2008-2009 Coulter Projects at U.Va.
Therapeutic Modification of Myocardial Infarct Anisotropy
Currently over 80,000,000 American adults suffer some form of cardiovascular disease. Of these, 10% have myocardial infarction, a severe form of heart attack. This project uses computational modeling to understand the physical stresses on the heart as a result of myocardial infarction. Following the computational modeling, the group will design and optimize novel technologies that are aimed to improve heart mechanics and function.
Jeff Holmes, MD, Ph.D, Biomedical Engineering
Gorav Ailawadi, MD, Surgery
Enhanced Targeting of Adipose Stem Cells to Ischemic Injury
This transformative research project will lead to the development and testing of a new commercializable adult stem cell therapy for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases including peripheral vascular disease (PVD), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and ischemic stroke. Experimental data in animals has long indicated intravenous infusion of stem cells as a viable therapeutic approach for the treatment of ischemic injury. Recently, this has led to the initiation of human clinical trials to treat AMI using both bone marrow stem cells, as well as human adipose stem cells (hASCs). Preliminary data from these trials suggest that stem cell infusion is safe and feasible, although only marginally effective. This limited efficacy is likely a result of the low number of stem cells that incorporate into the injured tissue, representing a potential opportunity for our technology. To address this problem, our team has identified a sub-population of adipose stem cells that are able to target to ischemic blood vessels more effectively than other stem cell populations.
Shayn Peirce-Cottler, Ph.D, Biomedical Engineering
Ellen Keeley, M.D.
Cytokines as Diagnostic Markers for Prediction of Neonatal Sepsis
Late-onset neonatal sepsis affects 20 to 25% of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, accounting for 45% of late deaths and longer durations of hospitalizations, mechanical ventilation, and antibiotic use. The NICHD Neonatal Network has concluded that “strategies to reduce late infections in VLBW neonates and their medical, social, and economic toll are needed urgently.” Dr. Moorman’s group at UVa has pioneered the development and clinical validation of monitoring heart rate characteristics (HRC) for early detection of neonatal sepsis. This project will incorporate aspects of HRC with cytokines, an important marker during early stage sepsis.
Jeff Saucerman, PhD, Biomedical Engineering
Karen Fairchild, MD, Neonatology
Randal Moorman, MD, Cardiology
Targeted Molecular Imaging of Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaque
The goal of the project is to translate a noninvasive molecular imaging technique to clinical application in the assessment of plaque complication risk and the assessment of myocardial ischemia. To achieve this, the group will develop novel non-invasive imaging methods targeted at a specific marker of vulnerable and advanced atherosclerotic plaque. They will demonstrate targeted molecular imaging of a specific marker in vivo for the first time in a mouse model of atherosclerosis using four different imaging modalities to determine the best one for determining plaque vulnerability. The group will then correlate the marker with other known characteristics of plaque vulnerability.
Craig Meyer, PhD, Biomedical Engineering
David Glover, PhD, Cardiology
George Beller, MD, Cardiology
Determination of the Need for Blood Platelet Transfusion During Cardiopulmonary Bypass Surgery with an Ultrasound –Based Technique for Real-time Blood Viscosity Estimation
A critical need exists for rapid, point of care determination of blood coagulation status during cardiopulmonary bypass procedures. We will use a sensitive blood viscoelastic measure based on ultrasound radiation force to determine the reasons why a patient’s blood does not clot after surgery. This device would be valuable because there are no function-based assays suitable for use in the operating room that have the capability to inform the surgeon as to what the patient needs to return to normal clotting times.
Michael Lawrence, PhD, Biomedical Engineering
Gorav Ailawadi, MD, Surgery
Adipose stem cells for the healing of chronic wounds
 Cell-based therapies for the treatment of chronic wounds offer a novel, multifaceted approach to complex, multi-factor problem. Adipose stem cells from human fat share many of the same characteristics and behaviors as bone marrow-derived cells, with the added advantages of abundance, ease of harvest, expendability, and appeal. In this early-stage project, Shayn Peirce-Cottler (BME) and Adam Katz (Plastic Surgery) are developing a novel cell-based wound dressing that uses a patient’s own adipose stem cells to re-boot the body’s healing mechanism.
Shayn Peirce Cottler, PhD, Biomedical Engineering
Adam Katz, MD, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
CardioSolutions: Technologies for Treating In-Stent Restenosis
This group intends to develop novel technologies to treat the challenges associated with drug eluting stents. Percutaneous revascularization of diseased blood vessels is currently performed by balloon angioplasty followed by deployment of a metal stent. Maintenance of vessel patency following stent deployment represents a major clinical challenge. Following stent deployment, smooth muscle cells rapidly proliferate and may result in vessel re-narrowing; a clinical process known as in-stent restenosis. To address this, several major medical device companies have developed drug-eluting stents that release anti-proliferative agents. These devices been shown to effectively prevent restenosis and are currently on the US market and have been widely embraced by the interventional cardiology community. Recently, however, it has been observed that drug-eluting stents may be associated with a rare, but increased risk of stent thrombosis (i.e. a blood clot in the stent), a potentially fatal event.
John Hossack, PhD, Biomedical Engineering
Brian Wamhoff, PhD, Cardiology
Alexander Klibanov, PhD, Internal Medicine
Michael Ragosta, MD, Cardiology
Subxyphoid Access System for Use With the Epicardial Tool Kit
There are currently no minimally invasive tools designed for epicardial electrophysiology via subxiphoid approach, despite its proven utility in treating problems such as heart failure and epicardial ventricular tachycardia. At least 100,000 people in the U.S. could benefit from this procedure if it were more easily available so to address this need we are developing the Epicardial Tool Kit (ETK).
George Gillies, PhD, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering with a secondary appointment in BME
Srijoy Mahapatra, MD, Cardiology
Comparison of Molecular Imaging Using a Double-Sided Gamma Camera and Contrast Enhanced MRI for Breast Cancer Detection and Characterization
In recent years, gadolinium-contrast-enhanced MRI (CE-MRI) has been evaluated as a screening tool for women at high risk (at least 20% lifetime risk) of developing breast cancer, and is also being investigated as a problem-solving tool for cases in which mammography and ultrasound are inconclusive. At this time, the primary obstacles to routine use of CE-MRI for breast cancer screening and diagnosis are a) its moderate specificity and poor positive predictive value, b) its high cost, and c) the established linkage between gadolium-based contrast agents and renal failure. Therefore, imaging modalities are being sought with higher specificity and lower cost that could act as an alternate to CE-MRI to improve the specificity of mammography. The purpose of this proposed study is to compare the performance of a unique scanner for molecular breast imaging to that of CE-MRI in the task of breast lesion detection and characterization.
Mark Williams, PhD, Radiology with a secondary appointment in BME
Brandi Nicholson, MD, Surgery
Wallace H. Coulter Foundation
U.Va. Biomedical Engineering
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