrafish melanoma model reveals emergence of neural crest identity during melanoma initiation. Science 351(6272): aad2197, Jan. 2016 Notes: Epub Jan. 28, 2016.

Wilson NR, Olm-Shipman AJ, Acevedo DS, Palaniyandi K, Hall EG, Kosa E, Stumpff KM, Smith GJ, Pitstick L, Liao EC, Bjork BC, Czirok A, Saadi I: SPECC1L deficiency results in increased adherens junction stability and reduced cranial neural crest cell delamination. Science Reports 6: 17735, Jan. 20, 2016.

Mattos D, Gfrerer L, Reish RG, Ling, ITC, Reish RG, Hughes KS, Halpern, EF, Cetrulo C, Colwell AS, Winograd JM, Yaremchuk MY, Austen WG, Liao EC: Occult histopathology and its predictors in contralateral and bilateral prophylactic mastectomies. Annals of Surgical Oncology 23(3): 767-775, Mar. 2016 Notes: Epub Nov. 17, 2015.

Kobraei EM, Cauley R, Gadd M, Austen WG Jr, Liao EC: Avoiding breast animation deformity with pectoralis-sparing subcutaneous direct-to-implant breast reconstruction. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Global Open 4(5): e708, May 27, 2016.

Rochard, LC, Monica SD, Ling, ITC, Kong Y, Roberson S, Harland R, Halpern M, Liao EC: Roles of Wnt pathway genes wls, wnt9a, wnt5b, frzb and gpc4 in regulating convergent-extension during palate morphogenesis. Development 143(14): 2541-2547, July 15 2016 Notes: Epub June 10, 2016.

Kobraei EM, Bohnen JD, George BC, Mullen JT, Lillemoe KD, Austen WG Jr, Liao EC: Uniting evidence based evaluation with the ACGME Plastic Surgery Milestones: A simple and reliable assessment of resident operative performance. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 138(2): 349e-357e, Aug. 2016.

Faulkner HR, Colwell AS, Liao EC, Winograd JM, Austen WG Jr: Thermal injury to reconstructed breasts from commonly used warming devices: A risk for reconstructive failure. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Global Open 4(10): e1033, Oct. 27 2016.

Sobti N, Liao EC: Surgeon-controlled study and meta-analysis Comparing FlexHD and AlloDerm in immediate breast reconstruction outcomes. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 138(5): 959-967, Nov. 2016.

2015

Mehndiratta A, Rabinov JD, Grasruck M, Liao EC, Crandell D, Gupta R: High-resolution dynamic angiography using flat-panel volume CT: Feasibility demonstration for neuro and lower limb vascular applications. European Radiology 25(7): 1901-1910, July 2015 Notes: Epub Feb. 27, 2015.

Rochard L, Ling I, Kong Y, Liao EC: Visualization of chondrocyte intercalation and directional proliferation via zebrabow clonal cell analysis identifies growth centers in the embryonic Meckel's cartilage. Journal of Visualized Experiments 105: e52935, Oct. 21 2015.

Mattos D, Gfrerer L, Reish RG, Hughes KS, Halpern EF, Cetrulo C, Colwell AS, Winograd JM, Yaremchuk MY, Austen WG, Liao EC: Lifetime costs of prophylactic mastectomies and reconstruction versus surveillance. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 136(6): 730e-740e, Dec. 2015.

2014

Colwell AS, Tessler O, Lin AM, Liao EC, Winograd J, Cetrulo CL, Tang R, Smith BL, Austen WG Jr: Breast reconstruction following nipple-sparing mastectomy: Predictors of complications, reconstruction outcomes, and 5-year trends. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 133(3): 496-506, Mar. 2014.

Kong Y, Grimaldi M, Curtin E, Dougherty M, Kaufman C, White RM, Zon LI, Liao EC: Neural crest development and craniofacial morphogenesis is coordinated by nitric oxide and histone acetylation. Chemistry & Biology 21(4): 488-501, Apr. 24 2014 Notes: Cover article with preview commentary; Epub Mar. 27, 2014.

