Biography
As founding director of UCSF's Fetal Treatment Center, Harrison is internationally renowned for his expertise and innovation in pediatric and fetal surgery. Widely regarded as the "father of fetal surgery," Harrison, over the last three decades, concentrated his lab efforts to establish the developmental pathophysiology of correctable birth defects in animal models, and develop and test techniques for fetal intervention (including maternal-fetal anesthesia), prior to clinical application. Now, a decade into the new century, the pioneering spirit continues and manifests in a new direction of innovation-i.e., original thought combined with the first presentation of work that leads to a milestone in the advancement of surgical care. Harrison's current research focuses on pediatric orphan device development, particularly devices employing the use of magnetic force. His most recent work has earned him one of three prestigious stimulus grants awarded by the FDA to fund a pediatric device consortium at UCSF.
Over the last six years, the Harrison lab has explored the use of magnetic force to correct a variety of problems and deformities. They began with the Magnetic Mini-Mover Procedure (3MP) to correct pectus excavatum in children, and tested the Magnimplant device in an FDA-sponsored trial with an FDA-approved IDE. In addition to the Magnetic Mini-Mover, they are continuing to develop and test:
- The Magnamosis device which uses specially designed magnets to create a secure compression anastomosis between any two pieces of intestine
- A magnetic internal-control contraction device to assist in laparoscopic surgery
- The Robo-Implant device, which uses magnetic coupling to activate and lengthen and shorten an internal growing rod for treatment of scoliosis and for limb lengthening.
In the course of developing and testing these magnetic implant treatments, the Harrison Lab most recently began considering the use of magnetic force for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. The concept is simple. In the same way that they implant a titanium-encased rare earth magnet on the sternum in patients with pectus excavatum and then, later, the patients use an external magnet orthotic device to gradually pull the 'sunken chest' out, Harrison et al are considering the possibility of implanting a similar magnet on the hyoid bone and letting the patient use an external orthotic magnetic device to pull the hyoid forward and open the airway when sleeping. With this approach the patient is unaffected while awake during the day and the implanted device is essentially invisible.
Under the auspices of the UCSF Pediatric Device Consortium, the mission of the Harrison Lab is to facilitate the development, production, and distribution of pediatric medical devices by:
- Encouraging innovation and connecting qualified individuals with pediatric device ideas with potential manufacturers
- Mentoring and managing pediatric device projects through the development process, including product identification, prototype design, device development, and marketing
- Connecting innovators and physicians to existing Federal and non-Federal resources
- Assessing the scientific and medical merit of proposed pediatric device projects
- Providing assistance and advice as needed on business development, personnel training, prototype development, and post-marketing needs
Over the last six years, the Harrison lab has explored the use of magnetic force to correct a variety of problems and deformities. They began with the Magnetic Mini-Mover Procedure (3MP) to correct pectus excavatum in children, and tested the Magnimplant device in an FDA-sponsored trial with an FDA-approved IDE. In addition to the Magnetic Mini-Mover, they are continuing to develop and test:
- The Magnamosis device which uses specially designed magnets to create a secure compression anastomosis between any two pieces of intestine
- A magnetic internal-control contraction device to assist in laparoscopic surgery
- The Robo-Implant device, which uses magnetic coupling to activate and lengthen and shorten an internal growing rod for treatment of scoliosis and for limb lengthening.
In the course of developing and testing these magnetic implant treatments, the Harrison Lab most recently began considering the use of magnetic force for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. The concept is simple. In the same way that they implant a titanium-encased rare earth magnet on the sternum in patients with pectus excavatum and then, later, the patients use an external magnet orthotic device to gradually pull the 'sunken chest' out, Harrison et al are considering the possibility of implanting a similar magnet on the hyoid bone and letting the patient use an external orthotic magnetic device to pull the hyoid forward and open the airway when sleeping. With this approach the patient is unaffected while awake during the day and the implanted device is essentially invisible.
