The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation is one of the nation’s premiere
cardiovascular research facilities committed to improving patient care. Research
is an essential scientific tool to promote leading edge therapy and diagnostic
methods for our patients.
Dedicated and talented researchers carry out our "research mission" by
expanding the bounds of patient knowledge, discovering new therapies and
developing new technologies. Our research efforts enable discovery and
innovation of new and emerging medical care for our patients by shared efforts
within our Clinical and Pre-Clinical Research departments. Drs. Timothy Henry
and Robert Schwartz have recently joined the Minneapolis Heart Institute
Foundation as Director of Clinical and Pre-Clinical Research, respectively.
Dr. Timothy Henry – Director, Clinical
Research
"I want the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation to be the
preeminent research institute in the United States," says Dr. Henry. "We already
have a large volume of well-cared for patients at the Minneapolis Heart
Institute (MHI). I’d like to have that same profile with our research."
Studies have shown that patients involved in research trials do better simply
because they are a part of a study. We want our patients to be able to choose
the option of a clinical research trial as a part of their plan of care. The
Minneapolis Heart Institute is dedicated to offering the best in cardiology care
to our patients. As a part of a vast research network we can offer the latest
medical treatments and devices as they are being developed. These trials provide
treatment options available only to MHI patients. "My hope is to have trials
available for almost every patient group at MHI," says Dr. Henry. In order to do
that we need to offer a wide variety of research studies.
So, how do we choose which studies to do? As research director, Dr. Henry
takes great care in how he chooses a research study. He asks the following
questions of each:
- Is the question being asked scientifically valid? In other words, does this
represent cutting edge technology and/or is this an important clinical question
to answer?
- Is this safe? All studies must pass the "mother test", according to Dr
Henry. In other words, would you put your mother into this study? If not, we
don’t do it.
- Is this important professionally?
Ideally, each study we participate in will score high on all three points.
The "mother test" is essential. A number of other issues impact our decision to
participate in a trial. It is essential that we provide high quality data and
honor our commitments in a trial. Therefore, our goal is to always be one of the
top performing sites in a clinical trial.
Clinical trials focus on finding the causes of heart disease or on the
treatments for heart disease. As a part of Dr. Henry’s plan to have research
trials available for all patient care groups, the following research centers
have been or will be formed within the Minneapolis Heart Institute
Foundation:
Acute Coronary Syndromes – The study of unstable angina or heart
attacks caused by blockages in the heart (coronary artery disease) which rupture
and form blood clots.
Angiogenesis/No-Option Patients – The study of patients who have
coronary artery disease and angina and who can no longer have bypass or
angioplasty.
Cardiac Imaging – Techniques for viewing the heart such as MRI,
nuclear cardiology, CT scan, echocardiography.
Cardiovascular Surgery – The study of new techniques, devices or
medications to give along with surgery on coronary arteries or heart valves.
Congestive Heart Failure – Treatments for patients with heart muscle
damage.
Electrophysiology – The study of disturbances of the heart rhythm.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy – The study of inherited heart muscle
disease.
Integrative Medicine – Studies looking at the health of body, mind and
spirit.
Interventional Cardiology – The study of non-surgical treatments, such
as angioplasty, stents or medicines, for blockages of the coronary arteries.
Peripheral Vascular Disease – The study of treatments for blockages in
the arteries of the legs.
Preventive Cardiology – Studies to prevent heart disease and to
prevent future events.
In summary, the clinical research program at the Minneapolis Heart Institute
Foundation is geared towards offering new and effective therapies to our
patients, while at the same time answering important clinical cardiology
questions in order to provide the best care to our patients now and in the
future.
Dr. Rob Schwartz – Director, Pre-Clinical
Research
Pre-clinical research is an essential step in the process of
understanding the complexity and mechanisms of disease. This type of research
allows scientists and clinicians to create models of disease states to uncover
the behavioral and cellular processes responsible for the development of
disease. As the precursors and course of action of a disease are more fully
understood, pre-clinical research is then used to test and determine the safety
and efficacy of treatment theories.
"As we strive to balance and integrate our work in basic and applied science,
we will develop collaborative teams that bring a range of disciplines,
technologies and perspectives to bear on critical clinically relevant issues,"
says Dr. Schwartz. "Effective teamwork represents our commitment to combining
our knowledge and skills to serve our research community and industry clients,
and to collaborate in the development and advancement of medical technology. Our
relationships are built on professionalism, respect, and a commitment to
supporting the innovation and advancement of medicine. We are excited to be a
part of this new era in research at the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation
and look forward to many years of working together to bring therapies from early
stages of research to widespread availability for patients."