Tessler O, Mattos D, Vorstenbosch J, Jones D, Winograd JM, Liao EC, Austen WG Jr: A methodological analysis of the plastic surgery cost-utility literature using established guidelines. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 133(4): 584e-592e, Apr. 2014.

Fitzpatrick AM, Gao LL, Smith BL, Cetrulo CL Jr, Colwell AS, Winograd JM, Yaremchuk MJ, Austen WG Jr, Liao EC: Cost and outcome analysis of breast reconstruction paradigm shift. Annals of Plastic Surgery 73(2): 141-149, Aug. 2014.

Gfrerer L, Shubinets V, Hoyos T, Kong Y, Nguyen C, Pietschmann P, Morton CC, Maas RL, Liao EC: Functional analysis of SPECC1L in craniofacial development and oblique facial cleft pathogenesis. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 134(4): 748-759, Oct. 2014.

Eberlin KR, Gfrerer L, Liao EC: Trans-axillary approach for breast implant exchange in high risk cases of irradiated or attenuated skin. Journal of Plastic Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery 67(12): 1624-1629, Dec. 2014 Notes: Epub July 31, 2014.

2013

Reish RG, Damjanovic B, Austen WG Jr, Winograd J, Liao EC, Cetrulo CL, Balkin DM, Colwell AS: Infection following implant-based reconstruction in 1952 consecutive breast reconstructions: Salvage rates and predictors of success. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 131(6): 1223-1230, June 2013.

Gfrerer L, Dougherty M, Liao EC: Visualization of craniofacial development in sox10:kaede transgenic zebrafish using time-lapse confocal microscopy. Journal of Visualized Experiments 79: e50525, Sept. 30 2013.

Kamel G, Hoyos, T, Rochard, L, Dougherty M, Tse W, Shubinets V, Grimaldi M, Liao EC: Requirement for frzb and fzd7a in cranial neural crest convergence and extension mechanisms during zebrafish palate and jaw morphogenesis. Developmental Biology 381(2): 423-433, Sept. 15 2013 Notes: Epub June 25, 2013.

Kinikoglu B, Kong Y, Liao EC: Characterization of cultured multipotent zebrafish neural crest cells. Experimental Biology & Medicine 239(2): 159-168, Feb. 1 2014 Notes: Featured Article; Epub Dec. 10, 2013.

2012

Dougherty M, Kamel G, Shubinets V, Hickey G, Grimaldi M, Liao EC: Embryonic fate map of first pharyngeal arch structures in the sox10: kaede zebrafish transgenic model. Journal of Craniofacial Surgery 23(5): 1333-1337, Sept. 2012.

Dougherty M, Kamel G, Grimaldi M, Gfrerer L, Shubinets V, Ethier R, Hickey G, Cornell RA, Liao EC: Distinct requirements for wnt9a and irf6 in extension and integration mechanisms during zebrafish palate morphogenesis. Development 140(1): 76-81, Jan. 1, 2013 Notes: Epub Nov. 15, 2012.

2011

Nyame TT, Lemon KP, Kolter R, Liao EC: High-throughput assay for bacterial adhesion on acellular dermal matrices and synthetic surgical materials. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 128(5): 1061-1068, Nov. 2011 Notes: Cover Article.

2010

Liao EC, Driscoll DN, Donelan MB: Restoration of brow position and contour with tissue-expanded antegrade foreheadplasty. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 125(4): 1263-1267, Apr. 2010.

Curtin E, Hickey G, Kamel G, Davidson AJ, Liao EC: Zebrafish wnt9a is expressed in pharyngeal ectoderm and is required for palate and lower jaw development. Mechanisms of Development 129(1-2): 104-115, Jan./Feb. 2011 Notes: Epub Nov. 18, 2010.

2008

Liao EC, Taghinia AH, Nguyen LP, Yueh JH, May JW Jr, Orgill DP: Incidence of hematoma complication with heparin venous thrombosis prophylaxis after TRAM flap breast reconstruction. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 121(4): 1101-1107, Apr. 2008.