Under the auspices of the UCSF Pediatric Device Consortium, the mission of the Harrison Lab is to facilitate the development, production, and distribution of pediatric medical devices by:
- Encouraging innovation and connecting qualified individuals with pediatric device ideas with potential manufacturers
- Mentoring and managing pediatric device projects through the development process, including product identification, prototype design, device development, and marketing
- Connecting innovators and physicians to existing Federal and non-Federal resources
- Assessing the scientific and medical merit of proposed pediatric device projects
- Providing assistance and advice as needed on business development, personnel training, prototype development, and post-marketing needs
Videos
Education
Institution | Degree | Dept or School | End Date |
---|---|---|---|
Harvard University | M.D. | School of Medicine | 1969 |
Yale Univeristy | BA | 1965 |
Board Certifications
- American Board of Surgery, 1978, renewed 1988
- American Board of Surgery, Special Competence in Pediatric Surgery, 1979, renewed 1989
- American Board of Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, 1991
Clinical Expertise
Birth Defects
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH)
Fetal Surgery
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Pediatric Surgery
Program Affiliations
- Fetal Treatment Center
In the News
August, 31, 2018 | UCSF Surgical Innovations Program
June, 06, 2018 | UCSF Surgical Innovations
May, 22, 2018 | UCSF Surgical Innovations
September, 28, 2017 | UCSF Surgical Innovations
August, 29, 2017 | UCSF Surgical Innovations Program
March, 02, 2017 | Surgical Innovations Program
November, 01, 2016 | UCSF Surgical Innovations Program
July, 08, 2016 | Department of Surgery, Surgical Innovations
October, 23, 2015 | UCSF Surgical Innovations Program
March, 17, 2015 | UCSF Surgical Innovations Program
Grants and Funding
- UCSF-Stanford Pediatric Device Consortium | NIH | 2018-09-01 - 2023-08-31 | Role: Principal Investigator
- Magnetic Duodeno-Ileal Bypass for Metabolic Syndrome in Rhesus Monkeys | NIH | 2017-06-01 - 2020-05-31 | Role: Principal Investigator
- Magnetic Mini Mover Device for the Treatment of Pectus Excavatum | NIH | 2016-09-28 - 2019-08-31 | Role: Principal Investigator
- UCSF PEDIATRIC DEVICE CONSORTIUM | NIH | 2009-09-25 - 2019-08-31 | Role: Principal Investigator
- Pain Control in the Nuss Procedure: A Prospective, Randomized Trial of Cryoanalgesia vs. Thoracic Epidural | NIH | 2017-07-01 - 2019-06-30 | Role: Principal Investigator
- Phase III Multicenter Study of Magnetic Mini-Mover for Pectus Excavatum G090006 1 | NIH | 2007-04-01 - 2017-03-31 | Role: Principal Investigator
- MULTICENTER TRIAL OF FETAL MYELOMENINGOCELE REPAIR | NIH | 2001-07-01 - 2012-09-30 | Role: Co-Principal Investigator
- PEDIATRIC CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTER | NIH | 1981-12-01 - 2007-03-31 | Role: Co-Investigator
- FETAL WOUND HEALING: ROLE OF THE EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX | NIH | 1989-12-01 - 1998-02-28 | Role: Co-Principal Investigator
- INDUCTION OF TOLERANCE IN MARROW TRANSPLANTATION | NIH | 1990-08-01 - 1995-07-31 | Role: Co-Investigator
- CLINICAL TRIAL OF FETAL SURGERY FOR DIAPHRAGMATIC HERNIA | NIH | 1992-09-30 - 1994-09-29 | Role: Principal Investigator
- TRANSPLANTATION OF FETAL HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELLS | NIH | 1988-02-01 - 1994-06-30 | Role: Principal Investigator
Research Interests
- Minimally Invastive Surgery
- Birth Defects
- Pectus Excavatum Repair
- Developmental Biology
- Hematopoietic Stem Cells
- World Health
Publications
MOST RECENT PUBLICATIONS FROM A TOTAL OF 113
- Cryoablation of a Large Diaphragmatic Metastasis with Long-Term Follow-Up.| | PubMed
- Repair of complex esophageal atresia with tracheobronchial remnant using special magnets.| | PubMed
- Evaluation of a Magnetic Compression Anastomosis for Jejunoileal Partial Diversion in Rhesus Macaques.| | PubMed
