Investigator Profile: Richard A. Hopper, MD, MS

Richard A. Hopper, MD, MS

Marlys C. Larson Professor of Craniofacial Surgery & Chief of Pediatric Plastic Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery

The Craniofacial Image Analysis Lab of Seattle (CranIALs) uses state of the art digital annotation and shape analysis techniques to better categorize craniofacial conditions, and to plan, predict and assess surgical outcomes. Analysis is performed on a variety of image modalities, including CT scans, cephalograms, 3D surface scans, MRIs, and photographs, which is then correlated with data from the medical record and mutation analysis.

As the Surgical Director of the Seattle Children’s Craniofacial Center, Dr. Hopper provides the clinical expertise and administrative oversight of the Lab. The Lab Director, Dr. Ezgi Mercan, completed her PhD in Computer Science at the University of Washington, and supervises all projects involving the CranIALs server environment where analysis tools and outcome measures are stored. Research fellows and students can log onto the server to conduct their HIPPA-compliant research remotely, and then present and discuss their results at regular group meetings. The integrated structure of the database allows projects to be iterative, with future studies being able to access past data points. This facilitates studies so that students can complete their projects in a time efficient manner.

Trainees interested in opportunities in CranIALs should contact Dr. Mercan at Ezgi.Mercan@seattlechildrens.org.

Collaborators

Ezgi Mercan PhD, Clinical Data Specialist, Seattle Children’s Hospital

Murat Maga PhD, Center for Development Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children’s Research Institute

Hitesh Kapadia DDS PhD, Craniofacial Orthodontics, Seattle Children’s Hospital

Amy Lee MD, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington

Richard Ellenbogen, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington

Funding

Significant Publications

Wenger TL, Hopper RA, Rosen A, Tully HM, Cunningham ML, Lee A. A genotype-specific surgical approach for patients with Pfeiffer syndrome due to W290C pathogenic variant in FGFR2 is associated with improved developmental outcomes and reduced mortality. Genet Med. 2018 Jun 18. doi: 10.1038/s41436-018-0073-x. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 29915381.
Hopper RA, Kapadia H, Susarla S, Bly R, Johnson K. Counterclockwise Craniofacial Distraction Osteogenesis for Tracheostomy-Dependent Children with Treacher Collins Syndrome. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2018 Aug;142(2):447-457. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000004606. PubMed PMID: 29870506.
Hopper RA, Kapadia H, Susarla SM. Le Fort II Distraction With Zygomatic Repositioning: A Technique for Differential Correction of Midface Hypoplasia. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2018 Sep;76(9):2002.e1-2002.e14. doi: 10.1016/j.joms.2018.04.023. Epub 2018 Apr 28. PubMed PMID: 29800532.
Clarke CM, Fok VT, Gustafson JA, Smyth MD, Timms AE, Frazar CD, Smith JD, Birgfeld CB, Lee A, Ellenbogen RG, Gruss JS, Hopper RA, Cunningham ML. Single suture craniosynostosis: Identification of rare variants in genes associated with syndromic forms. Am J Med Genet A. 2018 Feb;176(2):290-300. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.38540. Epub 2017 Nov 23. PubMed PMID: 29168297; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5768450.
Susarla SM, Mundinger GS, Kapadia H, Fisher M, Smartt J, Derderian C, Dorafshar A, Hopper RA. Subcranial and orthognathic surgery for obstructive sleep apnea in achondroplasia. J Craniomaxillofac Surg. 2017 Dec;45(12):2028-2034. doi: 10.1016/j.jcms.2017.09.028. Epub 2017 Oct 5. PubMed PMID: 29108917.
Mundinger GS, Skladman R, Wenger T, Birgfeld CC, Gruss JS, Lee A, Ellenbogen R, Hopper RA. Defining and Correcting Asymmetry in Isolated Unilateral Frontosphenoidal Synostosis: Differences in Orbital Shape, Facial Scoliosis, and Skullbase Twist Compared to Unilateral Coronal Synostosis. J Craniofac Surg. 2018 Jan;29(1):29-35. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000004052. PubMed PMID: 29065043.
Susarla SM, Evans KN, Kapadia H, Vasilakou N, Egbert MA, Hopper RA. Distraction Osteogenesis Normalizes Mandibular Body-Symphysis Morphology in Infants With Robin Sequence. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2018 Jan;76(1):169-179. doi: 10.1016/j.joms.2017.06.032. Epub 2017 Jun 30. PubMed PMID: 28734994.
Susarla SM, Vasilakou N, Kapadia H, Egbert M, Hopper RA, Evans KN. Defining mandibular morphology in Robin sequence: A matched case-control study. Am J Med Genet A. 2017 Apr 13. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.38248. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 28407354.
Hopper RA, Kapadia H, Morton T. Normalizing facial ratios in apert syndrome patients with Le Fort II midface distraction and simultaneous zygomatic repositioning. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2013 Jul;132(1):129-40. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0b013e318290fa8a. PubMed PMID: 23508053.
Birgfeld CB, Saltzman BS, Hing AV, Heike CL, Khanna PC, Gruss JS, Hopper RA. Making the diagnosis: metopic ridge versus metopic craniosynostosis. J Craniofac Surg. 2013 Jan;24(1):178-85. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0b013e31826683d1. PubMed PMID: 23348281.
Forrest CR, Hopper RA. Craniofacial syndromes and surgery. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2013 Jan;131(1):86e-109e. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0b013e318272c12b. Review. PubMed PMID: 23271559.
Khechoyan D, Schook C, Birgfeld CB, Khosla RK, Saltzman B, Teng CC, Ettinger R, Gruss JS, Ellenbogen R, Hopper RA. Changes in frontal morphology after single-stage open posterior-middle vault expansion for sagittal craniosynostosis. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2012 Feb;129(2):504-16. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0b013e31823aec1d. PubMed PMID: 22286431.
Hopper RA, Sandercoe G, Woo A, Watts R, Kelley P, Ettinger RE, Saltzman B. Computed tomographic analysis of temporal maxillary stability and pterygomaxillary generate formation following pediatric Le Fort III distraction advancement. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010 Nov;126(5):1665-74. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0b013e3181eff362. PubMed PMID: 21042122.