Taghinia AH, Liao EC, May JW Jr: Randomized controlled trials in plastic surgery: A 20-year review of reporting standards, methodologic quality, and impact. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 122(4): 1253-1263, Oct. 2008.

2007

Liao EC, Labow BI, May JW Jr: Skin banking closure technique in immediate autologous breast reconstruction. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 120(5): 1133-1136, Oct. 2007.

2006

Movassaghi K, Liao EC, Ting V, Matros E, Morris DJ, Orgill DP, Pribaz JJ: Eliminating the vertical scar in breast reduction- Boston modification of the Robertson technique. Aesthetic Surgery Journal 26(6): 687-696, Nov./Dec. 2006.

2003

Paw BH, Davidson AJ, Zhou Y, Li R, Pratt SJ, Lee C, Trede NS, Brownlie A, Donovan A, Liao EC, Ziai JM, Drejer AH, Guo W, Kim CH, Gwynn B, Peters LL, Chernova MN, Alper SL, Zapata A, Wickramasinghe SN, Lee MJ, Lux SE, Fritz A, Postlethwait JH, Zon LI: Cell-specific mitotic defect and dyserythropoiesis associated with erythroid band 3 deficiency. Nature Genetics 34(1): 59-64, May 2003.

2002

Liao EC, Trede NS, Ransom D, Zapata A, Kieran M, Zon LI: Non-cell autonomous requirement for the bloodless gene in primitive hematopoiesis of zebrafish. Development 129(3): 649-659, Feb. 2002.

Shafizadeh E, Paw BH, Foott H, Liao EC, Barut BA, Cope JJ, Zon LI, Lin S: Characterization of zebrafish merlot/chablis as non-mammalian vertebrate models for severe congenital anemia due to protein 41 deficiency. Development 129(18): 4359-4370, Sept. 2002.

2000

Liao EC, Paw BH, Peters LL, Zapata A, Pratt SJ, Do CP, Lieschke G, Zon LI: Hereditary spherocytosis in zebrafish riesling illustrates evolution of erythroid betaspectrin structure, and function in red cell morphogenesis and membrane stability. Development 127(23): 5123-5132, Dec. 2000.

1999

Oates AC, Brownlie A, Pratt SJ, Irvine DV, Liao EC, Paw BH, Dorian KJ, Johnson SL, Postlethwait JH, Zon LI, Wilks AF: Gene duplication of zebrafish JAK2 homologs is accompanied by divergent embryonic expression patterns: only jak2a is expressed during erythropoiesis. Blood 94(8): 2622-2636, Oct. 15 1999.

Porcher C, Liao EC, Fujiwara Y, Zon LI, Orkin SH: Specification of hematopoietic and vascular development by the bHLH transcription factor SCL without direct DNA binding. Development 126(20): 4603-4615, Oct. 1999.

1998

Postlethwait JH, Yan YL, Gates MA, Horne S, Amores A, Brownlie A, Donovan A, Egan ES, Force A, Gong Z, Goutel C, Fritz A, Kelsh R, Knapik E, Liao EC, Paw B, Ransom D, Singer A, Thomson M, Abduljabbar TS, Yelick P, Beier D, Joly JS, Larhammar D, Rosa F, Westerfield M, Zon LI, Johnson SL, Talbot WS: Vertebrate genome evolution and the zebrafish gene map. Nature Genetics 18(4): 345-349, Apr. 1998 Notes: Erratum in Nature Genetics 19(3):303, July 1998.

Liao EC, Paw BH, Oates AC, Pratt SJ, Postlethwait JH, Zon LI: SCL/Tal-1 transcription factor acts downstream of cloche to specify hematopoietic and vascular progenitors in zebrafish. Genes & Development 12(5): 621-626, Nar, 1 1998.

Books

Chapters

2013

Eric C. Liao and Matthias Donelan: Principles of burn reconstruction. Grabb and Smith's Plastic and Surgery, Seventh Edition. Thorne CH, Gurtner GC, Chung KC, Gosain AK, Mehrara BJ, Rubin JP, Spear SL (eds.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Raven Publishing, 2013.

