Michael L Cunningham, MD, PhD

Professional History

Board Certified:

Pediatrics

Medical/Professional School:

University of Washington, Seattle

Residency:

University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Pediatrics

Fellowship:

Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

Clinical Interests:

Diagnosis and management of craniofacial malformation syndromes, Molecular developmental biology of craniosynostosis and other craniofacial conditions

Research Focus Area:

Craniofacial

Description of Research:

Craniosynostosis Research Program

Isolated craniosynostosis (premature fusion of the skull bones) occurs in approximately 1 out of 2500 births. The sutures of the skull are the areas of expansion during normal brain growth. Premature suture fusion results in abnormalities in head shape due to restriction of growth in the region of a fused suture. These changes of head shape can be associated with increased intracranial pressure (pressure within the skull) that can result in permanent brain injury.

In addition to the risks of brain injury, craniosynostosis is often associated with alteration of craniofacial growth leading to mid-facial hypoplasia, dental malocclusion, and orbital deformation. The combination of craniosynostosis and its associated facial malformations leads to significant health problems. Patients with craniosynostosis require one or more reconstructive surgeries to correct the functional deficits associated with their malformations.

Craniosynostosis remains a significant medical and dental health issue deserving of aggressive scientific investigation. The Cunningham Laboratory and members of the Children's Craniofacial Center use both basic science and clinical science to answer important questions about the etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of craniosynostosis.

Dr. Cunningham and his lab group use bone cell lines and animal models to study the molecular and developmental causes of human malformations. Their primary interest is a condition called craniosynostosis. Their research is focused on the molecular and developmental causes of several hereditary craniosynostosis syndromes including Apert, Crouzon, Saethre-Chotzen, and Muenke syndromes. These conditions are caused by mutations in members of the fibroblast growth factor receptor family (FGFRs) or TWIST.

In addition to these relatively rare forms of synostosis, the Cunningham lab investigates the molecular and developmental causes of isolated single suture craniosynostosis. Through the use of modern techniques of molecular biology, mutational analysis, expression analysis, and cell biology the Cunningham lab investigates the normal development of the human skull and pathogenesis of craniosynostosis as a mechanism to identify alternative treatment and prevention strategies.

Key Publications:

Hing AV, Syed N, Cunningham ML. Familial acromelic frontonasal dysostosis: autosomal dominant inheritance with reduced penetrance. Am J Med Genet. 2004 Aug 1;128A(4):374-82.

Hu S, Michels DA, Fazal MA, Ratisoontorn C, Cunningham ML, Dovichi NJ. Capillary sieving electrophoresis/micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography for two-dimensional protein fingerprinting of single mammalian cells. Anal Chem. 2004 Jul 15;76(14):4044-9.

Connolly JP, Gruss J, Seto ML, Whelan MF, Ellenbogen R, Weiss A, Buchman SR, Cunningham ML. Progressive postnatal craniosynostosis and increased intracranial pressure. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2004 Apr 15;113(5):1313-23.

Cunningham ML, Perry RJ, Eby PR, Gibson RL, Opheim KE, Manning SC. Primary pulmonary dysgenesis in velocardiofacial syndrome: a second patient. Am J Med Genet. 2003 Aug 30;121A(2):177-9.

Sze RW, Parisi MT, Sidhu M, Paladin AM, Ngo AV, Seidel KD, Weinberger E, Ellenbogen RG, Gruss JS, Cunningham ML. Ultrasound screening of the lambdoid suture in the child with posterior plagiocephaly. Pediatr Radiol. 2003 Sep;33(9):630-6.

Honors & Awards:

Member, Society of Pediatric Research, 1999

Jean Renny Endowed Chair on Pediatric Craniofacial Medicine

2001 The Clarke Fraser New Investigator Award, Teratology Society

1999 Outstanding Teacher Award

2001 Outstanding Teacher Award, University of Washington Pediatric Residency Program

2001 University of Washington Pediatric Residency Program