Children's Hospital Research Children's Hospital Labs Steven J. Fishman, MD Steven J. Fishman, MD Children's Hospital Department of Surgery    Department  General Surgery    Hospital Title  Senior Associate in Surgery    Academic Title  Associate Professor    Phone  617-355-3040    Fax  617-730-0477    Email  Steven Fishman    Location  300 Longwood Avenue Boston MA 02115 Research Overview The goals of Steve Fishman's research include: To effect permanent luminal obliteration of vascular malformations using tissue engineering and gene therapy approaches to enhance existing intravascular therapies. To understand the role of amniotic fluid on the vascular and function maturity of the fetal intestine. To develop mechanisms to enlarge short segments of esophagus and intestine. The translational implications of Dr. Fishman's work: Vascular malformations can often be controlled or nearly obliterated with intravascular sclerotherapy or embolization of the luminal spaces. However, recanalization and clinical recurrence are commonplace. We hope to make luminal obliteration permanent, eliminating the need for repeated procedures and deforming surgical procedures. By understanding the factors which help the fetal gut mature, we hope to provide them to premature infants to diminish the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis, a common, often fatal death of immature intestine. Infants born with esophageal atresia have a disrupted, often very short esophagus. When the two ends cannot be brought together, the esophagus is often surgically replaced with other, less adequate organs. Facilitating growth of the shortened esophagus may allow the native esophageal tissues to be connected, eliminating the need for replacement with colon or stomach. About Steven Fishman Dr. Fishman completed his residency in general surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He was a Pediatric Surgical Fellow at Children's Hospital Boston. Key Publications Huang SA, Tu HM, Harney JW, Venihaki M, Butte AJ, Kozakewich HPW, Fishman SJ, Larsen PR. Severe hypothyroidism caused by type 3 iodothyronine deiodinase in infantile hemangiomas. N Engl J Med 2000; 343(3): 185-189. Fishman SJ, Mulliken JB, Leichtner AM, Burrows PE. Gastrointestinal manifestations of vascular anomalies in childhood: varied etiologies require multiple therapeutic modalities. J Pediatr Surg 1998; 33(7): 1163-1167 Downard CD, Kim HB, Laningham F, Fishman SJ. Esophageal atresia, duodenal atresia, and unilateral lung agenesis: a case report. J Pediatr Surg 2004, in press. Copyright 2004-2007 Children's Hospital Boston