2011

Donelan M, Liao EC: Reconstruction of the head and neck. Total Burn Care, 4th Edition. Herndon DN (eds.). Philadelphia: Elsevier, Page: 597-615, 2011 Notes: Chap. 53.

2010

Kim L, Liao EC, Austen J: Multidisciplinary approach in breast reconstruction: Surgical considerations in breast reconstruction. Breast Cancer: Multidisciplinary Approach to Diagnosis and Management. Taghian AG, Smith BL, Erban J (eds.). New York: Demos Medical Publishing, Page: 177-190, 2010 Notes: Chap. 9.

1999

Liao EC, Zon LI: Conservation of themes in vertebrate blood development. Cell Fate and Cell Lineage Determination. Moody SA (eds.). Cambridge, MA: Academic Press/Elsevier, Page: 569-582, 1999.

Liao EC, Zon LI: Simple sequence length polymorphism analysis. The Zebrafish, Genetics and Genomics. Detrich HW, Westerfield M, Zon LI (eds.). Cambridge, MA: Academic Press/Elsevier, Page: 182-183, 1999.

Posters and Presentations

2021

Chinta S, D'Errico S, Barrett S, Hannigan K, Rosado N, Liao E: Operationalizing multidisciplinary cleft and craniofacial clinic on zoom: Lessons from COVID-19. Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal 58(4 Suppl): 87, Apr. 2021 Notes: Presented at the American Cleft Palate Association (ACPA) Annual Meeting 2021, Raleigh, NC and virtual, Apr. 2021.

Kueper J, Tsimbal C, Liao E: Exploration of causal gene relationships of frontonasal dysplasia in a patient derived stem cell model. Cleft-Palate Craniofacial Journal 58(4 Suppl): 56-57, Apr. 2021 Notes: Presented at the American Cleft Palate Association (ACPA) Annual Meeting 2021, Raleigh, NC and virtual, Apr. 2021.

Singh S, Duncan K, Pi L, Kenny C, Bonde G, Li E, Liao E, Cornell R: Computational inference tuned with wet-bench results yields a model of the transcriptional regulatory network governing zebrafish periderm differentiation. FASEB Journal 35(Suppl 1), May 2021 Notes: Presented at the Experimental Biology 2021 Meeting (virtual), Apr. 2021.

2020

Jimenez RB, Melick E, Naoum G, Yeap B, Johnson A, Nealon K, Liao EC, MacDonald SM, Ho AY, Taghian AG: Reconstructive outcomes among breast cancer patients receiving post-mastectomy radiation with protons versus conventional radiation. Cancer Research 80(4 Suppl 1), Feb. 15 2020 Notes: Presented at the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, San Antonio, TX,  Dec. 2019.

Alhazmi N, Carroll S, Woronowicz K, Trevino CM, Hallett S, Li E, Gori F, Harris M, Liao E: Requirement of Wnt modulator R-spondin3 in craniofacial ossification and bone homeostasis. Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal 57(4 Suppl): 140, Apr. 2020 Notes: Presented at the American Cleft Palate Association (ACPA) 77th Annual Meeting 2020 (virtual), Mar. 2020.

Kueper J, Ludwig K, Liao E: Mechanistic dissection of causal gene relationships in syndromic cleft lip and palate formation in a patient derived stem cell model. Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal 57(4 Suppl): 87-88, Apr. 2020 Notes: Presented at the American Cleft Palate Association (ACPA) 77th Annual Meeting 2020 (virtual), Mar. 2020.

Trevino CM, Carroll S, Li E, Alhazmi N, Liao E: Gene expression analysis and genetic disruption of transcription factor IRF6 and dependent genes in palate development. Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal 57(4 Suppl): 88, Apr. 2020 Notes: Presented at the American Cleft Palate Association (ACPA) 77th Annual Meeting 2020 (virtual), Mar. 2020.

