CVRE Clinical Advisory Committee
CVRE Clinical Advisory Committee
The clinical advisory committee is a unique feature of the CVRE training program. These Frankel Cardiovascular Center clinicians are leaders in their respective clinical programs spanning the range of clinical disciplines within the Frankel Cardiovascular Center. For a project to be translationally successful, it must be focused with a clinically important goal in mind. Therefore, CVRE trainees will identify a member of the internal clinical advisory panel EARLY in the training program, to serve as advisor for their research project. The faculty member of the clinical advisory panel will agree to sit down with the trainee and discuss the important unaddressed disease mechanisms, major unanswered clinical problems and ideas for improving clinical delivery or outcome.
Santhi K. Ganesh, MD
Associate Professor, Internal Medicine/Cardiovascular Medicine and Associate Professor, Human Genetics
Dr. Ganesh's work focuses on understanding the genetic and functional basis of vascular diseases that are characterized by adverse vascular remodeling, including atherosclerosis, hypertension and restenosis. Her translational research uses methods that include human genetic (genome-wide association, sequencing) and vascular biology (in-vitro cellular assays, animal models) basic techniques in the laboratory.
Vallerie MacLaughlin, MD
Professor of Internal Medicine Cardiovascular Medicine
Dr. MacLaughlin is an expert in cardiovascular medicine and specifically the causes and sequalae of pulmonary hypertension. She is also an expert in clinical research and has participated in clinical trials including leading the GRIPHON Phase 3 clinical trial that lead to approval of selexipag (Uptravi) for pulmonary hypertension.
Robert Neumar, MD, PhD
Professor and Chair of Emergency Medicine and currently serves as Chair of the American Heart Association Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee and as an AHA delegate to the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR).
Dr. Neumar’s research is focused on the molecular mechanisms of neuronal injury after cardiac arrest and traumatic brain injury. His work has helped elucidate the role of calpain and caspase proteolytic cascades in post-ischemic neuronal death. He has also helped define the pathophysiology of post-cardiac arrest syndrome, and is investigating strategies to optimize brain recovery after cardiac arrest including therapeutic hypothermia.
Hakan Oral, MD, PhD
Frederick G L Huetwell Research Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and Professor of Internal Medicine
Dr. Oral’s research focuses on the mechanisms and treatment of arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, radiofrequency catheter ablation of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. He established a structured arrhythmia research core including a centralized electronic database. Dr. Oral collaborates closely with the CVRE director, Dr. Jalife, and his team in a translational research program on cardiac arrhythmias at the University of Michigan. Dr. Oral has been highly innovative, developing novel technologies and treatment strategies which have resulted in multiple patents (six U.S, 8 pending U.S) and startup ventures.
Frank Pagani, MD, PhD
Otto Gago Professor of Cardiac Surgery, Surgical Director of the Adult Heart Transplant Program and Director of the Center for Circulatory Support
His research focuses on the use of mechanical circulatory support in the treatment of end-stage heart disease and use of stem cell transplantation for myocardial regeneration. The Center for Circulatory Support (VAD Program), under Dr. Pagani's direction, is one of the most recognized and well-respected programs in the nation. His clinical interests include adult cardiac surgery with emphases on Heart Transplantation, Tricuspid Valve Disease, Aortic Valve Disease, Mitral Valve Disease, Coronary Artery Disease, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy/Myectomies, Heart Failure and Mechanical Circulatory Support Systems.
James Shayman, MD
Professor of Internal Medicine/Nephrology, Professor of Pharmacology
Dr. Shayman’s clinical interests are in all aspects of nephrology and chronic kidney disease including diabetes and hypertension. He has made major translational research contributions lysosomal storage diseases including Fabry Disease, a lysosomal storage disease that affects the kidneys, heart and skin and Gaucher’s disease which leads to anemia and thrombocytopenia. The drug Cerdelga was developed in his laboratory at U of M, and then with a licensing agreement with Genzyme, and became the first approved oral treatment for patients with Gaucher’s disease in 2014.
Thomas W. Wakefield, MD
James C Stanley Professor of Vascular Surgery, Professor of Surgery and Section Head, Vascular Surgery
Dr. Wakefield has been the head of the Vascular Surgery service at the University of Michigan since 2004. His research is focused on determinants of venous thrombogenesis including the role of microparticles in venous thrombogenesis, identifying biomarkers developed in animal models to aid in the clinical diagnosis of DVT and evaluating the role of PAI-1 in various animal models of venous thrombosis. He is also investigating the role of VWF and P-selectin in venous thrombosis in various animal models and in primates. Dr. Wakefield serves as the Director of the UM Research Training Program in Vascular Biology. This post-doctoral training program is focused on training sciences in vessel wall biology and vascular pathology research with the ultimate goal to produce the next generation of leaders in academic vascular sciences.
David Williams, MD
Professor of Radiology, Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology
Dr. Williams clinical interest are in the development of aortic aneurysms and dissection, treatment of aneurysms and dissections using catheter-based techniques, and vascular endoprotheses. He has extensive experience as an interventionalist in opening blocked arteries and veins; plugging arteries in tumors, uterine fibroids, vascular malformations, aneurysms, and bleeding; treatment of aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections.