Better Vascular Health for All
The Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures is committed to transforming vascular health outcomes. We do this through education, accelerating research, and nurturing innovative collaborations – always patient-centered, with a constant eye to responding to the needs of underserved populations.
We are enjoying what is finally looking like increased interest in and attention to peripheral artery disease. Awareness is the first step toward change. ABC’s recent show “Severed: Diabetes Denial and Mistrust” was an excellent exposé of the concerning number of amputations in black men with diabetes that can result when bad circulation and plaque buildup are left unaddressed and develop into advanced peripheral artery disease/chronic limb-threatening ischemia.
The Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures' latest initiative is breaking barriers in health equity by empowering Chinese-speaking vascular patients in California to participate in impactful research for better health outcomes. Learn more about this pioneering PCORI-funded project.
We are excited to share that one of our patient partners, Jim Tietjens, has published a book detailing his decades-long health conditions and the hard work and engagement that has helped him work through these challenges, including Chronic Limb-threatening Ischemia (CLTI).
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter was a pioneering advocate for mental health and caregiver support – two incredibly important issues that apply to individuals and families living with vascular disease. Vascular conditions more commonly affect older populations, who often rely on caregivers.
We are pleased to announce an invitation-only RFP call has been issued for pilot projects that address gaps in the field that were identified at the 2023 Vascular Health Innovation Summit: “Precision Medicine and Patient-Centric Vascular Health: Present and Future State”.
We are pleased to announce that recordings from the 2023 Innovation Summit, held on September 22 at the Mission Bay Conference Center, UCSF, are now available. This year’s summit, chaired by renowned experts Dr. Michael S. Conte and Dr. Manesh R. Patel, explored the advances in precision medicine and its impact on vascular health.
Impact
Patient-centered research and education directly impact patient vascular health outcomes. Here are some examples of recent change-making projects, activities and people.
Our Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Microgrant Program funds innovative patient partner-led work to increase awareness and screening of PAD. This year we are supporting Kim Campbell, a passionate vascular health advocate who lost her mother to advanced PAD. Kim is working in Atlanta to build a network of patient partners, raise awareness about this devastating condition, and train future patient advocates.
We are dedicated to empowering patients and caregivers to become equal partners in care and research because we know that the patient voice is crucial to ensuring real, tangible impact. Our Patients are Partners program creates a network of patients who develop engagement skills through education, mentorship and community resources, to support their participation in vascular health research and care.
“My research helps develop better treatment options for the 10 million Americans with diabetic foot ulcers who are at risk for a major lower extremity amputation,” says the 2022 Wylie Scholar, Tammy Nguyen, MD PhD. Tammy, a researcher at the University of Massachusetts, is studying cells from bone marrow of patients with amputated limbs or toes to improve wound healing in diabetic patients.
Our Collaborative Patient-Centered Research grants fund high-risk, collaborative science that prioritizes the patient perspective. In 2021 we awarded a grant to a team from University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, and Stanford to address a mismatch between how patients and clinicians measure symptoms and define treatment goals. The overall purpose of this work is to prioritize patients’ activity goals and inform treatment models.
We are leading a 2-year project supported by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to address the lack of patient engagement in chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) research, engaging dozens of patients and caregivers. Data shows that patient engagement in research improves patient outcomes, but patient engagement is rare in CLTI. This project is particularly meaningful given the high mortality and amputation rates associated with this disease.
Our Learning Hub for Non-Specialists is a new educational resource on patient-centric care for peripheral artery disease (PAD) and coronary artery disease (CAD). Its engaging information, videos, quizzes, and case studies give non-specialists the tools that are otherwise unavailable to medical professionals in minoritized and rural communities. As most severe symptoms of PAD & CAD arise due to non-treatment, early identification and prevention are critical.
University of Michigan’s Katherine Gallagher MD says her 2012 Wylie Scholar Award allowed her to jumpstart her lab and make discoveries regarding how immune cells regulate inflammation, which is thought to lead to vascular disease. She brings a data-driven, personalized medicine approach to patient care. A powerhouse vascular surgeon-scientist, Dr. Gallagher was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2022 for her innovative research.
In 2022 we awarded a Health Equity grant to a collaborative project team from the University of Arizona, USC, and Casa Colina Hospital. This project is addressing the increased risk of diabetic foot wounds and leg amputations among patients with peripheral artery disease from low-income neighborhoods. The team is piloting a patient-centered peer support approach to teach low-income vascular patients, who commonly experience emotional distress, coping strategies and ways to navigate the healthcare system.
Our 2022 Health Equity Grant is funding a collaborative project between Thomas Jefferson University, Temple Health, and the Frazier Family Coalition to address high amputation rates among Black men in North Philadelphia. The team is partnering with barber shops and a local community center to educate and screen men for peripheral artery disease, the leading cause of amputations, as well as train health professionals to provide preventative care.
The Vascular Health Equity Academy is our new patient-centered learning hub, focused on bringing high-quality, relevant materials to patients and caregivers. Our modules provide education on a variety of subjects important to patience, including diseases, how to engage meaningfully in care and research, and the benefit of lifestyle changes (such as increased walking) to improve vascular health. Education is central to empowerment, and we are thrilled to share this resource with our community.
Our Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Empowerment Program raises awareness about PAD across the country. Through dynamic efforts such as microgrants to community leaders, presence at health fairs and local community events, and social media groups (including one champion’s 800+ person Facebook group!), we advocate for better vascular health for all.
Navigating Vascular Health: Stories of Advocacy, Awareness, and Personal Journeys
Join us in this video series that delves into the personal battles and collective fight against vascular diseases, spotlighting the courage of patients and the dedication of healthcare professionals. From a postmaster's legacy to a surgeon's mission for patient-centered care, these narratives unite to illuminate the importance of awareness, education, and proactive healthcare in the vascular community.