2019

Liu D, Alhazmi N, Hecht JT, Wehby GL, Moreno LM, Heike CL, Claes P, Liao EC, Weinberg SM, Shaffer JR: Exome-wide low-frequency genetic variants contribute to human craniofacial morphology. Genetic Epidemiology 43(7): 893-894, Oct. 2019 Notes: Presented at the 28th Annual Meeting of the International Genetic Epidemiology Society (IGES), Houston, TX, Oct. 2019.

Invited Lectures

2021

Liao EC. "Craniofacial Surgery and Career as a Plastic Surgeon-Scientist." Visiting Professor, University of Michigan Plastic Surgery, Ann Arbor, MI. Nov 2021.

Liao EC. "Genetic Determinants of Dentocraniofacial Complex." Visiting Professor, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI. Nov 2021.

Liao EC. "Advances in Breast Reconstruction, Conversion from Subpectoral to Prepectoral Implant Placement." Keynote Speaker, Plastic Surgery the Meeting, Atlanta, GA. Nov 2021.

Liao EC. "Transcriptional Control of Craniofacial Development." Keynote Speaker, Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology Annual Research Symposium, University of Southern California, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA (virtual). Feb 2021.

2020

Liao EC. "Surgery, Stem Cells and Selfies." Visiting Professor, Prenatal Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA (virtual). Oct 2020.

Liao EC. "Irf6 Regulates the wnt Signaling Pathway During Craniofacial Development Through the Regulation of Dact Expression." Platform Presentation, Plastic Surgery Research Council 65th Annual Meeting, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (canceled due to Covid 19 pandemic). May 2020.

Liao EC. "Mechanistic Dissection of Causal Gene Relationships in Syndromic Cleft Lip and Palate Formation in a Patient Derived Stem Cell Model." Platform Presentation, American Cleft Palate Association 77th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR. Apr 2020.

Liao EC. "Requirement of Wnt modulator R-spondin3 in Craniofacial Ossification and Bone Homeostasis." Platform Presentation, American Cleft Palate Association 77th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR. Apr 2020.

Liao EC. "Functional Analysis of IRF6 Target Genes in Craniofacial Development." Plenary Presentation, Craniofacial Development and Genetics, Gordon Conference, Barga, Italy. Feb 2020.

2019

Liao EC. "Craniofacial Functional Genomics - From Patient-Derived iPSC to Mechanism." Visiting Professor, Hong Kong University - Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China. Sept 2019.

Liao EC. "Surgery, Stem Cells and Selfies." Visiting Professor, Chang Gung Medical College, Linko, Taiwan. Sept 2019.

Liao EC. "Craniofacial Functional Genomics - From Patient-Derived iPSC to Mechanism." Visiting Professor, Department of Surgery National Taiwan University,  Taipei, Taiwan. Sept 2019.

Liao EC. "In Vivo and in Vitro Modeling of Frontonasal Dysplasia: Perspectives on Diagnosis and Treatment." 11th European Plastic Surgery Research Council. Munich, Germany. Aug 2019.

Liao EC. "Single Cell Transcriptome Analysis of Epithelial vs Chondrogenic Cell Types in Palate Morphogenesis." Platform Presentation, Plastic Surgery Research Council 64th Annual Meeting, Baltimore MD. May 2019.

Liao EC. "Novel Stem Cell Model of Frontonasal Dysplasia derived from Pedigree with ALX1-Mutation." Platform Presentation, Plastic Surgery Research Council 64th Annual Meeting, Baltimore MD. May 2019.

Liao EC. "High-Resolution Gene Expression Analysis of RNA Splicing Regulators Esrp1 and Esrp2 in Palate Development." Platform Presentation, Plastic Surgery Research Council 64th Annual Meeting, Baltimore MD. May 2019.

Liao EC. "Prepectoral Direct-to-Implant Breast Reconstruction: Safety Outcome Endpoints and Delineation of Risk Factors." Platform Presentation, Plastic Surgery Research Council 64th Annual Meeting, Baltimore MD. May 2019.

Liao EC. "Investigating the Role of R-spondin3 in Craniofacial Morphogenesis and Orofacial Cleft Pathogenesis." Platform Presentation, Plastic Surgery Research Council 64th Annual Meeting, Baltimore MD. May 2019.

