First Genetic Marker Identified to Predict PAD Treatment Failures

Vascular Cures develops Next Generation TreatmentsHundreds of thousands of procedures are performed each year in the U.S. to improve leg circulation in patients suffering from peripheral artery disease (PAD), yet up to half of these fail within a few years due to excessive scarring that leads to reduced blood flow. Members of Vascular Cures Research Network – Michael S. Conte, MD and Alexander Clowes, MD – discovered that the gene p27 may be involved. The results of their study were presented at the Society for Vascular Surgery Annual Meeting. Find out more.

 

University of Washington Surgeon Scientist Awarded Grant for Blood Vessel Research

gale_tang-smaller-resizedVascular Cures named Gale Tang, MD the 2011 Wylie Scholar in Academic Surgery. The $150,000 three-year grant was award to support Dr. Tang's genetic research into understanding how blood vessels grow in order to prevent amputation for people suffering from the most advanced stage of peripheral artery disease (PAD).  

PAD develops when arteries in the lower limbs become clogged with fatty deposits that limit blood flow. Advanced stages of the disease can lead to critical limb ischemia (CLI), resulting in painful sores, gangrene and limb amputation. Each year CLI results in over 100,000 amputations in the United States. Up to 25% of patients with CLI die within the first year. Learn more about Dr. Tang's research...

 

Wylie Scholar Wins Prestigious Litzer Prize

Barry Rubin, MD, PhDThe University of Toronto awarded Vascular Cures Wylie Scholar Barry Rubin, MD, PhD the Lister Prize in Surgery, their highest research award. The Lister Prize is given to an investigator who has shown outstanding and continuing productivity of international stature as evidenced by research publications, grants held, students trained and other evidenc of stature of the work produced.

Read more in The Surgical Spotlight, a University of Toronto publication...

 

Dr. Richard Powell's Interim Research Results for CLI Patients

Richard Powell, MDInterim Results of Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI) Study Shows Significant Improvement in Amputation-Free Survival

Dr. Richard Powell, Vascular Cures Wylie Scholar and member of our Scientific Advisory Board, presented the interim analysis results of the U.S. Phase 2b RESTORE-CLI clinical trial sponsored by Aastrom Biosciences at the Society for Vascular Surgery annual meeting. Dr. Powell's presentation included additional results showing that the trial reached statistical significance on amputation-free survival in patients with critical CLI, a key criterion used by the FDA to evaluate the effectiveness of investigative treatments for CLI. Read the press release.

 

Cutting-Edge Research: Tissue-Engineered Grafts

Paul DiMuzio, MDTissue-engineered grafts, composed of adult stem cells, could one day replace synthetic vascular bypass grafts.

Wylie Scholar Paul DiMuzio, MD was author on a paper presented at the American Heart Association's Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Annual Conference 2010 that discussed the potential use of adult stem cells and advanced tissue-engineering technology to create new blood vessels for bypass grafts. Bypass graft surgery involves using a vein graft from another part of the body to create a detour around a blocked artery, and remains a major tool to help patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and coronary artery disease (CAD), as well as health issues such as kidney disease that require hemodialysis access. Up to 40% of patients do not have enough of their own natural tissues, requiring surgeons to use a synthetic graft, which fails within 1-3 years at a higher rate than if their own tissues were used. Dr. DiMuzio has successfully created grafts in larger animals and is working to make this innovative treatment option available to people.

Read the American Heart Association press release.