UW News

April 19, 2007

Innovation, patients at heart of vascular research

PROV: Academic and Student Affairs

Dr. Eugene Strandness’ legacy of innovation and patient care came together this spring when the UW Medical Center opened a vascular research and service facility (the D. Eugene Strandness Jr. Vascular Laboratory) in the medical center’s Surgery Pavilion. The lab diagnoses and studies abnormalities of the arteries and veins.

By offering clinical diagnostic services in the same area as a research lab, patients have access to the very latest research in vascular diagnosis and treatment. It’s a unique concept and the brainchild of Dr. Alexander Clowes, UW professor and chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery, who has spent the last eight years developing and launching the program.

“Ultrasound used for vascular screening is fairly standard, and patients should be able to get a good examination in any accredited lab”, said Dr. Eugene Zierler, UW professor and vascular surgeon.

“But a lot of people like to go to a place that has a history of developing new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. That gives them confidence,” Zierler said. “Other clinics don’t have the historical perspective we do. There may not be opportunities to participate in research projects in other places, either. We have that here.”

For example, surgeon Dr. Tom Hatsukami is looking at ways of using the duplex scanner in conjunction with MRI to measure not only how much plaque in the carotid artery is restricting blood flow but also the characteristics of that plaque.

His research eventually will be able to determine how well and how quickly medications are working to reduce plaque. It also will predict stroke in high-risk patients before the stroke occurs. Once the results of the research are confirmed, the techniques will be used on patients in the clinic.

“Many of Dr. Strandness’ patients volunteered their time to participate in his research studies, not so much to benefit themselves,” Hatsukami said. “Rather, their motivation was to assist Dr. Strandness in his effort to better understand the natural history and progression of vascular disease, thereby providing benefit to all patients with vascular disease. With the opening of the combined vascular laboratory in the Surgery Pavilion, we have the opportunity to recapture the benefits derived from the model envisioned by Dr. Strandness 25 years ago.”