Liao EC. "AXL1 Regulates PAX3 to Enable Cranial Neural Crest Migration During Craniofacial Development." Platform Presentation, Plastic Surgery Research Council 64th Annual Meeting, Baltimore MD. May 2019.

Liao EC. "Prepectoral Direct-to-Implant Breast Reconstruction: Safety Outcomes and Delineation of Risk Factors." Plenary Oral Presentation, 14th Annual Meeting, Society of University Surgeons American Surgical Congress, Houston, TX. Feb 2019.

Liao EC. "Prepectoral Breast Reconstruction Lowers Capsular Contracture Rates after Postmastectomy Radiation." Plenary Oral Presentation, 14th Annual Meeting, Society of University Surgeons American Surgical Congress, Houston, TX. Feb 2019.

Liao EC. "A Novel Role for the ALX1 Homeobox Transcription Factor in Craniofacial Development." Plenary Oral Presentation, 14th Annual Meeting, Society of University Surgeons American Surgical Congress, Houston, TX. FEb 2019.

Liao EC. "A Novel Role for the ALX1 Homeobox Transcription Factor in Craniofacial Development." Plenary Oral Presentation, 14th Annual Meeting, Society of University Surgeons American Surgical Congress, Houston, TX. Jan 2019.

Awards and Honors

2022, Presidential Chair, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
2021, Patricia K. Donahue Surgeon-Scientist Program Incubator Award, Massachusetts General Hospital
2019, Best Paper Award, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Journal
2018, MGH Research Scholar Award, Massachusetts General Hospital
2015, Excellence in Mentoring Award Nominee, Harvard Medical School
2014, Founders Award for Research, New England Society of Plastic Surgery
2013, Excellence in Mentoring Award Nominee, Harvard Medical School
2011, The One Hundred Honoree (for patient care), Massachusetts General Hospital  Cancer Center
2009, Research Scholar, American Surgical Association Foundation
2008, Junior Faculty Award for Research, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital
2002, Tolbert Shipley Prize for Research and Scholarship, Harvard Medical School
2000, Medical Scientist Training Program, National Institutes of Health
1998, Soma Weiss Research Award, Harvard Medical School
1998, Pre-Doctoral Fellowship, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
1997, Community Service Award, Harvard Medical School
1997, Yamaguchi Award for Research Excellence, Children's Hospital Boston
1996, Stone Research Fellowship, American Cancer Society
1995, Fox Award for Research Excellence, Stanford University

Editorial and Academic Positions

Editorial Positions

2021-present, Editorial Board, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
2018-present, Section Editor (Genetics), Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal
2014-present, Editorial Board, Journal of Visual Experimentation
2010-present, Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Genes & Expressions
2010-present, Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Human Genetics
2010-present, Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
2010-present, Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Dental Research
2010-present, Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Surgery
2010-present, Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Human Molecular Genetics
2010-present, Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Disease Models & Mechanisms
2010-present, Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Cells Tissues Organs
2010-present, Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Annals of Plastic Surgery
2010-present, Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
2010-present, Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Developmental Dynamics
2010-present, Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Annals of Surgery
2010-present, Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Development

Academic and Institutional Committees

2022--present, Chief Scientific Officer Advisory Council Member, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute

Leadership and Memberships

Memberships in Professional Organizations

International

2012-present, International Society for Stem Cell Research

National

2016-present, Surgical Biology Club
2015-present, Society of University Surgeons
 - 2016-present, Scholarship Committee
2015-present, American Association of Plastic Surgeons
 - 2016-present, Academic Leadership and Mentorship Committee
2014-present, Plastic Surgery Foundation
 - 2018-present, Research Education Awards Committee, Co-Chair
 - 2016-present, Mentorship Committee
2010-present, Association of Academic Surgeons
2009-present, American Burn Association
2008-present, Plastic Surgery Research Council
 - 2019-present, Grant Review Workshop, Chair
2007-present, American College of Surgeons
2002-present, American Society of Plastic Surgery
 - 2018-present, Research Education Awards Committee, Co-Chair
2002-present, American Medical Association