- Beyond the gut: spectrum of magnetic surgery devices.| | PubMed
- Lessons Learned From the First-In-Human Compassionate Use of Connect-EA™ in Ten Patients With Esophageal Atresia.| | PubMed
- The Rearing of Maternal-Fetal Surgery: The Maturation of a Field from Conception to Adulthood.| | PubMed
- Esophageal Magnetic Compression Anastomosis in Esophageal Atresia Repair: A PRISMA-Compliant Systematic Review and Comparison with a Novel Approach.| | PubMed
- The novel application of an emerging device for salvage of primary repair in high-risk complex esophageal atresia.| | PubMed
- A randomized controlled trial comparing changes in fitness with or without supervised exercise in patients initiated on enzalutamide and androgen deprivation therapy for non-metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (EXTEND).| | PubMed
- Novel Device for Endoluminal Esophageal Atresia Repair: First-in-Human Experience.| | PubMed
- An experimental study on long term outcomes after magnetic esophageal compression anastomosis in piglets.| | PubMed
- Opportunities for Regulatory Changes to Promote Pediatric Device Innovation in the United States: Joint Recommendations From Pediatric Innovator Roundtables.| | PubMed
- Modern fetal surgery-a historical review of the happenings that shaped modern fetal surgery and its practices.| | PubMed
- Combination of Radiation Therapy and Short-Term Androgen Blockade With Abiraterone Acetate Plus Prednisone for Men With High- and Intermediate-Risk Localized Prostate Cancer.| | PubMed
- Phase II Trial of Enzalutamide and Androgen Deprivation Therapy with Salvage Radiation in Men with High-risk Prostate-specific Antigen Recurrent Prostate Cancer: The STREAM Trial.| | PubMed
- Endoscopic Magnetic Compression Anastomosis For Small Bowel Bypass in a High Operative Risk Setting.| | PubMed
- Nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus sunitinib in first-line treatment for advanced renal cell carcinoma: extended follow-up of efficacy and safety results from a randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial.| | PubMed
- Biomaterials in fetal surgery.| | PubMed
- Retrospective analysis of the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant gemcitabine and cisplatin in muscle-invasive bladder cancer.| | PubMed
- An experimental study on magnetic esophageal compression anastomosis in piglets.| | PubMed
- Beyond Magnamosis: A Method to Test Sutureless Esophageal Anastomotic Devices in Living Swine by Creating an Esophageal Bypass Loop for Natural Oral Nutrition.| | PubMed
- Magnetic compression anastomosis (magnamosis) in a porcine esophagus: Proof of concept for potential application in esophageal atresia.| | PubMed
- Magnetic Compression Anastomosis (Magnamosis) for Functional Undiversion of Ileostomy in Pediatric Patients.| | PubMed
- Minimally Invasive Fetal Surgery.| | PubMed
- Magnetic Compression Anastomosis (Magnamosis): First-In-Human Trial.| | PubMed
- Fetal Treatment 2017: The Evolution of Fetal Therapy Centers - A Joint Opinion from the International Fetal Medicine and Surgical Society (IFMSS) and the North American Fetal Therapy Network (NAFTNet).| | PubMed
- Magnetic Mini-Mover Procedure for pectus excavatum IV: FDA sponsored multicenter trial.| | PubMed
- Recent advancements in understanding endogenous heart regeneration-insights from adult zebrafish and neonatal mice.| | PubMed
- MyPectus: First-in-human pilot study of remote compliance monitoring of teens using dynamic compression bracing to correct pectus carinatum.| | PubMed
- Impedance sensing device enables early detection of pressure ulcers in vivo.| | PubMed
- Challenges and climate of business environment and resources to support pediatric device development.| | PubMed
- Impedance sensing device for monitoring ulcer healing in human patients.| | PubMed
- Profiles in surgical research: Michael R. Harrison, MD, FACS.| | PubMed
