Research
Research Objectives
Research is imperative to improve understanding and find a cure for pulmonary hypertension. The Wall Center is uniquely qualified to do this and has initiated research in clinical and basic science and bio-engineering. The geographic location, increasing clinical volume and strong basic science foundation at Stanford University enhance the potential of the VMWC to accomplish a great deal more. Moreover, using pulmonary vascular disease as a “model” of so called orphan diseases, the Wall Center aims to investigate and initiate innovate approaches to problems common to many diseases and disciplines.
There are few places in the world like Stanford, where innovation is so encouraged and commonplace. Building on existing strong programs in engineering, epidemiology and social sciences, the Wall Center has the opportunity to provide innovative solutions to common medicine-based issues. In this regard it strives to serve as a model for the research and treatment of other pediatric and adult conditions.
The Center seeks to achieve the following research objectives:
- Be locally and nationally recognized for PH-related clinical, basic science and engineering research
- Discover/Develop/Investigate novel diagnostic modalities, treatment planning methodologies and medical and “surgical” therapies for cardiovascular disease states
- Promote interdisciplinary approaches to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary vascular diseases
The environment at Stanford has proven ripe for the discovery and implementation of ground-breaking solutions to complex problems in many disciplines. For the Wall Center to investigate the etiology and management of such a complex disease as pulmonary vascular disease it must call on and utilize the unique resources that only a place like Stanford can offer. Clinical trials and outcomes research, basic science research, engineering and translational medicine all play a prominent role in the research program.
In addition to physician scientists working specifically on issues in pulmonary vascular disease, individuals in the departments of Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Developmental Biology, Endocrinology, Genetics, Immunology and Transplantation Biology, Molecular Pharmacology, and Pathology are currently working on projects whose results may be directly applicable to problems encountered in the treatment of patients with pulmonary vascular disease. The multi-disciplinary makeup of the Center allows it to readily integrate and participate in emerging programs such as Bio-x, LPCH Children's Heart Center, and the recently established Cardiovascular Medicine Institute.
The mission of our research program is:
- to discover the key features of the biology of the pulmonary vasculature that lead to disease,
- to test hypotheses about these findings in experimental models of disease
- to find evidence that links our understanding of vascular biology to the clinical expression of human disease, and,
- to develop new treatments for pulmonary vascular disease, from new drugs to new devices for transcatheter intervention.
