Research Opportunities
The members of the Vascular Surgery Service have long-standing research interests in several fundamentally important areas within the field. Given the importance of distal bypasses, members have worked on the biology of the saphenous vein, with a focus on the preservation of endothelium of the arterialized conduit. Other interests include the process of severe degenerative atherosclerosis and the pathophysiology of atheroembolism.
Some faculty have investigated the biology of acute arterial occlusion and the prevention of complications from this clinical problem. Current basic science research is done in conjunction with the cardiovascular research group at AMC. The focus of the current basic science research involves the contribution of matrix molecules to the production of arterial restenosis following arterial surgery or angioplasty. These current projects involve both small animal and cell culture research and the direction of this research includes altering the production of matrix by injured cells through molecular biological techniques.
Additionally, the Institute maintains a large database which includes all surgeries performed within the Institute over the last 25 years. Thus, when clinical questions do arise, this allows ample material for the design and completion of clinical research manuscripts.