- Shear stress-activated Wnt-angiopoietin-2 signaling recapitulates vascular repair in zebrafish embryos.| | PubMed
- Miniaturizing RFID for magnamosis.| | PubMed
- A low-frequency versatile wireless power transfer technology for biomedical implants.| | PubMed
- Novel use of a magnet to help remove metallic foreign bodies from the gastrointestinal tract.| | PubMed
- Long-term outcomes after fetal therapy for congenital high airway obstructive syndrome.| | PubMed
- Magnamosis III: delivery of a magnetic compression anastomosis device using minimally invasive endoscopic techniques.| | PubMed
- Maternal-fetal surgery: history and general considerations.| | PubMed
- A feed-forward controlled AC-DC boost converter for biomedical implants.| | PubMed
- Magnetic mini-mover procedure for pectus excavatum III: safety and efficacy in a Food and Drug Administration-sponsored clinical trial.| | PubMed
- Hyoid bone advancement for improving airway patency: cadaver study of a magnet-based system.| | PubMed
- Totally endoscopic magnetic enteral bypass by external guided rendez-vous technique.| | PubMed
- Tracheal occlusion works.| | PubMed
- Magnamosis II: Magnetic compression anastomosis for minimally invasive gastrojejunostomy and jejunojejunostomy.| | PubMed
- The making of fetal surgery.| | PubMed
- A high-power versatile wireless power transfer for biomedical implants.| | PubMed
- Long-term surgical outcomes in congenital diaphragmatic hernia: observations from a single institution.| | PubMed
- Magnetic mini-mover procedure for pectus excavatum II: initial findings of a Food and Drug Administration-sponsored trial.| | PubMed
- What if?... Why not?| | PubMed
- Prognostic role of tumor-head volume ratio in fetal sacrococcygeal teratoma.| | PubMed
- A history of fetal surgery.| | PubMed
- Perforated ulcer mimicking a spontaneous pneumothorax in a patient with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.| | PubMed
- Presealing of the chorioamniotic membranes prior to fetoscopic surgery: preliminary study with unfertilized chicken egg models.| | PubMed
- Magnamosis: magnetic compression anastomosis with comparison to suture and staple techniques.| | PubMed
- Indication for pediatric muscle biopsy determines usefulness.| | PubMed
- Colonic atresia and choledochal cyst: a rare combination.| | PubMed
- Intermediate interstitial deletion of chromosome 7q detected by first-trimester Down's syndrome screening.| | PubMed
- A stronger understanding of magnet-ingestion injuries.| | PubMed
- Does congenital diaphragmatic hernia associated with bronchopulmonary sequestration portend a better prognosis?| | PubMed
- Fetoscopic transuterine release of posterior urethral valves: a new technique.| | PubMed
- A prospective, randomized, multicenter trial of amnioreduction vs selective fetoscopic laser photocoagulation for the treatment of severe twin-twin transfusion syndrome.| | PubMed
- Characteristics of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations associated with nonimmune hydrops and outcome.| | PubMed
- Reliability of the lung-to-head ratio as a predictor of outcome in fetuses with isolated left congenital diaphragmatic hernia at gestation outside 24-26 weeks.| | PubMed
- Surgical treatment of childhood recurrent pancreatitis.| | PubMed
- Long-term outcome and toxicities of intraoperative radiotherapy for high-risk neuroblastoma.| | PubMed
- Magnet-mediated thoracic remodeling: a new approach to the sunken chest.| | PubMed
- Fetal intervention for mass lesions and hydrops improves outcome: a 15-year experience.| | PubMed
- Magnetic Mini-Mover Procedure for pectus excavatum: I. Development, design, and simulations for feasibility and safety.| | PubMed
- Prenatal tracheal obstruction due to double aortic arch: a potential mimic of congenital high airway obstruction syndrome.| | PubMed
- Thoracoscopic resection of foregut duplication cysts.| | PubMed
- Monochorionic twin gestation complicated by a sacrococcygeal teratoma with hydrops--optimal timing of delivery allows for survival of the unaffected twin.| | PubMed
