2011 Wylie Scholar
Assistant Professor of  Vascular Surgery
University of Washington

Dr. Tang's research involves understanding the mechanisms that promote blood vessel growth, and to develop new non-surgical therapies for people suffering from an advanced form 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 approximatly 100,000 amputations are done in the United States because of CLI. Up to 25% of patients with CLI die within the first year.

To develop better ways to treat this devastating condition, vascular researchers are studying how blood vessels grow particularly when the arteries are blocked. The process known as arteriogenesis is complex and poorly understood. Dr. Tang is investigating the role of the syndecan-1 protein encoded by the SDC1 gene in arteriogenesis.

Watch this video to learn more about Dr. Tang's research.