- Natural history of brain lesions in extremely preterm infants studied with serial magnetic resonance imaging from birth and neurodevelopmental assessment.| | PubMed
- Maternal morbidity after maternal-fetal surgery.| | PubMed
- Residual congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation and thoracic scar deformation after fetal surgery: a case report.| | PubMed
- Long-term follow-up after thymectomy for myasthenia gravis: thoracoscopic vs open.| | PubMed
- Prosthetic patches for congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair: Surgisis vs Gore-Tex.| | PubMed
- Pulmonary endocrine cells in hypoplastic lungs due to foetal urinary tract obstruction: a microscopic immunohistochemical study.| | PubMed
- Spontaneous rupture of fetal sacrococcygeal teratoma.| | PubMed
- Myelomeningocele: characterization of a surgically induced sheep model and its central nervous system similarities and differences to the human disease.| | PubMed
- Pre-emptive placement of a presealant for amniotic access.| | PubMed
- Subcutaneous endoscopically assisted ligation (SEAL) of the internal ring for repair of inguinal hernias in children: a novel technique.| | PubMed
- Congenital teratoma: a clinicopathologic study of 22 fetal and neonatal tumors.| | PubMed
- Survival of severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia has morbid consequences.| | PubMed
- The University of California at San Francisco Fetal Treatment Center: a personal perspective.| | PubMed
- Infant pulmonary function in a randomized trial of fetal tracheal occlusion for severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia.| | PubMed
- Gastric cystic duplication: a rare cause of recurrent pancreatitis in children.| | PubMed
- Quantitative study of pulmonary endocrine cells in fetal, postnatal and adult sheep.| | PubMed
- The ex utero intrapartum treatment procedure: Looking back at the EXIT.| | PubMed
- Fetal surgery for repair of myelomeningocele allows normal development of anal sphincter muscles in sheep.| | PubMed
- A randomized trial of fetal endoscopic tracheal occlusion for severe fetal congenital diaphragmatic hernia.| | PubMed
- Congenital diaphragmatic hernia: advances in prenatal therapy.| | PubMed
- Tissue ablation using high-intensity focused ultrasound in the fetal sheep model: potential for fetal treatment.| | PubMed
- In utero repair of myelomeningocele: experimental pathophysiology, initial clinical experience, and outcomes.| | PubMed
- Comparison of drainage techniques for biliary atresia.| | PubMed
- Fetoscopic temporary tracheal occlusion for congenital diaphragmatic hernia: prelude to a randomized, controlled trial.| | PubMed
- The ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) procedure.| | PubMed
- Minimal access fetal surgery.| | PubMed
- Fetal surgery for repair of myelomeningocele allows normal development of the rectum in sheep.| | PubMed
- Fetal surgery: trials, tribulations, and turf.| | PubMed
- Resolution of hydrops fetalis in congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation after prenatal steroid therapy.| | PubMed
- Congenital diaphragmatic hernia: advances in prenatal therapy.| | PubMed
- Giant fetal hepatic hemangioma. Case report and literature review.| | PubMed
- Prenatal therapy for thoracic and mediastinal lesions.| | PubMed
- Fetal endoscopic surgery: lessons learned and trends reviewed.| | PubMed
- Fetal therapy.| | PubMed
- Prenatal resection of a fetal pericardial teratoma.| | PubMed
- Selective reduction of acardiac twin by radiofrequency ablation.| | PubMed
- Successful fetal intervention for congenital high airway obstruction syndrome.| | PubMed
- Chorioamniotic membrane separation following fetal surgery.| | PubMed
- Fetal operations in the head and neck area: current state.| | PubMed
- The "diaphanous" diaphragm: a radiographic sign seen after patch repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in neonates.| | PubMed